“Dominik got what he deserved,” Maxian spits. “And if you do not fall in line, if House Illusion does not fall in line, you will get a blade in your back as well.”
Silence.
Kass tilts her head. “Interesting.”
The executioner coughs.
“Speak.” Maxian waves a hand. The executioner’s shoulders drop and it’s only then that I understand how much he is controlled by the king.
“My king, an open act of war on Illusion would trigger the Trium Treaty. Healing and Death would then have to declare war on Reign.”
A war is fought with bodies,Dominik had said, and there was so much blood from that night.
“The one from House of Death is against war,” Maxian scoffs.
“Apparently, they don’t like that name,” I mutter.
But the king’s hearing pricks up. He pivots, gazing between Kassandra and me.
“How about a closed act of war, then?” he says. “Either I whip you, Kass, or I cut her out of that throne. If you do not choose, I will do both.”
Silence falls over the coronation room. Kassandra uses the dagger to pick dirt from her nails. “ ‘Avery’ does mean ‘queen.’ I think the exact translation was ‘rulers of the eaves’ in the old language. Or is it ‘elves’? I can never remember. Eli wasn’t the most exciting teacher.”
“Kass!” the king snaps.
“Elves?” I start.
“Female fae,” Kassandra replies. “At least, in the old Illusion tongue.”
“It’s more similar to the word ‘nightmare’ in the Death tongue,” the executioner murmurs.
The plane rushes with stony energy. Kassandra and the executioner drop to their knees, foreheads against the ground. The dagger clatters from her grip.
“I’ve had enough of this,” the king says. “I’ve made the decision.”
He picks up the dagger and marches toward me once more.
“Wait,” I say. “I—”
“I’m done waiting.”
The king drops to his knees. There’s muffled groaning behind us. Maxian waves a hand, and Kass and Death both gasp. He moves aside, and their heads lift in unison. Kassandra strains against the control, her face growing red.
She must watch him carve me up. No, I cannot pass the pain I hold for Jeremee on to her. Not after everything she’s been through and all we’ve accomplished together.
Maxian grabs my leg, positioning the dagger over the roots.
“I’ll take the Walk,” I say.
The dagger hovers.
“Send me on the Desert Walk.”
The king leans back on his heels, and a groan comes from Kass. Curiosity sparks in his expression, once again glancing between us. He tilts his head, and my mistress collapses out of his magical grasp.
“No,” she rasps.
“Yes,” I say. “Send me to the desert. It will get me out of this throne without sacrificing the power of the Tree, and I’ll most likely die. Even if I survive the Walk, then banishment from Amyria will be my punishment, and you will never have to see me again. I will serve out my sentence at the House of Death, protecting the kingdom.”
