Now.I toppled onto my side, landing on the hard marble floor. Even with this, I didn’t whimper. I didn’t groan. I held everything inside just like my mother had so long ago.
With Ivenrail occupied trying to drain Brenna, and the high advisor and Kerune urging him on, Tempest rushed over, dropping to her knees beside me.
I scrambled to drag together enough power for what I needed to do, magicking my family blade into her hands. Magic hid it from everyone, even us, though she and I could feel it and it could deliver the final blow.
“Do it,” I growled. “My mother . . . infused this blade with her blood. Before she died. I did . . . too. Today.”
My last task this morning. Only our combined blood could generate the magic needed to hide it.
No. Vexxion, no.
“Do it. You’re . . . ready. Brenna’s . . . safe. I . . . removed her collar.” I found the strength to reach up and stroke her face one last time. “I love you. Have from . . . moment I met you. Always.Always.”
“You planned this all along.” The bitterness in her wordsstabbed through me. “You knew what would happen. You knew, and you didn’ttellme.”
“Face your . . . destiny.”
I can’t murder you,she said, her very heart coming through in her words.If I kill him, you’ll die.
How did she know?
I went to the king’s room,she said. I touched your finger. I saw, Vexxion. I saw! If I kill him, you’ll die, and I can’t do that.
Do it. Please. End this for us both.
Don’t you see? I love you. I can’t go on without you.
Fury. My Fury. I love you.
Everything was slipping away. Clouds rushed in, enveloping my mind. The king had taken too much.
I couldn’t keep myself in this world much longer. The ether called, eager to drag me away.
All I wanted was to look at my fury one last time.
One last glance.
One last touch.
And then—
57
TEMPEST
The light winked out in Vexxion’s eyes. He breathed. He lived. But the glorious, wonderful man I’d fallen in love with was gone. Stolen by the ether.
Stolen by Ivenrail Levestan.
He’d captured the villagers and drained them.
He’d killed anyone standing in his way, even my brother, Kinart.
And now he’d stolen Vexxion from me.
Tightening my grip on the invisible blade, I rose to my feet.
Chaos erupted around us, lords and ladies flitting from the throne room or running down the aisle. They shoved open the doors at the end and fled out into the enormous foyer. Brodine hovered near the throne, staring passively into the air.
