Page 341 of Burn of the Everflame

Ophiucae didn’t.

I neared Ophiucae’s side. Slowly, carefully, urgently, I lifted one knife.

Oh, Auralie, a low voice purred inside my head. Will you never learn?

No.

No.

No.

Compelled by Ophiucae’s magic, my body involuntarily turned toward my son. My legs advanced a step, then another.

NO! I screamed—with my thoughts, with my heart, with my blood, with my prayers.

You raise courageous children, Auralie, I’ll give you that, Ophiucae said in my thoughts. If all mortals shared their valor, this world might not have needed me to save it.

“Diem seemed to think you were about to do something foolish,” he said aloud. “She wanted to stop you.”

“I was coming to see you,” Teller admitted. “She was afraid you’d kill me.”

In the torturous prison of my mind, Ophiucae gave a knowing laugh.

Teller’s hand drifted behind him. Across the chains that bound my mind, I felt Ophiucae take note. He used my eyes to watch, used my legs to walk. When Teller glanced at me with last-minute hesitation, I felt Ophiucae use my head to nod and urge him on.

It was hard to believe that I once thought the worst way I could fail my children was to die.

“Then what happened?” Teller asked.

“She found you,” Ophiucae answered. “You started to fight her.”

“I had to get her sword so I could bring it to you.” Teller fidgeted with something behind his back, and Ophiucae sent me closer to investigate, forcing me to stand behind my son. Dread iced my veins as my eyes dropped to Teller’s hands, but there was no hidden weapon clutched inside them, only his rumpled, bloodstained shirt.

A tiny mercy, that I couldn’t betray Teller’s plan because I had no clue what it was. Though I fought the intrusion with all I had, I was completely under Ophiucae’s control. I was his soldier. His spy.

And as my hands lifted Teller’s knives into striking position over my son’s head, I realized with horror that I’d become his executioner, too.

Do you think of that day as often as I do? he asked in my thoughts. Our final moment together on that wretched island. The way you looked at me when you saw me with our child.

Suddenly, Diem stirred. Using my eyes, he watched her eyelids twitch.

What do you think she’ll do when she sees you? he went on. Will she believe the worst of you? Will she kill you and leave you behind?

I screamed my thoughts inside my head and hoped he could hear them. Diem knows I wouldn’t hurt Teller unless I was forced by you to do it. And she will never forgive you. Diem’s love can survive many tests, but this will close her heart to you forever.

“Do you see it?” Teller asked him.

Ophiucae was silent. Though his eyes were shut, I felt like they were boring a hole right through me. My fingers quivered on the hilts of Teller’s blades.

“Do you see what happened?” Teller pushed.

Diem let out a soft waking noise, and Ophiucae’s brows drew low. “I do.”

Teller’s hand moved to his side, still clutching his balled-up shirt. “Do you see now who betrayed her? Do you see who has to pay?”

“You,” he growled.

“No. You.”