“Yes.”
“And in exchange for keeping her alive, he did whatever your father asked,” I say. “And now he does what you ask.”
“Don’t do that, Taylan. I amnotmy father. And…and I don’t know if I can honor his bargain with Brevan,” he says quietly.
“You’d kill her?” I’m horrified, but I feel a strange twisting sensation that might be agreement. She did this to Anya.
“That’s the problem. I think he might be even more dangerous than her,” he says.
“You think he’d turn on you?” I reply.
“Wouldn’t you? If I killed Anya, would you think twice about killing me?”His eyes meet mine, and I don’t blink.
“Your father’s legion killed my parents and my brothers. They took everything from me.”
“I am not my father, Taylan,” he repeats.
I tear my gaze away; it’s too intense, too real. He seems vulnerable, and I almost believe him. I have to change the subject. “Was your father sending her creatures after his enemies?”
“No, the monsters are a result of her using her magic.”
My brow furrows. “What do you mean?”
He lets out a heavy sigh. “All magic has a cost.”
How many times have I heard that? It’s what everyone says. But I always thought it meant it drained you physically, possibly to the point of taking everything you had.
“She’s a seer,” he adds.
“So, when she looks into the future, she creates these…things?”
“Not when she looks, no, it’s when shechangesit,” he says.
I blink rapidly. “I’m sorry, what?”
“You can see why my father was willing to keep her alive. She can see the future, then alter it. Change it to a more favorable outcome. She can’t choose all the details, but she’s able to see multiple options and select the one she wants. Or rather, the one my father wanted. But then, the sky would tear open, and these creatures would flood out. The guards improved at eliminating them, but in the last few years, they started breaking through even when she wasn’t using her magic.”
“Is that what happened?” I look over at Anya.
“I’m not sure. I think she’s becoming…unstable. It happens to people with her gift. Something about madness from seeing so many versions of reality,” he says sadly.
“I can’t imagine living like that,” I say. “And you went there because she released more of these creatures and killed herguards? Not because you wanted to ask her to change the future for you?”
“I’ve never asked her to see for me. Not once,” he says.
“Why?”
“Because, contrary to what you think of me, I am not a complete monster.”
“I watched you condemn a girl to death by dragon,” I deadpan.
“True. Not my finest moment. To be fair, she was trying to kill me.”
“I was trying to kill you,” I remind him.
“Was?”
I press my lips together into a line, unsure of how to respond to that.
