Page 113 of Three Dark Kings and the Gilded Serpent

“But you didn’t.” He grins at me, a startling change to his ghostly features. “Because we’re no longer enemies.”

“Repeating it doesn’t make it true.”

Unflustered by my threatening stance, he inclines his head sharply to his left. I’m not sure why until⁠—

“Iron King.”

My mother’s quiet voice stops me in my tracks.

While I was speaking with Stellen, she must have stepped away from the pallet and has made it within twenty paces of us. Without me hearing her approach.

Was Stellen deliberately keeping me talking?

I narrow my eyes at him. He shrugs.

Mother’s starlight gleams brightly at the corner of my eye. I may be able to walk in sunlight and moonlight, but her light is more powerful than that of any Vividari before her.

It bites.

Instinctively, I turn away.

“Iron King.” Her command is firmer as she picks up her pace, bringing her biting starlight closer. “Remove your helmet and show me your face.”

Her starlight flares and I’m certain she’s preparing to defend herself.

She should strike me down.

Discovering she was alive was a mercy I never expected, but I can’t escape the horrors of the slaughter I committed. I will never atone for my sins.

She draws to a stop and her stillness forces me to face my fears.

Slowly, I dip my head to slide off my helmet, blinking against the sweat dripping into my eyes before I raise my head, square my shoulders, and face her, gritting my teeth against the pain, telling myself to fucking bear it. “Mother, for my crimes against your people, I⁠—”

Her sob stops me.

“Antony.” She gasps a breath, her starlight dimming as she presses her hand to her heart. “It really is you.”

Riven hovers behind her and I guess he told her who I was since she couldn’t have been expected to know.

Her arms rise as if she’d reach for me, but her once-again brightening starlight forces me to finally veer away from her.

She stops in her tracks, appearing crestfallen at my flinch, tears slipping down her cheeks. “Oh.”

I swallow hard, painfully uncertain about what to say but determined to keep my fangs out of her sight no matter what.

“I wish I could fully dim my light,” she says, “but the vampyrs would swarm. I don’t know much about how I got here or what happened while I was asleep, but Riven told me the bloodlands have extended south into Ember and my light is keeping the creatures at bay.”

She’s barely finished speaking when Stellen stalks past me with his wolf at his side. “I’ll keep the vampyrs busy.”

My brow furrows. “Your power’s depleted.”

He glares at me. “I would fight a thousand vampyrs if it meant I had the chance to sing with my mother again.”

Aeliana’s attention snaps to him, her eyes wide. “What has happened to Sineria?”

Stellen becomes still, his expression suddenly devoid of emotion. “My mother died. Along with my sister. Ten years ago.”

“Oh, no.” Aeliana’s light dims instantly, shadows forming across her face. “I’m sorry for your loss. The world is a darker place without their songs.”