Euthymia’s, Aethra.
Eris could yet be an ally to us. But no ally of Father’s deserved to live.
The drop falling from my palm had yet to reach the ground. A blade burst from the blood and flew across the ballroom, tearing through Euthymia’s neck. Her eyes widened in surprise before she staggered backward and collapsed.
Eris gasped in surprise and stumbled away. Her spell broke. The nobles shrieked, many scrambling to escape. I dug my blade deeper into my palm as the knights assembled around me lunged.
“Seth!” Aethra cried.
Suffocating silence interrupted the men’s charge. Air fled my lungs, and time ceased. A tiny black dot appeared against the marble floors.
I managed to take one step away from it before the silence shattered, and the Empty exploded.
The knights instantly disintegrated, turning to mere dust as awave of destruction swept over them. It spread in a semi-circle around me, consuming my attackers, but leaving Seraphim and Percy free.
All hell broke loose. Screams tore through the room, but only one mattered.
Aethra cried out in agony. Like I’d never heard her scream before.
My vision blurred as I searched for her. There was a knight ahead of me, but Seraphim charged into him, hands lighting with fire as her scythe formed.
Music rang across the room—Percy’s. Whoever he attacked, I didn’t care. I darted around Seraphim and saw her.
Aethra had crumpled to the ground. Every inch of her skin was coated in blood, and more tears were growing on her arms, like thread being pulled loose from a tunic. She flickered, as though fading away.
I fell to her side, futilely trying to staunch the flow of blood. A spear flew past me, dragging across my cheek. Blood streamed down my face.
Aethra had said her magic made her feel like she was coming apart at the seams.
Gods. It was killing her.
“Seth!” Eleos appeared at my side. “Seas,” he cursed, ripping off his cloak to wrap around Aethra’s wounds.
Lifting my head, I looked around. The nobles were fleeing in every direction, pushing past one another in their bid to escape. Eris was stunned in horror, eyes fixated on the dust that had once been men.
We needed to go, now.
Gathering Aethra into my arms, I sprinted for the exit. I had to get her to safety. Nothing else mattered.
I couldn’t lose her.
33
Aethra
Iwoke to the light of a single flame. A candle burned on the nightstand, faintly illuminating the man sitting on the bed beside me. I groggily traced his features, remembering the wavy black locks and sharp jaw.
Seth’s fingers were locked around mine, thumb caressing the back of my hand.
Everything hurt. I felt as I did when using magic—drained, pulled apart. Holding up a hand, I turned my palm over, but I was solid and whole. Nearly every inch of my body was wrapped in bandages.
The events at the ball came rushing back.
Fading away, coming unwound . . . the price of my magic.
The reason no Elpis maidens returned from the Empty.
Noticing me move, Seth lifted his head. “Thank the maiden.” He released my hand and cupped my face. “I was beginning to think you weren’t going to wake.”
