“Bold and brave, Gracie,” I whisper, thumb-swiping a tear from her cheek. She kisses me and then rips herself away before it’s too late. Grace snatches our twin blades from the ground before she disappears from my sight for shelter, but the vision of her remains, brilliant and beautiful in my mind, and I hold onto everything we are.
Riot kneels next to me, his hand gripping mine.
The world spins as I try to focus on him. “Protect her. Help her.Finishwhat we started.”
“With my life, brother. I will be by her side—always,” he growls.
I nod. Knowingexactlywhat he means by that. Riot will turn, for her. For us. For the dream.
If I could join them, I would.
“Forever may you rest,” Riot says, and I give him the biggest smile I can manage.
Because Gracewillend this. And I believe in her to do it right, to do it well. And most importantly, to fucking do it.
I slip into unconsciousness, love and hope shrouding me as I surrender to an early grave and leave our life behind and the future to Grace.
To Queen Veya.
CHAPTER 23
VEYA
Present Day
NERIAN’S WORDSshatterme.
Staring at the necklace of teeth draped around the king’s neck, my rage becomes feral as I notice the canine, the one in the center. Thechippedone.
A monster I can’t control screams within me staring at Kade’s tooth. A wifedesperatefor revenge cries with deep sorrow.
Tears prick my eyes.
And I cling to Kade’s dying words, the words that got me throughdecadesof grief when I wanted to shrivel into nothing and join him in the afterlife of the gods. But his sacrifice was one I would never waste.
I am bold. And I am brave.
Nerian tilts his head, assessing me. “I wanted to ask you, Veya. How was your dreamwalk?”
I hesitate at the random question, trying to leash my rage for Aurelia’s sake. “I’ve had better.”
Nerian sighs. “Me too. But I awoke into another nightmare.” His casual tone sets me on edge. “Imagine my surprise when my human guards found two girls racing on horseback to the south in the early hours of dawn. And upon inspection,” he tsks, “the damning letter they carried. Well—”
My insides spin as he clicks his tongue and slips a piece of parchment from his pocket. Nerian unfolds it slowly, the crinkle of paper grating along my skin as he turns the letter.
“Whatconfoundsme,” the king snarls, “is that a queen would risk our alliance, my respect, and her own safety. For what?”
I feel my fear in my bones and force myself to remain neutral.
He spits. “Twohumangirls.” He drags a wine bottle from the table beside him and swigs from it before hurling it at the wall. Glass explodes into the room, slicing exposed skin, and tiny cuts shred my face.
Blood trickles down my cheeks and chin, and I pretend the trails of blood are the tears I can’t shed as Nerian continues.
“I couldn’t figure out what could possibly be so important about these women. Perhaps your heart is so weak that you would willingly risk your life to send two lives to your kingdom. But then I thought, maybe you knew one of them?” Nerian glares at me. “But you don’t have ties to Goreon, especially not human ones.” His lips quirk. “But one of you does.”
Del snaps into the lair beside me, and Nerian’s face lights up with his evil grin. “Ah! Just in time, Deleos!”
Del’s eyes dart to mine. He has no idea about Aurelia. And my heart cries.
