Page 159 of Empress of the Embodied

Lyvia’s lips stretched into a dangerous smile as she pulled the queen to her feet, silver eyes sparking.

“Your power,” she said quietly, her eyes sliding down the queen’s shaking form, “is but a dying ember in the storm that rages in this one.”

The queen’s eyes widened, and she stilled.

“But,” Sintarrak continued, Lyvia’s voice quieting, “I can use you in what’s to come.”

The weave binding us tightened in panic at Sintarrak’s words, as if Lyvia grappled for any connection.

“Bonscaíh,” I finally spoke, daring step.

Sintarrak snapped Lyvia’s head in my direction, and I yanked forcefully on the weave connecting us.Mine. You are mine, Bonscaíh.

“I know you’re in there,” I urged, forcing a calmness to my voice. “Fighthim. You know who you are.Come back to me.”

For a moment, everything stopped. My breath. My blood. The noise. The air around us, even the fire blazing from the library stilled. Silver flashed, caramel flickering for just a moment in her eyes, and Lyvia’s free hand clenched into a fist. She bared her teeth, and her eyes pinched closed as her head jerked to the side.

Her lips twitched as a smile crept up her face. Lyvia’s eyes were silver when they opened.

“Lyvia is mine,” she said. “And I am the Empress of the Embodied.”