Page 118 of Suncursed

“And when he does?”

“I’ll bear the consequences.”

Felaf scoffed. “I’ll get in as much trouble as you.”

“It’s for the good of this queendom.”

“Your actions may very well keep this queendomcursed.” Rahzlyn’s frantic footsteps neared. Felaf blew out a breath before saying, “This will be fun.”

“Let me handle her.”

She shot me a dubious look. “Youwant to have an emotionally devastating conversation?”

I folded my arms across my chest. “Rahzlyn wanted me to protect her grandparents before I brought her here. If I’d listened sooner…” I gestured behind me. “Let me do this.”

“Scorpio be with you.” With a resigned sigh, she slipped out the back of the stables.

I braced myself as Rahzlyn flew around the corner with labored breaths. “Where are they?”

For a moment, it was all I could do but stare into her wide eyes, trapped in their hopeful abysm. My uniform stifled my chest from expanding. Confusion etched into her brows as she inspected my face, searching for emotion she would not find.

“There was an explosion.” I began with the facts. My voice—my tone—was off. “At your home. The apothecary.”

Shock parted her lips. “A what?”

“We believe it was an apostate attack due to the green flames.” I refused to mention how those flames had momentarily pinned me in place like a coward. “Your grandparents…” Steeling myself against the dying hope in her eyes, I tried again. “They both died. We tried our best. We couldn’t save them in time.”

The partial lie rolled easily enough off my tongue. Regret lingered in its wake.

“No, that’s… they can’t be dead.”

“I’m sorry.”

She stumbled a few steps in retreat—away from me. “I don’t understand. Where are they now?”

“Lost to the fire, per your grandmother’s request. Both suffered irreversible damage. Your grandmother to her stomach, and your grandfather to his head.”

Through the open ceiling, crescent moonlight cast down on Rahzlyn’s dark locks and horror-stricken face. “No, they can’t be dead,” she croaked. Red splotches painted her cheeks. “I never got to… they can’t be…” She heaved, gasping for air. “I can’t, it’s too much?—”

“Breathe.” I recognized the panic taking hold of her and moved closer. “Listen to my voice.”

Rahzlyn’s gasps grew violent. She couldn’t hear me. If she didn’t breathe properly soon, she was sure to pass out. Panic attacks themselves weren’t dangerous, but they were intrusively distressing. “Take one breath,” I instructed. “And hold it.”

“I can’t.” She collapsed to the ground. “I can’t do any of it without them.”

Fuck. I moved behind her and sank to my knees, bringing my chest flush to her back with my arms around hers. Not too tight, but enough to provide her with a sense of security. “Breathe with me. Now hold it.”

She did.

“Good. Now slowly release. Good, Rahzlyn,” I murmured. “That’s it. Now tell me three things you can feel. Three things, Rahzlyn, that’s all.”

“Y-you,” she stuttered.

“What about me do you feel?”

“Your body.” Her hands tentatively latched on to my forearms that braced her chest.

“Good. What else?”