Page 160 of Tale of the Heart Queen

He struggles with his restraints as the executioner walks up to the block, swinging his axe. It’s then Atlas goes still, his gaze sweeping over the crowds chanting for his head. Slowly, he studies them all as another tear leaks from the corner of his eye and drips over the bridge of his nose. What does he understand in this moment?

The executioner waits for the signal, and I take another breath that does nothing to settle the churning in my gut.

As I give him a dip of my chin—the signal to proceed—I feel myself moving in slow motion, willing myself not to throw up.

In a few seconds, there will be no turning back.

Atlas’s eyes move to me, and they stay there, watching me. Weighing me. Surprisingly, there is no accusation in his expression, only sadness.

Erevan shifts closer, his shoulder brushing mine.

“You don’t have to watch,” he murmurs.

“I know.”

But I must.

To find closure in this chapter of my life.

I must.

The executioner lifts his axe as thunder booms overhead and the rain falls harder. I blink drops out of my eyes as they mingle with the tears that slide down my cheeks.

Around the courtyard are shaking shoulders and bent heads and so many more tears.

Despite everything, for a little while, he was their king.

The axe falls, and as much as I want to look away, I force myself to bear witness to it as it slices clean through Atlas’s neck and then . . .

The false Sun King is gone, and there is only the sound of the rain.

CHAPTER 56

NADIR

THE AURORA KEEP

Imake my way towards Amya’s wing later that evening.

Lor is waiting in my room, where my people will keep her presence a secret. I don’t like leaving her alone, but she can take care of herself. What I must do tonight, I must do without her at my side.

As I walk through the halls of the Keep, it feels strange and ominous that my father isn’t here. We might be completely wrong about our theories, looking for explanations where there aren’t any. But I also sense nothing amiss other than Father having descended into some kind of twisted madness. He abandoned this place to go searching for something.

Lord Herric of the Underworld.

Is that even possible? Were those the ravings of a madman too lost to the drink to see clearly?

Who was the “her” in his note?

I knock and Amya opens the door, blinking expectantly. Her dark hair is tied up, and she’s dressed simply in a black tunic and leather pants. She looks like she’s already been crying.

What I must do tonight, I must do with my sister.

“It’s time to see Mother,” I say, and she nods, understanding what that means.

Tomorrow, I will bond with Lor, and then we’ll go after my father. I don’t know what will happen, but if we succeed, then it is my every intention to end him. That has always been my goal, and no matter what complicated feelings I’m holding for the man who refused to be a father to me, that hasn’t changed.

That means tonight might be the last time I see my mother unless we meet in the Evanescence again.