My legs weaken, and I nearly collapse to the floor. Dayton begged me to tell him not to go through with this. I let him walk straight into this trap.
Kairyn slams a hand against the wall. “There has to be another way!”
“Stop it, Kairyn,” she snaps. “You said you were fine with this. You said you understood what’s at stake.”
“Of course I said that,” he growls. “But now that the time has come, I cannot bring myself to let this happen.”
“Well, you don’t have a say.”
“Give me more time.” The distance between them vanishes as he sweeps her into his arms. “I will find another way to deliver you Summer’s Blessing, I promise. Do not do this.”
She shoves off him. “Just as you said you would deliver the Golden Rose? As always, the only person I can count on is myself.”
“You wanted the monastery; I gave you the monastery! You wanted the Spring Realm; I gave you Spring!” Kairyn’s voice hitches. “Yet, you still do not trust me,” he adds.
Wrenley barks a laugh. “Those weren’t forme. Those were for you. Do you remember how you were when I first found you? Miserable. Banished. You would never be content until you proved to your damned brother that you are the deserving ruler of Spring.” Her steps echo through the chamber as she paces before him. “I made you into what you are. I took you to the Fates to see your destiny. I showed you the truth of Ezryn’s curse. I turned you from a monastery boy into an Emperor!”
My heart thunders with the passion of her words. They’ve completely forgotten my presence now, so wrapped up in themselves. I test the steel again, knowing it’s futile to try and break it. And Kairyn’s right. Even if I could use my magic, I’d have to take the whole wall with me if I want to use my thorns.
Kairyn falls to his knees before Wrenley, clawing at her robes. “I have given you everything. All that I am. There’s no part of my soul that hasn’t been painted by you. This is the only thing I ask in return. Do not do this. Do not give yourself tohim.You don’t love him!”
Wrenley grabs Kairyn’s wrists and flings them off her. “Loveis poison.”
Kairyn collapses to the ground, cape pooling around him. “I have nothing left. Would you have me rip out my heart and throw it on the ground before you? I will do it. I will do anything you ask.”
She gives that sad, joyless laugh once again. “Oh, you’ve given me everything, have you, Kai? I told you to kill Ezryn and you left him alive to ravage the Summer sands. Those are destined to bemylands he’s hunting! But is this how you play it in your mind, Sweetling? Everything all for darling Birdy girl?” Her blue eyes shimmer and her lip curls in disgust. “I fight for your attention with a godsdamnedghost.Someone who never existed! A brother who’s scorned you since the first! You couldn’t win his love, so you chose his hatred instead. Well, good luck trying that with me.” Her whole body trembles and she turns away from him, stalking to the edge of the room. “I can’t love you, but I won’t hate you. So, what are you going to do about it?”
Kairyn stands, appearing as a looming shadow. I hold my breath, wondering if they’re going to try to kill each other.
Then he moves. He rips off his helmet. It falls to the floor with a thud. Long black hair flows behind him as he rushes toWrenley. In a single movement, he sweeps her into his arms and kisses her. Kisses her with the passion of a man undone.
Her eyes widen, shock registering on her face. Then she closes her eyes and melts against him, kissing him in return with the same passion.
Kairyn’s helm lies on the floor, as discarded as I am. I narrow my eyes, hardly able to reconcile the usurper Prince of Spring with the … theboyin front of me. His hair reaches his shoulders, wavy and dark. He has the same tawny skin as Ezryn, and his brown eyes, too. I’m struck by how young he appears. Younger than me, even.
I suck in a breath. Ithurtsto see how alike he and Ezryn are. How young and handsome he is. I can picture the two of them beside each other, laughing.
Wrenley pulls away from him, her face shifting from bliss to horror. “What were you thinking? Your creed!”
He grabs her hands and brings them to his lips. “I don’t care. My honor was forsaken long ago. You are my creed now, the temple that I worship. I have nothing else to offer you, to make you stay with me, but this.” He places her palm on his cheek. “Please take it.”
My heart catches. This … this is the most vulnerable a member of the Spring royal family could possibly be, to offer their face to someone who is not of their blood or fated mate. Kairyn must be truly desperate to forsake everything he knows forher.
Wrenley’s chest heaves. Slowly, she takes a few shaky steps away from him. “I-I have to do this. I need the Blessing.”
Kairyn falls to his knees. “It won’t help you.” He touches his chest. “It won’t fix anything, Wren. It will only burn. Like there’s a dagger digging deeper and deeper at every moment. If only Ezryn—”
“Ezryn!” she shrieks. “I’m not weak like you, Kairyn. You had your chance to kill him. Now, I have my chance to get Summer’s Blessing. I’m not going to squander it.”
Kairyn’s stare turns inward. Those beautiful dark eyes glaze over. “There’s nothing I can say to stop you, is there.” He doesn’t ask it but says it. A statement he knows in his heart.
“No.”
Kairyn stands, movements stiff, jerky. He turns toward the door. “So be it. I will be taking my leave of Hadria presently.”
“What?” She raises a brow. “Where are you going?”
He picks up the helm and puts it on, hiding the boy. “You want me to kill my brother? Fine. I’ll kill my brother. I’ll take my men to the Ribs and destroy him once and for all.”
