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CHAPTER 28
Lyrastra rose fromthe chair and strode past me, her hands extended and fingers splayed. Energy danced as an intricate pattern formed in the air, criss-crossing over the door I had just come through, pulsing with a faint glow.
“There. I’ve set a ward,” she said, turning to face me. “Against prying ears.”
“Considering Avriel is lurking outside, that seems wise.”
“Lurking? He’s lurking now?”
“He may be on fire right now. Or more likely he got the flames out and has scampered away. Back to Sephone’s side no doubt.” I cast a hard look at Lyrastra. “What does the queen have on you? Why didn’t you finish Avriel off when you had the chance?”
She tilted her head. “That’s what you’re going to ask me? Not what I’m doing here?”
“I can ask you both, can’t I?”
“You could ask him the same question,” she said, pointing to where Draven lay immobile in the bed. “He could have finished Avriel.”
“He would have,” I said quietly.
“Why didn’t he do it before?” she challenged. “Aren’t you curious?”
“I have a feeling the answer is simple. It’s Sephone’s game. And you’re all pieces on her board. Draven would have scattered the pieces. But you’re right, he waited. Too long.” I glanced at the bed. “But it’s not too late.”
“Actually, it is. The third trial is tomorrow.”
My eyes flew to her face. “Avriel claimed the same thing. I thought he was lying.”
“For once in his life, he wasn’t. Sephone announced she’s bored. It would seem that three days is long enough for even her own son to recover from losing a piece of his heart and being poisoned.”
“She knows he’s nowhere near recovered. She must know.”
“She doesn’t give a fuck, Morgan. Do you really think they’re anything like a family? Maybe there are families back where you’re from who genuinely care for one another, but do you think that’s common here? In this court?”
“It seems common enough above you,” I said, thinking of the city of Noctasia and then of Gawain and Crescent. There were exceptions to every rule.
“Sure. Among mortals. Not among the Siabra. Not among the nobles. Not among those of us who grew up below ground thinking any of this was... normal.” She threw up her hands, then placed them on her waist and began to walk back and forth. “If Kairos hadn’t come back, what do you think would have happened?”
“Avriel would have ascended,” I said slowly.
“Right. With Sephone by his side. But Kairos returned. And so Sephone had to institute the Blood Rise. Make no mistake, she’s had fun doing it. She loves this sort of spectacle. So does most of the court. But Avriel was supposed to win all along. And now he’s so close, they can both taste it.”
“What’s the fun of a rigged game?” I demanded. “The court wouldn’t stand for it. Surely they’d find it boring. Wouldn’t they?”
“Some are ready for a change. They don’t want Avriel as emperor. He’s a return to the ways of Draven’s father. They see it as a regression. But most Siabra? The status quo is fine with them.”
“Even when it’s meant their slow decline? The loss of their bloodlines? I mean, you’re all going to die eventually, aren’t you? And what will be left?”
