A cold like iron threads through my blood. She knows, I think in a panic. She knows that I used the ice powers that somehow hide in the shadows of my veins. Issen powers.
She knows I’m the reason the kraken escaped. I am going to die for this, and from the way Kyor’s hand is now clenching mine, he’s thinking the same.
‘As is customary when such things happen, I have sought Etta’s guidance, for I myself believed that the only suitable punishment was death.’
My knees feel weak. Have I survived a drowning by kraken only to be put to the sword now? The confirmation of my worst fear is enough to steal any strength I had. I can’t breathe. This isn’t happening. Killed, not in the trials, but for this? Something I have no control over?
‘I’m not going to let anything happen to you,’ Kyor growls beside me. ‘If they?—’
‘But,’ Mila continues loudly, glaring at Kyor, ‘in this particular circumstance, Etta has chosen to make an exception.’
She steps forward. ‘Prince Kyor Knavin, you are hereby disqualified from the trials for attacking, injuring, and showing wilful disrespect towards the priestesses of Etta.’
It feels like the air has been ripped from my lungs. They’re going to take Kyor? For his lightning strike? I should be relieved it’s not my neck on the line, that my secret is safe, but this can’t be happening. I need him.
‘No.’ I lurch forward, my arms in front of him. ‘It wasn’t his fault.He only did that because?—’
‘It’s fine, Thorn.’ His voice cuts across mine. ‘I used my powers to break the ward on the kraken. I will accept my punishment.’ He leans in as if to kiss my cheek, but instead he whispers, ‘It’ll be okay. I promise you. I’ll be waiting for you. Just get control of those damn powers and win the Ofur. The gifting is yours. Fucking own it, Thorn.’
Before I can reply, he disappears.
Chapter 66
Istare at the spot where Kyor stood only seconds ago.Fucking portation.
Jonas appears at my side, seemingly attempting to fill the void left by Kyor, but he can’t. No one can. ‘It’s okay,’ he says. ‘He should have known what he was doing.’
I glare. ‘He did! He didn’t hit them. Not a single one of them,’ I hiss.
Jonas opens his mouth as if he’s going to say more, but I can feel the daggers I shoot from my eyes, and thankfully, he stays quiet. My heart hurts – physically hurts, as if it’s been knifed by an icy blade of my own creation. The words I said to him in bed this morning replay in my mind.‘Take me like this is all we get.’That’s what I told him. Why in the Gods’ names did I say something that stupid? Something I didn’t for one second believe could be true. I should have known the Gods listen to it all.
On the other side of the dock, Grenda offers me a look of consolation, but it’s Zara who speaks.
‘Well, I for one am feeling very optimistic about the Ofur.’ A smirk curls her mouth. ‘Particularly after that unexpected outcome.’
‘Fuck off, Zara,’ I say, but Benny and Jonas grab me before I can launch myself at her.
‘Oh, look at that. More big men coming to your aid, ensuring you don’t ever have to fight for yourself,runt.’
I know she’s just trying to rile me, and I hate that it’s working.
‘Fuck you! You have no idea what I’m capable of,’ I snarl, lifting myhands, no longer surprised by the buzzing energy that courses through them. The power trembles through my veins, begging to be released.
‘The fact is you’re down to just two guard dogs now,’ she sneers. ‘This is going to be fun.’
‘I am going to kill you,’ I say through gritted teeth. ‘I am going to kill you just the way I killed Oke. Not that you cared. You didn’t even bother waiting to find out if your friends were still alive before demanding to be allowed to return to the barracks.’
The words leave my mouth before I can stop them, and her eyes widen in shock. Though in a flash, it transforms into fury.
‘You bitch,’ she says, ready to lunge at me, exactly the way I want her to. The fear of exposing myself is suddenly forgotten. All that matters is tearing Zara apart, however I can.
‘That’s enough!’
Grenda’s voice cuts through the tension as Zara continues to snarl at me, but that’s all she’s doing. It takes a heartbeat to realise that’s all I’m doing, too. And not because I’m waiting for her to strike first. I physically can’t move.
My arms are frozen in clenched fists and for an instant I think it’s my powers; that they’re manifesting again out here in front of all these people. The fear I suppressed before is suddenly laid bare as my heart lunges up into my throat, but then I realise Zara is in exactly the same state. She wants to come for me. She just can’t.
Well, now I know what Grenda’s power is. No wonder she’s such a force to be reckoned with. It’s not like anyone can fight back if they’re frozen in place. It’s magnificent in its deadliness. Even more so when I consider its strength was likely significant enough to hold a jötunn in place.
