Quinn shouted above the storm. "You're a dead woman walking, Diar. They're going to murder you to free Siotha."
"Where is he?" I shouted, ignoring him. "Where is the man who killed my brother?"
"Your brother saw potential in you." Quinn held up a hand to block the storm. "I see it, too. That's why he trained you."
"And now it's all for nothing! Giving me Siotha signed my death sentence."
"Only if you let it! I gave you the ability to fight."
'When Cierthine made its choice,' Quinn had said. "The world began to crack. But you, Diar? You're going to break it.'
I was a pawn in some scheme. My brother's death had been nothing to them. Fuel to the fire.
Screaming against the gale, I crossed the gap between us, knives thrusting forward to sink into Quinn's chest.
The storm erupted. My back struck the snow before I realized what had happened. Unable to breathe, I felt around for the daggers I'd dropped as I pulled myself up.
Gasping for breath, I looked for my enemy. Quinn was gone.
But Ferris was not.
Grabbing my knives, I flew at him. My body struck his, and we landed on the ground in a tangle. Pressing one of Siotha's icy blades to his throat, I stared down at him, mouth torn in a snarl.
"You!" I choked, still out of breath. "Youdidprotect the assassin."
The wind that had thrown me away from the Solheart who'd tried to kill Aenir's king—it had been Ferris all along.
And I'd fallen for his lies.
"What's your game?" I demanded. "Pretending to help the city you plan to slaughter?"
"I'm not with them!" Ferris rolled his head away from the press of the blade. "I knew nothing about this. Whoever's orchestrating these attacks is working against orders."
His words sounded sincere. Horrified, disgusted. But I knew nothing of how to glean the truth in people's hearts.
"But you protected the assassin," I said between gritted teeth. "Protected Quinn. Why?"
"Because they're . . . " He broke off.
They're my allies.
Ferris would have been a child when the Emperor died—no more capable than I had been. He had nothing to do with my brother's killers—even if he worked with them, now.
My hand trembled on the frigid daggers.
"Let me explain," Ferris breathed. “I?—”
"I don't want to hear it." I pulled my dagger from his throat and stood.
The other Paragons were still in danger. The blood pounding in my ears made it impossible to think. To decide to take a life I'd been intent on protecting mere moments ago.
I turned from Ferris and ran back toward the grove. He called after me.
"Quinn's right. You deserve Siotha. Don't let them take it from you."
His words echoed in my head as the shadowed trees drew closer. A figure in ebony armor burst from between the trunks, movements frenzied. Fleeing from something or someone.
He noticed me moments before we collided and side-stepped, swinging his blade toward my throat.
