Wrenley’s scream cuts through the air.
Faustrius’s blade clangs against the floor as she falls to her knees, freed from Sira’s grip. But there’s no relief, no victory. My gaze snaps back to Caspian as he collapses, limp in a swirl of shadows.
Rosie cries out, desperate pleas echoing through our bond.What’s his plan? What’s his plan? This can’t be his plan!
His plan…
Iam his plan.
A blade of ice forms in my hand.
Sira turns, her laughter sharp and venomous. “The heir of the Green Flame is mine to command! My beautiful son, my legacy!”
Caspian rises to his hands and knees, breath heaving, then looks at me.Do you love me, Kel?
I–I…
Of course I do. I always have.
“My first command, beloved son, is this: Embrace the Green Flame that burns within you. Stop resisting who you were born to be,” Sira says.
Cas keeps his eyes locked on me.Now, Kel, pl?—
His head snaps back. His eyes shift to an unnatural phantasmal green as his body slams against the ground. A scream tears from his throat as flames flicker to life, crawling across his skin.
“Caspian!” Rosalina screams.
“Grab her,” I command.
Dayton does, bringing her to his chest as they both stare with horror at Caspian writhing as if caught in a seizure.
“We need to do something,” she cries.
She’s right.Ineed to do something. But I can’t move. I can’t breathe.
It’s like I’m back in Castletree for all those years, fear keeping me locked within the icy confines of the Winter wing.
Kill me if you ever loved me.
This is what he wanted. What he asked of me.
But how? How can I do this? My fingers tighten around the frozen blade in my hand.
“No,” Faustrius growls. His blade scrapes against the ground as he picks it up. “This is evil, Sira. Controlling one’s will with magic—it’s monstrous. And to both your children?”
Sira doesn’t so much as glance at him. “Spare me your righteous drivel, Faustrius. You of all people should know what it means to wield power. My son was born for this.”
The underfae’s red gaze gleams, but he says no more.
The flames burn brighter around Caspian, spiraling higher with every second. His screams claw through the icy air.
“No!” Wrenley’s voice is desperate and trembling. She’s still on her knees, her wide eyes flickering between Caspian, Sira, and Kairyn as if searching for salvation in any of us. “He always feared this. Do something! He’s—he’s burning! I can’t touch these flames.”
“Caspian!” I step forward.
This cursed hex fire engulfs him. His hands claw at the ground, the ice beneath melting into steaming puddles.
Sira turns to me, her dark smile triumphant. “What’s the matter, Keldarion? Finally realize who my son truly is? You can put a little sapphire crown on his head, but he will always belong to this, to the Green Flame. To me. Ridiculous to think you could ever love such a beast. Your realm knew it, and you shall too.”
