“Not just the girl.” My fingers find the dagger strapped to my hip, and a growl rumbles through me as I recall the reason I came here.
“Your Majesty?”
“I need the Hunter, too.” They have made a fool of me, and for that, they will pay.
This is no longer about the power that was stolen from me. This has become personal, and I will not rest until I have found my revenge.
Until things have been returned to the way they should’ve been.
I’ve been using my bastard’s forged bond to remind him what will happen when I find him. Usually, I’d be able to use our connection to locate him, but something is blocking me.
He is hiding from me, for now, but he will not be able to remain out of sight forever.
Alette’s eyes sweep over me. “What would you have me do?”
“Monitor everything,” I growl. “I want to know the second there is something out of place. A flicker of magic, a pulse of power. If the gods stir, tell me what they say. Find out what is happening.”
“Of course, my king. I will consult with the Mother immediately,” Alette says.
“Good. The moment you hear anything, send for me.” I turn and stride towards the temple entrance, pausing near the door. “Oh, and Alette?”
I don’t turn around, but I hear her sharp intake of breath.
“Yes?”
“If you ever speak to me with an ounce of disrespect again, I don’t care how many gods have given you their ear. I will slityour throat so fast, you won’t know what’s happened until it’s too late.”
A pause, then a whispered, “Understood, Your Majesty.”
Too often, I have put up with insolence, but no longer. First, I had to deal with my bastard son. Then, the errant gods-blessed stole my magic. Now, the head priestess is acting up.
It’s time I remind everyone whyIam the king.
34
YOU WERE DISTRACTING ME
WREN
This world’s foundation is nothing but a series of lies. Every single fucking thing that this country stands for, everything I was taught, is a falsehood.
I thought I knew that. I thought I learned my lesson the day Amelia was murdered.
But apparently, it’s possible to know something and still be shaken to your core when more truths are revealed.
A week has passed since Evelyn’s reading, and it feels like I’ve been living in a haze the whole time. Gabriel seems to understand I need time to process because he hasn’t pushed me. He’s been a steady rock during this time, a grounding presence when my world has been rattled.
After Evelyn told us about the first Harvest, she graciously offered us use of her personal study so we could learn more about the true history of our world. And gods help me, there’s so much of it.
The rebels have dozens of books filled with information neither Gabriel nor I ever learned. Historical accounts, histories, books about the gods. Not the tainted versions that we were taught, but originals that predate the darkness.
This week has been long, and even though technically, Gabriel and I have been told we can explore the camp, we haven’t been anywhere except our cabin and here. We aren’t under guard, but there are still rebels stationed around the main hall. I think they’re protecting the seer, although I’m not sure. I’ll ask Skyler the next time I see her—she walked over here with us this morning.
I glance out the window where the suns are slowly setting. A yawn slips from my lips, and I rub my eyes. Gods above, I am exhausted.
I’m sitting cross-legged on the floor in the seer’s study, my unruly curls in a messy bun on top of my head, with a stack of books I’ve already gone through beside me.
I’ve read and taken in so much information that I’ve had a headache since breakfast. I never liked school, not like Amelia, and constantly digesting information isn’t how I enjoy spending my days. Learning has never come effortlessly to me—I would much rather be outside or with animals than stuck between the pages of a book.
