Page 67 of Three Dark Kings and the Gilded Serpent

“That seems…”

“Unlikely,” I say, nodding. “Until you factor in Thyra. Which is why I’m not certain the snowstorm was maliciously intended.”

“Ah, Thyra.” I don’t miss my brother’s deep exhale, which is quickly snatched away in the wind. “Do you know where she is, brother?”

My forehead creases at this question. “In the Frost Kingdom.”

Victor falls silent for a long moment. Long enough that the furrow in my brow deepens. “Victor?”

“She isn’t in the Frost Kingdom.”

Every muscle in my body tenses and I’m levitating off the eagle’s back before my brother’s arms become a clamp forcing me to stay put. If my energy hadn’t been depleted, there’s no way he’d have succeeded. “Where is she?”

“We don’t know.” Victor speaks rapidly. “There was an uprising in Frost. The Winter Strife was invoked. Lilis is queen now. From what we’ve been able to find out, Stellen is dead and Thyra hasn’t been seen since.”

Fuck, fuck, fuck!

I felt Thyra’s pain.

Agony struck my heart.

The blade’s power burned through me.

She was in trouble. She was hurting. And then the snowstorm hit and I was knocked out.

Victor’s voice reaches me through the buzzing in my ears.

“Brother! Listen to me. We’re trying to locate her. Azul has been searching. He’ll find her. Are you listening to me? Azul will find her. You know he will.”

My focus flashes to the giant, blue eagle who chooses that moment to soar overhead, his bloodied talons raking the air, a menacing beast whose presence I suddenly find reassuring.

Yes, Azul will find her.

But he won’t be alone. As soon as I understand the situation with Victor and Cassia, I’ll be at Azul’s side, looking for Thyra. I may not be able to stay with her, but I sure as fuck won’t let any harm come to her.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Thyra

Where am I?

I’m not sure when the darkness lifted, only that I’m afraid of waking to a nightmare.

My first sensation, as I surface, is of soft silk beneath my fingertips. Quiet rustling. Then gentle humming. Sounds that should calm my fears.

So should the fact that my lips aren’t dry or frozen and my body doesn’t hurt while my armor is a soothing tightness around me.

Despite my anxiety, my heartbeats are calm.

I inhale the scent of spices, dragging air deep into my chest, at which the humming stops.

A soft gasp sounds. “She’s awake.” Then quick footfalls. “Miriam, she’s awake.”

More footfalls, now hurrying toward me.

My forehead creases as I force my eyes to open, quickly assessing my surroundings for threats. Not quite believing that there don’t appear to be any.

I’m lying on some kind of large pallet, near to the floor.