She shuddered. Yassen knew the pain of burning—that was why he had tried to dissuade her—but he could not understand. How could it be a blessing to be forsaken? To be denied the gift of her family, the one thing that would grant her the throne?
Without holding fire, she could not be the queen of Ravence.
And without Ravence, she was nothing.
Elena plunged her hands in the water again, her fingers slowly turning numb. She breathed in deeply to still her thundering heart, but it did not calm.
Useless.She was so useless.
Footsteps sounded behind her, and she quickly turned, hiding her hands behind her back.
“Saayna.”
The high priestess hurriedly wrapped her scarf around her head, her hands tucked into the wide sleeves of her robe.
“How did you get here?”
“The tunnels. I—I cannot speak for long,” Saayna said, glancing up the stairs where they could see a trail of smoke just beyond the cliff. “They are looking for me.”
“Who? My father?”
“Elena, you must listen to me,” Saayna said, eyes wide, imploring. “Your father has desecrated the order. He believes that he can defy the Phoenix Herself. He is delusional, Elena, blinded by his own ego to see the truth.”
“Saayna, what are you saying?” Elena asked.
Suddenly, the high priestess grabbed her hands. Elena flinched, but Saayna squeezed hard, crushing her fingers.
“I would have remained silent. I would have gone through the ceremonies and waited until the Prophet came, but Leo has killed my brethren.” Tears brightened her eyes. “You must stop him. Ask him to seek forgiveness on your coronation day and do the right thing.”
“Saayna—”
“There you are.”
They turned to see Majnu marching up the stairs. He brushed dirt from his shoulders, as if he had come from the tunnels as well. The Spear bowed to Elena, gave a smile to Saayna, who had stiffened beside her.
“The king is waiting for you, High Priestess.”
Saayna did not move. Majnu took a step forward, smile still on his face, and as he approached, Elena felt a whisper of danger dance down her spine. She stepped in front of Saayna.
“What does my father want with her?”
“Your Highness, I am not obliged to say. Please, if I may…”
“Majnu,” Elena said, pulling to her full height, though she was still several inches shorter than the man. “I will escort the high priestess myself.”
“That will not be necessary—”
“Elena!”
She turned to see Ferma jogging down the stairs. Ash and sweat streaked the Yumi’s face, but she seemed steady.
“Ferma,” Elena said, relief flooding her. “What in the seven hells is going on?”
“Majnu,” Ferma said with a nod. Her eyes traveled over the three of them. “Is something wrong?”
“The Eternal Fire was not fully satisfied,” Majnu said smoothly. “The high priestess is needed to calm it further.”
“You will not take her,” Elena snapped.
