She held it up before her face, her bleeding lips reflected back at her. But as I watched, the wound on her mouth began to close, the split skin knitting itself together. Her once-bloodied chin was clean. Her skin cleared, her hair fell back into place, and her looks were restored to the same cold perfection she always commanded.
Only lifebark from the Azure royals could heal like that. It had to be something else. A beauty glyph?
Malissa slipped it into the folds of her gown, her face once again serene and unreadable.
I watched as she moved, positioning herself with her back to the window, letting a shaft of sunlight gild her hair, turning it into a crown of light. Beauty, I realized, was one of the weapons she wielded.
“What about her?” she asked, her tone almost dismissive, as she pointed at me.
I started, my pulse quickening as the attention of the room shifted.
The king’s gaze followed her hand, his eyes narrowing as they landed on me.
“Anything that might give our dominion an advantage must be deployed,” he said slowly, his voice a low rumble. “And the Diviner said she was intrigued by the Flame Rider. The Azure will join the Culling for the Dominion of the Silver Tyger.”
“But…but…” I stammered, every eye in the room fixed on me. My mouth went dry as I struggled to find my voice. “I am not powerful. Truly—look at my Marks—”
“She would perish immediately,” Jace added, his voice cutting through the tense air. “Most likely during the Culling.”
“Thanks a lot,” I muttered. Jace winced.
The king’s expression hardened. “You shall cooperate,” he said, his words final, “by order of your king.”
“I shall also serve my king by participating in the Culling,” Malissa said.
Her father looked at her for a long moment. “So be it.”
Malissa turned and locked eyes with me. Her ambition was a living thing behind her eyes. If she could not have her father’s love, she would have his power.
King Uzar turned then to Blake with the first bit of warmth I’d seen in him.
“You are my leader of the ambush of Tyger Warriors. The Zenith son of Clan Axefire of the Silver Dominion. The strongest metal mage we’ve known. My remaining Twin Blade. You must lead our dominion to victory.”
I waited for some show of emotion from Blake, some reaction to the praise of his king. And yet none came. Ire glared.
“I will,” Blake swore. The stoic face of a warrior headed to battle.
The other tyger riders volunteered, one after another, their voices filling the hall.
A cold understanding settled over me like a shroud. The Raveling was an opportunity. No matter what the Diviner might intend, the boon promised to each survivor was not just a reward. It was a key to power beyond measure. And what greater boon could a man or woman claim than the right to name themselves emperor?
“Send an announcement across the entire dominion!” the king roared, his voice reverberating through the hall. His expression was exultant. “Assemble all of our strongest Tyger Warriors. The Culling begins!”
This was a battlefield for the throne of the entire world.
And I was caught up right in the middle ofit.
Part II
TheCulling
17
As much as I wished for his friendly face, it wasn’t Jace who escorted me back to my rooms.
It was Blake Axefire.
He had moved toward me with lethal determination after the king’s announcement.
