“If he loves her as she deserves, then he shall have my greatest esteem.”
Ve laughs. “That’s rather enlightened of you.”
“I am the son of agod,Ve,” I scoff. “If we aren’t more evolved than mortals, then the realms have a lot more to worry about than two people daring to love the same woman.”
“That is very true, Your Majesty. And what will you do about your sister? She craves the power to wield the touch of death.”
“Anahima has always been ambitious,” I say, though my heart aches at the thought of my sister hiding so much from me for so long. “And she has grown strong. I knew she felt cast aside as a child, but I never realized it had festered for so long.”
“The men in her life have always disappointed her,” Ve says. “Her father, her soul-fated. Even you, by taking the role she felt was hers by birth.”
“I would have gladly given it to her,” I burst out. “I never wanted a crown. She was the one born to rule, not me.” A hitched breath leaves my lungs. “This is my fault. I should have seen what she was going through. Even with Vogonis... I should have hunted that bastard down and killed him. I can’t even think of what such a betrayal would be like... the devastation.”
“She’s angry,” Ve says.
“And a threat to all of Endara.”
Ve frowns, eyes going vacant as though contemplating the different threads of the future. “Yes, she is a powerful sovran, and with your father’s stolen power, she is dangerous, with magic equal to the Starkeeper’s. You will need to complete the bond.”
“I am aware.” I exhale. “Either way, I suppose I will have to face him and end him.”
“Can you?”
“I don’t know,” I murmur. “Even the worst of us can be worthy of redemption. Sura taught me that.”
“Well said.” Ve props their long frame on the edge of a couch. “So back to the other thing. How’s this going to work with two royal swords in the mix? Sandwich style? Pyramid? Spit-roasted? Oh,shemight enjoy that.”
I shoot them a mock glare with no heat in it. “Don’t you have somewhere else to be?”
“Why, Darrius, I was so certain we were having a moment,” Ve says, and then winks wickedly. “Very well. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t.”
“Go,” I growl.
“Spoilsport.” Ve cackles. “Fine, I’m going...”
Chapter Thirty-Five
ROSHANACHARIA,
KING OFORYNDHR
My heart feels so full and so bright. It beats the song of perpetual hope, and each beat is for her. The one whose fierce, benevolent spirit I crushed withhiscruelty.
The love of my life.
Stars above, I remember everything: her laughter, her joy, her divinity when she shattered in my arms, her passion, the adoration in her beautiful gray eyes, and,by the maker,herlove... and then her confusion, her sorrow, the way she looked when I shackled her, her hurt, her pain, her disappointment... and finally, her loathing for the monstrous creature I embodied.
And then she ran.
Hehad been furious, but I’d been secretly victorious.
My desert starling deserved to be free.
I cursed the rot that ate away at my humanity, and every day as I grew smaller, I guarded the spark she’d given me with everything I had. I would hold on to my Starkeeper’s precious light to the last—she would be the final and only thing I saw until death took me.
And then she came and drew the rot out. Saved me... again.
But she is no longer mine.
