The seed I planted is sprouting the tiniest roots.
Outwardly, I ignore her.
A glance up at Rohan’s face tells me he’s gone again. Blank. He won’t defend himself.
I draw back my arm and prepare to strike as hard as I can.
Chapter Forty-Six
Antony
The cold determination in Thyra’s eyes is fucking terrifying.
She plunges the iron dagger toward Rohan’s heart.
Cassia claws at me, and if I weren’t determined to keep my sister safe, I’d let her loose. Or stop Thyra myself.
But it’s Mother who snaps.
The second Thyra’s arm descends, Mother throws herself at Thyra, screaming like a wild animal, her fingernails raking down Thyra’s side. She shoves Thyra out of the way, knocking her to the floor, where she lands with athump.
Thyra’s hand opens, and the dagger hits the smooth porcelain floor, sliding toward my feet, stopping at my boot.
I scoop it up, ready to step between Galla and Thyra, but Mother now throws herself at Rohan, wrapping her arms and legs around him, hurtling into him so fast that she knocks him to the floor, where he lies sprawled beneath her.
He doesn’t make a sound.
“Get out!” Galla screams, but this time it’s clear she’sshouting at me, her green eyes flashing daggers, her chest heaving. “Get that witch away from me.”
Thyra lifts herself up onto her knees, appearing completely unperturbed about her fall. “Oh, Galla, darling, you’re upset?—”
Galla’s entire face twists with rage. “I see through you, Oracle. Don’t, for one second, think you’ll deprive me of my strongest warrior.”
Thyra smiles.
Fucking radiant.
Her eyes light up so brightly that, for a moment, I wonder if she’s about to have a vision. I’m not certain I’ll see the telltale stream of molten gold striking up her arm beneath the silver dress, but I remind myself I’ll see the change in her features.
Fucking Goddess. There’s no telling what Thyra would do if she were to have a blade vision right now…
But her features remain the same, even if her eyes are far from dull and her cheeks glow.
As mother seethes, remaining hunched over Rohan like a wild dog protecting its only scrap of food, Thyra rises to her feet, brushes down her skirt, and defies Galla’s command, crossing the distance to her.
Ensuring the chain doesn’t tighten, I move smoothly forward with her, maintaining the slack while keeping Thyra firmly in my sights.
My move toward Galla seems to be the threat the lords were waiting for. Ten paces away from me, Quintus and the others lurch forward.
My hand snaps back to wrap around my axe, and that’s all it takes for the lords to stop in their tracks, their tension rising.
Without fuss, Thyra kneels beside Mother and brushes away a final smear of blood from Mother’s cheek. “You missed a spot.”
Galla crouches even lowerover Rohan.
“Darling Galla, you can’t blame me for trying. This one scared me. I didn’t like it.” Thyra pouts as she brushes at an invisible speck on her sleeve. “I probably should have let you strangle him to death, but I wanted a little fun.” She raises her eyes to Galla’s. “You understand, don’t you? Boredom is such a terrible thing.”
“Get. Out.”
