“Yep.”
“And once two people step inside it, no one can get out until one of them dies, right?”
“Yep.”
“So if he’s out, doesn’t that mean she’s dead?”
“Yes, but some peoplerefuse to acceptfacts iftheydon’tfittheir idea of reality.”
“Oh.”Because what else is there to say to that?
“The second,”Fabia continues,“was during that famine from a decade ago.”
I nod, remembering it well.It affectedthe entire forest; many animals and people died fromstarvation.There was so much death, eventhe necros in Brownstongot bored of it.All funerals requireorgies, but by the gods, there’s only so many of them you can havein a day.“And the third?”
“Because he opened the borders, believe it or not.”Sheleansback on thesofaand looksupat thehighceiling, herfingers interlockedbehind her head.“You know, when I saw him kill those two girlson your wedding night…” She trailsoff for a long moment before continuing, “I thought he was a monster.”
My breath hitches.Leaning forward, I desperately want to hear what she has tosay.
“But he’s actually striving towards peace.The Vylian king isevencoming here next week to sign a treaty, and both sides will releasetheir prisoners of war.Everything hehas done – and I’m not saying they’ve all been good things, but –” She looksat meand sighs.“He really cares about his people.”She shakes her head with a grin.“But of courseyouwould get shackled to a ‘misunderstood ball of fluff’ in fairy form.”
My heart melts even as guilt gnaws at me.She is right though; with any other monster, I’d be sneaking them into my home.Taking care of them while it rained.Loving them while no one else dared.
Is he really that much different to Hyatt and Gionova?After all, they tried to kill me often too...
Before I can figure out an answer to that, Fabia scoots off the sofa and stands.“Sorry, butI have to get back.Echo’s only given me an hour to see you before my training starts again.But I’ll see you next time I’m allowed out, okay?And I’ll be guarding youas part of said trainingsoon enough.”
Pain lances through me as I jump to my feet.Wondering if thiswillbe the last time Iseeher, Ipull her into ahug.But itisn’tthe desperate cling to her that I want to do.Itisn’tthe heartbreaking squeeze.Soafter a few seconds,she pushesme away likeshealwaysdoes, not knowing the pain inside.A good brownie is very, very good at pretending they are okay, and for her, I’ll pretend even while I’m getting my intestines pulled out of my anus.I’ll do anything at all toreduce her worry and pain.
Giving me a two-fingered wave, she disappearsthrough the door, and I flop back on thesofa.Tears burningmy eyes, I realise how happy she is here.For the first time in her life, she’s finally found a home.
SoI better figure out how to kill Richard then, I decide.
Because I’ll be damned if I’m going to let him ruin this forher.She’s my bestie.Screw the rules.I’ll commit murder just for her.
Thirty-Four
Prisoners are stripped oftheir wings andalltheirrightsas soon as they’rejailed for treason.
What doesn’t break you… Petre will.-KingRichard
I was awake most of the night, consumed by thoughts of Arienna.When I finally fell asleep, she haunted my dreams too.The taste of her on my lips, the sound of her moans, the feel of her hands in my hair as she rode me on the counter, and the look in her eyes when I left her on the edge.A man could get lost in such dreams, never wanting to revisit the land of the living.But I long learned, the path I am to walk is not that of a mere man.Yanked out of those dreams by the claws of nightmares, I watched as the Court twisted my queen into a madness that rivalled Seqora’s.They broke her like they did Aurelia.
Until she was down on her knees, begging me to give her mercy.“You have to kill me,my king.I can’t go on like this.I hate what I’ve become.”
“I can’t go on without you,”I cry as I cup her face.
“Of course you can.You’re the Demon of Raza,silly.You cannotmourn when you don’t have a heart.”I looked down to seeagaping,blackwoundin my chest.Ariennastarted crawlingoutof itas a brilliant light appeared in front of me.She walked towards it, draggingmy soul behind her.She paused before stepping through, turning her head to look at me.
“Dirty your hands for me.Show me you love me enough to kill your soul.”
I jerked awake at three in the morning, andI spent the rest of the night in the gym.I didn’t pummel the bags like I wanted to though.I sat with my back to the door, my wings spread out, and I watched Jace move through the darkness like the monster hewas.
He didn’t movewitha cold, twisted rage.Hewasit.His hands and feet darted out with a speed that seemed capable of hurting the air itself.I didn’t dare move, didn’t dare draw attention to myself as he worked through his own grief.
At six in the morning, he dropped to his knees and cried.
It’s seven now.He’s silent.I am too.The light of day is trickling through the branches of the tree, but its warmth does not seem to penetrate this room.
