I fidgeted, noticing how exposed we were like this, out in the open.
She wouldn’t miss it for the world.
No, she wouldn’t.We’d destroyed her kingdom, taken everything from her.
I turned to examine those gathered on the dais.
My uncle wasn’t the target.
My family was.
My eyes jerked upward, catching the glint of light on silver where it shouldn’t be.
––––––––
Analleia
––––––––
ILIFTED THE BOW, TAKINGaim, preparing to end the life of the man who had destroyed everything I had ever loved.Preparing to avenge my family, to bring them the justice they had never received.My gaze drifted to Valeris one last time—only to find him looking directly at me.
I froze.
No.
It wasn’t possible.
He couldn’t know I was here.I was hidden in shadows, but he must have seen something because he yelled at his family, shoving them from the dais.
“No!”I screamed, releasing the arrow and aiming to take out the king even as guards rushed him to the steps.
I reached for another arrow, but the world burst with light, the ground rumbling as a massive force shoved me back into the wall.I crashed to the ground, gasping for air, a ringing barraging my ears.I rolled over.I couldn’t think straight.Dizziness overwhelmed me.Nausea.Why was I on the ground?I crawled to my feet, my limbs jutting out in every direction, not wanting to work, but I staggered to the railing, the ringing dissipating only to be replaced with screams and cries from below.
A circle of black had destroyed the ballroom.Smoke billowed from what used to be the dais.Flames charred the remains, licking up the decorations and burning everything within reach, spreading rapidly throughout the room.
My breaths came in ragged gasps, my body aching from the impact, but panic flooded me as I searched the ground floor for the king, unable to see through the smoke.Had I hit him?He had been right there, but now I couldn’t find him.I kept looking, my breath catching as I watched his guards pull him to his feet and away from the wreckage, no arrow wound in sight.
I swung my bow across my body and pulled a repeller from my legging’s pocket, securing it to the banister before straddling the railing and jumping from the balcony to the ground below.It was like descending into the pit of hell.My gloved hands grasped the thin rope, slowing my descent, but a jolt shot up my legs as I hit the ground.
Chaos enveloped me.Screams.Blood.Dead eyes staring up at me.The smell of destruction made me nauseous, and I was back in Donnovar again, watching them torch my city to the ground, destroying everything I had ever loved.Terror clutched at my heart, seeing them take everything away, seeing so much life lost.I had to save them—had to save my mother, who was back in the tunnels.Tears streamed down my cheeks as I watched the city burn.I curled into a ball, trying to block out the memories, trying to block everything out, trying to be anywhere but here.
Anywhere but here.
Anywhere but here.
Anywherebut here.
But it wasn’t Donnovar.It couldn’t be.
The king.I was here for the king.
King Zaricor.
I took several deep breaths.I had to defeat this.I had to pull myself out of this.
Deep breath.
That was long ago.I had a mission to do.
