Nothing.
I take a deep breath, steadying myself.
I am about to hurt my brother for the first time in my life.
I hate it.
I would rather sink my fangs into my wrists and bleed myself out.
The truth hurts more than lies. But losing each other would hurt the most.
It would break me.
“Nine is the age that both the Scarlet Temple and the Void Cult take in apprentices.” Slowly, I back away down the path, never taking my intense gaze off the darkness. “Mother kept us here in the village that worships thesacrificesto both these powerful pillars of the capital. Nobody at court knows that we exist. One of us will be taken by the Void Cult in secret to be trained; they will be thrown to the Void Devils as a sacrifice. Nobody will know royal twins were even born to the House of Sin.”
Lazarus becomes ashen. “She wouldn’t…”
“She’s ruthless. Cruel. Is obsessed with pain, blood, and death.”
“You admire that about her.”
“As a Queen.”
“She’s our mother.”
“She’s a stranger.” My eyes burn.
Another noise in the shadows.
My head whips to the side.
I swallow.
They are too close.
Lazarus and I aren’t both getting out of this. I am not escaping with my cut foot. But I can make sure that my brother does.
“When I say run,” my voice is low, “you head for the far side of the village. Then you keep running until you reach the Borderlands with the dragons. Ask for Prince Aurelius.”
“Why?” Lazarus holds onto me tighter. “Why, Lan?”
I avoid his gaze. “I’m going to delay them. You’re not a fighter; I am. How much practice have I had against the village Bloods? Maybe nurse has a point about me being abat-winged little monster who was born to bathe in blood. Hmm, I didn’t realize before how good she is with words. She should have been a poet.”
If one of us must die in the Void, then by my heart, it will be me.
The little monster.
Lazarus growls, latching his fangs hard into the scruff of my neck, before dragging me backward down the path.
I hiss and struggle, but Lazarus doesn’t let go, made strong in his desperation not to be parted from me.
I am impressed.
Unexpectedly, winding scarlet ribbons snap out of the dark like snakes.
I howl in shock, as the ribbons wrap around my ankles and drag my feet out from underneath me, ripping me away from my twin.
By the Shadow Devils, who is attacking us?
