The pool erupts into images, each ripple a different path of the future and, in each one, I see the same: destruction. Horror. Power within power, unlike anything I’ve ever felt.
My eyes follow a particular ripple, larger and brighter than the rest. A ripple etched into the fabric of fate. I stand straight below the cosmos, a huge, white moon and glowing stars above me, dark clouds at my feet, and below, I see the Enchanted Vale. It looks like a battle map, one where I can move the pieces at will however I like.
The clouds part to reveal Castletree. It’s different now, with bark of darkest black. Thorns wind around every branch, creating a keep of briars. My mother’s body lies limp as a ragdoll, impaled by a thorn at the very peak of the tree. A proud display.
Something akin to joy flickers in my chest, but it’s not joy exactly. It is too muted to be true happiness. It’s more … satisfaction.
Someone walks out onto the balcony of Castletree, holding a bow of brilliant white light. My sister, Wrenley. Little Birdy, so beautiful—
Her eyes glow with a phantasmal green light. She smiles up at me in the clouds, then raises her bow in salute. Down below, standing at the base of Castletree, a massive army of skeletons writhing in green flame rattle their bones in cheer.
“You were born for this purpose,” a voice says. A voice I love.
I turn to see Rosalina standing in the clouds beside me, looking down at the Vale. She’s dressed in a gown of black, the fabric like thorns crawling up her body. A twisted crown of briars adorns her hair. There’s an otherworldly beauty to her, one that catches in my throat.
“Princess,” I whisper and reach for her.
She looks up, staring at me with eyes green as emeralds. “Why else are you here, Caspian? You were created to wield the Green Flame. This is your destiny, and I am your mate.” A smile curves up her lips. “This isourdestiny.”
I take a step back. “No. I don’t want this for you.”
She looks back down at the Vale. “Your mother is dead. The High Princes have fallen. The Vale is ours, Caspian, and we shall rule it as we like. Everything you’ve ever dreamed of is within our grasp.”
“Stop it, Rose. This isn’t you,” I whisper.
“All your life, you’ve wanted to rule under the sun. The Green Flame will cure you, Caspian. You’ll have a real home. The whole Vale.” Her voice grows in intensity, becoming excited, frantic even. “See these fae? They hated you. I will end them for you, my love. You’ll finally have the respect you deserve. A place to belong.”
I stagger backward, feet slipping on the edge. One more step, and I’ll tumble from these clouds and fall to the Vale below.
Rosalina steps in front of me and holds out her hand. “You don’t need to wait any longer, Caspian. I will be yours forever. Come with me. Our mate bond was written in the stars, as is your eternal dominion over this world.”
I search her face, looking for any remnant of the Rosalina I know. The woman who gave up her freedom for her father. The woman who never let love leave her heart, even in the face of such abuse. The woman who believed there could be goodness in a villain.
“This isn’t what you want, Flower,” I whisper. “This isn’t what I want.”
Her lip curls into a sneer. “It doesn’t matter what you want. You were born for this, and only this. Youarethe Green Flame!”
“No!” I scream and grab her shoulders. We tumble backward together, falling from the dark clouds. Wind rushes past us both, drops of water pelting my face—
I push myself up from the stone, reach around and snatch my father’s wrist, tearing it from the back of my skull. My face is a breath away from the pool. I stagger backward from it, throwing the Baron away from me. He hisses.
“I am not your weapon,” I say.
“You cannot escape your birthright,” he snarls.
I find purchase on the stone floor and push myself to my feet. With all the hatred I can muster, I look up at him through my lashes and say, “Something to learn about me, Father, is I love a little chaos. If I have to disrupt fate’s plan, I’ll do so gladly. After all,” I purr, “what else are villains for?”
My father roars, a sound like the felling of a great tree, and floats back to the middle of the pool. “Fine. Pretend you can fight destiny. You’ll come crawling to me before the end, Caspian, ember of the Green Flame. In the meantime, I’ll set my sights elsewhere.” He turns and looks toward the other side of the pool.
I follow his gaze. My stomach drops. “No.”
Farron, eyes glowing green, steps toward the water.
CHAPTER 97
Ezryn
Iwalk to the far side of the bridge. My brother’s screams of anger have quieted. Now, there is only his army to deal with.
