“She wouldn’t care.”
“And Odessa?”
Finn grinds his teeth. “Odessa and Sandria want the crown. They’re not pining after me. Both girls have lovers—they’re not subtle about it.”
“That doesn’t mean you can show blatant disrespect and not expect consequences.” Rodrick crosses his legs. “That’s your problem, Finneas; you can’t look farther than what’s smacking you in the face. A king is deliberate. A king makes sacrifices for the greater good. And a king honors his duty to the throne, and the Crown, and his people. Not his prick.”
Finn shoves his hands in his pockets, scowling. “Fine. Have Sebastian take over, then. I would respectfully remind you that you promised whoever found the heir would be named your successor.”
King Rodrick smiles, brows rising. “I thought you weren’t sure she’s the one.”
A muscle twitches in Finn’s jaw. “If she is, I don’t want Sebastian taking the credit.”
King Rodrick huffs a mirthless little laugh. “Fair enough.” He leans farther back. “Your mother can take point.”
“And what am I supposed to do when she gets here? Ignore her? If the whole point is to get her on our side, I don’t think throwing her to the wolves is ideal.”
“For now, I want you back east. Keep trying to find Melia. She’s going to raise unholy hell when the rebels find out her daughter is missing.”
“And then?”
“And then do what you need to do to keep her happy. But don’t sleep with her. The last thing we need is another bastard.”
Finn just laughs. “You won’t have to worry about that.”
I don’t hear any more.
Between the shock and the magic roaring through my blood, I didn’t realize that my lungs are burning. But as I gasp, trying to fill them with air, it feels like swallowing earth instead.
I stagger back, panic rising. My world is crumbling at the edges again. I choke, stars popping in my vision, blood roaring in my ears. I am slipping away from life; I can feel it. But there is no great beckoning light, only darkness. And the monster inside me, the inconceivable power, diminishes to a ghost, a flicker of itself.
I can’t remember what there is to live for. I can hardly remember my name. There is only pain, worse than the worst of my ravaging magic.
Betrayal.
I don’t know if I can trust what I’ve seen. I don’t know who I am, or if this is real, if it’s falsehood, if it’s some projection of the spell. I don’t know the way forward. I only know that I love him.I love him.
And if what I just saw is real…
No.I can’t accept it. Not yet.
When the darkness comes to claim me, I fight against it with all that I’m worth. I refuse to yield. But the harder I fight, themore weight presses down on me. Death looms like the end of time; death is an inevitability….
Death is…
Death is something heavy slamming into my chest.
Ouch.
Death is painful.
Is itsupposedto be this painful?
It slams again, more forcefully.
Stop.
Another crushing blow. It feels like my ribs are about to break.
