Coughing.
Retching.
Purple saliva dribbling down his chin.
“What—”
Lux swiped at her lips as his now moved without sound. “Gorga berries,” she whispered so only he could hear. The nightmare dissolved around them. “Did you swallow it? I think you did.”
Corvin spat onto the stones but other than a stream of violet liquid, no seed came with it. He lifted his head—and there was murder in his seeping gaze.
“Saints above, devil below.” She tutted. “It looks as if your brother’s soul hasn’t cured you after all.” Her fingers came away from the grip she had about his neck, the skin there beginning to grey. “I foundMania Malus, Corvin—and it’s not eating me. It’s eatingyou.”
Before Lux could scramble off his lap and off the throne, Corvin lunged.
He was stopped by an old blade to his throat.
Shaw’s jaw feathered with a rage that didn’t look like it could ever be contained. “Stayin your saintforsakenseat.”
And—laughing wildly—the girl behind Lux lowered her hood.
Chapter fifty-one
“Devil’stits,”breathedLux.
“Unbelievable,” growled Shaw.
“Who the Hell are you?” Red-faced and fuming, Kent marched toward the dais.
A blonde braid whipped along with Aline’s body. She leveled the end of some contraption upon the collector. “You must be the murderer I’ve heard so much of. Why don’t I shoot you for it?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” But Lux could tell Kent was unnerved. He stared down the barrel of Aline’s weapon with healthy suspicion.
“I hate liars. I hate themsomuch. It’s over, you know. They’re all coming for you.”
Lux’s brow furrowed, but she asked for no explanation. In case Shaw’s sister was lying herself. Whom did they have who would come to their aid?
Kent chuckled menacingly. “You’ve no idea who you are dealing with, girl. We’ve survived centuries. Emerged victorious through every trial.” He gestured to the collectors converging behind him. “And now we’ve the key to everlasting power realized at last. We are unstoppable.”
Kent’s gaze flicked briefly to Lux’s own, and before she could register anything purposeful in it, she was dropped to her knees. Thedress.The bodice shrank upon her form until her ribs screamed. She cried out, dragging at the fabric, but it would not be undone. Her eyes landed on Kent, his hand manipulating a spool of red thread.
No words left his mouth, and soon, none would leave hers again either. She collapsed to her side at the same moment an arm wrapped around her fracturing middle. The brief flash of a blade entered her vision and was gone again. And the pressure—it released. She heaved the loudest breath, there on the ground.
She knew who held her. Knew that knife.
Her bodice had been completely cut through. She could feel it drooping. And she’d no sooner gathered the fabric against her chest, when a horrid crack rent the air.
Lux leapt nearly out of her skin. Her mouth fell wide at the smoke billowing from the end of what Aline held. At the giant of a collector fallen to one knee.
“My leg!” Kent screamed. A small crimson puddle formed around the limb he knelt upon. “What is that weapon!”
But she heard no answer from Aline, only—
“Lux,” Shaw managed.
Before her dagger was plunged into his eye.
Lux didn’t think, only acted. She dove at Corvin as the remainder of the room erupted. Her dress fell to her feet, and in only a corset and slip, she could finally run freely. She reached the mad overlord in a heartbeat. Gripping the collar of his robe, she dragged her nails across his face. A silent shout came fromhim, but he didn’t release Shaw. Not until she’d punctured him fully.
