My legs almost give out from under me.
The room has silenced. I gaze around, horrified, at the impassive faces around me. Sebastian’s expression is intent but unreadable. Odessa looks downright placid, and the queen is actually smiling. Finn wears a blank mask—and I edge a step away, revolted.
“My good people of Verdinae!” Damien calls, hoisting a goblet. “Honored guests!Welcome!And thank you for joining us! Tonight, it’s my pleasure to bring you good news from our campaign in the west against Sontaag. As I’m sure many of you know, I’ve come straight from the front lines. I’ve been working side by side with my father to advance his vision of a united Midlands and bring our western enemies to heel. I’m pleased to report that we’ve achieved a decisive victory in our first campaign against the so-called free cities. As of yesterday…we have three of the thirteen securely under our control.”
Clapping erupts. I can’t tear my eyes from the bloodied prisoner, who is escorted by the VIA to the now-empty dance floor and forced to his knees. They unclip the log.
“Tonight, as a gift for my dear mother, and in thanks for the responsibility you’ve entrusted me with, I’ve brought a special present for your entertainment.This,” Damien says, gesturingto the prisoner, “is Fergustan of Pomeradia. Up until a fortnight past, he was high magistrate of the city.”
Damien is grinning now.
“You see,” he continues, “Fergustan was born with a Talent for warping minds. And as all magic wielders do, he used that magic to obtain influence and exploit the innocent. While he lived in luxury, the people of his city starved. But no more.”
The prisoner—Fergustan—cries out and shakes his head, but his rebuttal is muted by the gag.
I bite down, clenching my fists until blood coats my fingernails. I keep squeezing. My Talent feels like a white iron glued to my spine; it’s all I can do to contain it.
“My father’s mission is to abolish the scourge of magic from the Midlands. And today, I’m proud to help him forward that work.”
Damien turns toward Fergustan, who tries to speak again, but it is no use.
The prince proclaims, “For Verdinae!”
I realize what’s happening just in time to bury my face in Finn’s chest. I hear it anyway. A whistling blade, followed by a small, wet noise…
Then thethudas Fergustan’s head tumbles to the floor.
make it to the bushes before losing my dinner.
Out. I need out.
The last few weeks of my life come hurtling back with the contents of my stomach, just as bitter and foul in retrospect. The wall. The plague. The nightmare I’m living. I cling to a tree as my body spasms. Everything burns. I drop to my knees through the worst of it, until it’s over and I’m hacking and spluttering, clawing the grass.
“Lyria?”
Someone’s calling for me. I look back toward the castle and the terrace I sprinted through. The doors to the Great Hall cast long, flickering reflections on its marble.
I rise quickly, shoving myself to my feet, then almost collapse again as I realize what I’ve done.
Everything in a five-foot radius of me is dead. The grass I collapsed in looks like it’s been burned to ash. The tree I braced against has turned shriveled and gray. When I reach out to touch the hedges, dust crumbles in my fingers.
I stumble back, overcome by the carnage of my Talent.
“Lyria!”It’s Finn.
I’ve never been less happy to see him. My hands fly protectively to my ears, finding that the charm has reverted after my outburst. I work to calm my racing lungs, murmuring the spell under my breath as I hurry away from the crater.
“Over here!” I croak, panting, once I’ve managed to change my ears back.
“Are you all right?” Finn jogs closer, coming into view. “I’m so sorry. I had no idea Damien was going to do that.”
My gaze drifts back toward the castle, where music has resumed in the Great Hall. Through the glowing windows, I see the party has picked back up like nothing has happened. Servants are already mopping the floor.
I feel hollow.
“Finn, I don’t know what I’m doing here,” I finally admit quietly.
“Sure you do,” he insists. “What are you talking about? You’re my guest.”
