Corrupted.
The word bled through Roa’s mind, even as she fought it.
No...
More men replaced them. These too went down, dropping to their knees. Their eyes went wide and their fingers clawed at their throats while Essie choked them to death without ever touching them.
When their bodies hit the ground, the silence in the square was thunderous.
Roa stared at her sister while the screams rose up, like a wave crashing from one wall to the other. The crowd pushed at one another, trying to get away from the horror standing at its center.
But this was still her sister, Roa knew. StillEssie. Only twisted. Poisoned. Changed.
Her spirit was corrupted.
Roa thought of the dead men beside that broken cage. Thought of what brought the House of Shade to ruin. Thought of the corrupted spirit that left no one in his family alive but his dog—a creature that didn’t know how to let go.
More than all of these things, Roa thought of the last Relinquishing.
I don’t want to be trapped anymore,her sister told her that night.I want to be free.
What if Roa had misunderstood?
What if, by not relinquishing Essie, Roa had kept her trapped, caged, unable to cross?
Now, when Essie tried to get to Roa, no one stopped her. “Did they hurt you?” That silver gaze was tender on her face.
Roa shook her head, reaching to touch her sister. Essie’s cheek was warm and soft and so familiar beneath her hand, it made Roa want to weep. She pulled her sister close, holding her tight.
With the hum silent, with their bond gone, Roa couldn’t sense her sister’s thoughts or feelings. Which meant Essie couldn’t sense hers either.
“I thought you wouldn’t find me,” Roa whispered, their cheeks pressed together.
“I’ll always find you,” Essie said.
“I thought you were gone.”
Essie shook her head and pulled away, looking into Roa’s eyes. “I’m here. And I won’t let anything separate us again.”
Roa turned to Dax. But her hand reached for her sister’s, gripping it tight. With their fingers woven, Roa memorized the warmth of Essie’s palm. The pulse beating in time with her own.
“I’m sorry,” she said, keeping her gaze locked with the king’s. “I never meant to hurt you.”
Dax halted, glancing from Roa’s hand—entwined with her sister’s—to her face.
“I never meant to break us,” she said, squeezing Essie’s hand, never wanting to let go.
As the unearthly knife hummed against her skin, she thought of her sister’s loud laugh and the sight of her bright smile and the comforting warmth of her spirit.
“Everything I know about love I learned from you,” she whispered, her vision blurring. “You taught me that sometimes love means holding on so tight.”
Her fingers tightened around the knife. A knife that loosed souls from their moorings.
With her sister at her side, Roa lifted the blade.
“And sometimes...”
The tears slid down her cheeks.
