I glanced at Matthias. Was he going to let them argue like this?
Ifan barked out a laugh. ‘No, you wouldn’t. You’re too busy making moon eyes at a spineless man.’
‘Fuck you, Ifan.’ Now Asher was in his face, hands raised as though he were going to punch him.
‘Are you going to let this happen?’ I turned to Matthias, who’d crossed his arms and tilted his head.
‘This isn’t about me. And they were the same as kids. They need to fight this out.’
‘Fight?’ I said as Pablo whined. I turned, furrowing my brows as he pawed a small wooden chest peeking out from the sand.‘Have you seen the size of your brother? He could keep Carush’s armies away single-handed.’
I didn’t hear Matthias’s reply as Pablo yipped. I blinked quickly. Was that…smoke coming from the chest?
The beach, Matthias, his siblings, guards – all faded into the background, anger swallowed by the swell of the waves. A frigid tingle trailed down my spine as I stared at the chest. What was it?
It must be one of the swirls marring my sight. I took another step forward as Pablo backed away, his hackles high. I bent down and there, there it was. Smoke.
‘What?’ I whispered, unsure if it was my sight causing the smoke to resemble thick treacle rising, untouched by the breeze.
‘Matthias?’ Had I spoken? I glanced back over my shoulder as my knees crunched against the damp sand.
Skye shoved her brother. His mouth flew open but the words were carried far from my ears. Asher grabbed her arm, held her back. They weren’t listening anyway.
I crawled closer, ignoring Pab who grabbed the seam of my tunic, tugging me back.
‘Off,’ I ordered, cocking my head and blinking. This was unlike anything I’d seen before. Inhaling sharply, I found the shadowy smoke burned my nostrils, yet I didn’t cough. Strange? It was then I spotted flecks of bronze swirling through the thick tendrils spreading outwards. Exactly like?—
‘Vyrium,’ I whispered.
Shit. This was some form of smoking Vyrium. A weapon forged by the empress? Poison? Perhaps we were to be slaughtered on a desolate beach? I swallowed against my dry throat, eyes wide.
Pablo snarled, and I glanced back over my shoulder. I thought Matthias was looking my way, but with the smoke andmy sight, who knew? My lips parted. I had to warn them. Before I’d inhaled a breath, the beach exploded.
The force threw me back. Sand clogged my lungs as I twisted through the air. My head slammed down. I think Matthias screamed my name, but the ringing in my ears stole my senses. I knew nothing as shadows consumed me.
CHAPTER 22
Fear not. It was Mercy’s bastard, not my Enfys, thank Evella. I’d hoped the bitch would succumb to her injuries; I even refused to summon a healer, but she’s as stubborn as Mercy was. The accident damaged her sight and destroyed her gift. They say she’ll go blind. However, it’s torn her and Elmswood’s heir asunder. Bronzed linings, Seth, there’s always bronzed linings!
— LETTER FROM KINGROMEROIV TO SETH OF ITORAS
The thudding against my temples dragged me from my sleep. A shaking hand gripped my skull where it throbbed, throbbed, pulsed, pulsed. Groaning, a multitude of tiny shards of shattered glass grazed my cheek. Why would I sleep on broken glass? My ragged breaths rattled around the ache of my mind as my eyes flickered open.
Not glass. Sand. Miles upon miles of ebony sand.
Rolling onto my front, I heaved myself up, fighting a body desperate to remain still. A scream, my scream, split the night as I forced myself to my hands and knees.
I took in my surroundings, heaving shattered breaths.
Where was the light?
Where was I? Where had I been?Breathe. Slower. Focus. Focus only on truths.My name was Sorrow Villente. Mama died birthing a brother I barely knew. My father was an unknown shape. My sister coddled by the king. The king who’d disowned me. Disowned me when…
‘Gods,’ I screamed past my raw throat. ‘My eyes.’
I dry heaved on the shards of sand as images and cutting conversations fell back into my mind. The horse. The fall. I’d been hurt. Now my sight deteriorated. Surely it hadn’t left me so soon? Had I died and been sent to spend eternity with Vyrus for my crimes?
Another sob racked my body and I convulsed, my fingers grabbing the thick wool of my skirt. My fingers rubbed the material, gaining friction. Feeling something tangible. Real.
