“No. I tested you,” he said. “And you are just who I’ve always thought.”
I was taken back to a million moments that should have told me Death sought me.
The moment a rope had wrapped around my neck.
The morning one of my maids had died after testing my breakfast.
The night when northern soldiers had invaded the Luz courtyard.
I had skirted him for so long.
I couldn’t free myself with force. There was no way out of this prison of darkness. He held my mind between his fingertips.
The figure was so close that I now could smell the putrid scent of death on his breath.
“You will never fulfill the prophecy. You will be mine and not his. I will revel in taking all those who you love; I will turn themto dust. Surrender to me and save them from suffering. I can spare them, spare you.”
He held out a gloved hand.
When I opened my mouth to scream, nothing came out. Then I let go of every ounce of the rage I carried in a silent cry that shook the fluid darkness around me. The wrath, a violent wave, washed away from me and threw Caym back.
I fell through the black viscous void until abruptly landing, a scarecrow hanging on nothing but air.
When I stopped, I came face to face with Emmerick. He looked through me. His eyes were glazed dark green—nothing like the rich brown warmth I knew. There was so much gold around him on the walls. Helos. He stood in the throne room.
He stepped away from me and handed a tall male figure in cream-colored robes a dagger and a rolled piece of parchment. The light caught the blade, and an etched symbol appeared on its pommel—three skulls run through with a triangle.
Then he said, “Take this back to Sahlmkar. It must only draw blood.”
Chapter 20
Krait
Stepping out into the courtyard with my former bounty hunter and the last Prince of Phynx had a nostalgic feeling. The world had been a much different place the last time we’d gathered. Magic had been widespread in the realms. The Sahlms had not existed.
Fen had once frequented the court of Brennax, and for different fees, he’d set out on many missions to collect artifacts and information for me. Unlike his sister, he’d never known what he was truly looking for. That truth had taken many centuries for me to reveal to my dearest friends.
The warlock had no allegiances to my or Ryn’s courts. Fen, Amara and Firose had been free agents in dealings with our kingdoms. The Three—asthe Old World lords had called them.
I hoped that Fen’s leanings remained similarly neutral today, hoped that we might start again on new ground.
Now that Sybilla, the Last Daughter of Isleen, was here, under my roof, it felt like my life had circled around and comescreeching to a halt. We were back at the beginning—with two tense realms and more to lose than ever.
“I’m sorry,” I said, breaking the silence.
Fen rested his forearms on the bridge railing as we looked over the main canal. “Before I accept your apology—sorry for what exactly?”
“I’d just take the apology. They don’t come often,” Ryn teased, stepping up to the railing.
“I’m sorry for thinking you would turn on Brennax, that you would choose a path of destruction. I see now I was wrong—and I’m not above admitting when I have been deceived.”
Fen blew out a “Pft” and shrugged. “It wouldn’t be the first time someone thought the worst of me. I don’t need apologies, but I do need an explanation of how you two came to be so chummy and why you were so bent on taking Asterie here?” Fenris glanced between me and Ryn. “Because that part, I don’t forgive you for.”
“This one’s yours to tell.” Ryn clapped my shoulder. “I need to see a man about a bar tab—I’ll be back. Try not to start any wars while I’m gone.” Ryn pushed away from the railing.
Fenris eyed me cautiously before I spoke. “After I met Princess Freya, we began to court secretly. It went on for years—sneaking through Egresses to one another, skirting our guards for moments alone during negotiations. Even after my father died and I took his crown, I knew better than to think a marriage would be accepted byherfather. So we eloped—we intended to tell him after peace negotiations were concluded. Ryn and Freya’s dearest friend were the only two who knew.”
Fenris stilled and watched me with intensity and pity. That soured my stomach. I didn’t need his pity.
