And my stomach plunged. It was Rook’s body. His shoulders, his bronzed hair. But the face, that wasn’t his. It was twisted and morphed. A stranger’s mask stretched across him.
“You need not witness this,” Obrann crooned, “but you must be present.”
As if anyone here wanted to watch. Cloaks rose, hands shielded faces. Mothers turned children away.
Still, the axe lifted higher, my pulse roaring louder.
Callum, this better be fucking good.
“On with it!” Obrann barked.
The axe came down. And of course—
I reacted.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Verena
THE SCREAM TORE FROM MY THROAT before thought could form.
My body lunged, reaching for Rook—
And met eyes instead. They were jade and savage, lethal, as he tore open a rip in the air. The man winked, again, and then he was gone, Rook and my breath in tow.
I whipped to Callum where he stood rigid, with only a hint of shock in his expression. Obrann shoved past his guards, knuckles whitened on his robe, jaw clenched so tight it nearly shattered as he stomped toward the empty block.
“Another traitor, Your Majesty,” Callum said, bowing low.
Obrann rubbed his chin, his other hand fidgeting at his side.This was worse than failure. It was humiliating. The realization burned across his face just as the crowd began to murmur.
Whispers swelling. Rumors rooting.
Obrann snapped at that, lifting the chopping block and chucking it into the crowd with a crash. Bodies scattered as he screamed over us. “Be fucking quiet!”
But his grip was gone, his borrowed magic wrung dry. And instead of silence, it was anarchy. The crowd surged wilder, feet stomping, voices shredding the center.
Wells braced behind me, his boots planted but I was already moving, one step, then another, toward the podium.
Obrann whipped to Perseus, extending an arm and the prince lifted his palm without hesitation. Their hands clasped, energy surging between them, stolen light sparking.
“Silence,” Obrann demanded again.
And we obeyed.
Perseus smirked, rolling up his sleeves. “You revolting little pests,” he spat, pointing into the thick of us. “You’ll die in that traitor’s place.”
My blood flared hot.
Sorry, Callum. Looks like we’ll be needing the Viper after all.
The hilt of my dagger hummed as my fingers curled around it, then moved to the snake at my wrist. Power uncoiled, ready to strike—
Boom.
A distant tremor rattled the sky, low as thunder dragging beneath the realm.
Everyone’s stare had snapped up, mine following on instinct.
