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Much to Selig’s horror, that ball of light in Thorin’s hand grew larger, glowed brighter.
“How could she do this to me?” Thorin cried. “I love her!”
Selig swallowed back his fear. He had to make his brother see reason. “It’s time you moved on, brother, and forgot your silly infatuation.”
Thorin snarled, waving that ball of light in Selig’s face as if he intended to strike him. “It’s more than infatuation.”
“If you do love her, let her be happy.” Selig stepped to the side, angling for the stone stairs. If he could just run away, turn his back on his brother’s blinding memory-erasing magic, maybe he could escape and warn the others.
“Why should I care for her happiness, when she never cared for mine?” he snapped, sounding like a petulant child.
“She cares for you,” Selig argued, eyeing that ball of light as it continued to grow. “She’s the reason Malvolia didn’t turn you to dust.”
Thorin’s gaze snapped to his. “Maybe she should’ve had her sister end me.”
“Malvolia has already named her nieces as her heirs,” he continued. “They are predicted to carry powerful white magic and to be wise, benevolent rulers who will bring an end to the chaos. Please,” he implored, clasping his hands in a prayer pose. “Please don’t do this to Flora.”
“Flee to Fachnan’s court.” Thorin moved with surprising alacrity, blocking Selig’s access to the stairs. “After today, Malvolia and Flora won’t have a court...or a country.”
More urine trickled down Selig’s thigh and pooled on the stones. “What are you going to do?”
Thorin’s grin was the devil incarnate as he cupped that ball of light with both hands. “What I do best—create chaos.”
Selig fell to his knees, wincing at the pain that shot through his bones. “Brother, I beg of you.” He cried out when his brother hit him with that ball of light, immobilizing him with blinding pain as a loud gong rang in his ears.
“I warned you, didn’t I?” Thorin called over the din. “If you weren’t my brother, I would’ve broken into your mind and shattered it like glass.”
Selig cried out again. “Brother, please!”
He covered his ears when Thorin’s menacing chuckle reverberated in his skull. “Your queen is plotting to kill you, Flora, and Flora’s mates,” his brother warned. “She’s gone mad and believes her sister has turned against her. An oracle has predicted one of Flora’s daughters will kill Malvolia when she comes into her full powers. You must escape to Fachnan’s court before Malvolia kills you, but first, you must warn any nobility loyal to Flora and her mates. Do you understand?”
Selig heaved a shaky breath when the blinding white light faded and the ringing in his ears finally stopped.
He gaped up at his brother. Where was he? What had happened?
Thorin held a hand down to him and helped him sit on a step. “Do you understand what I’ve just told you?”
“Yes, brother.” Selig hung his head in his hands, trying to piece together what he’d just heard—Malvolia, the queen he’d loyally served over three decades had gone mad. He blinked at his brother. “What will become of Flora and her family?”
Thorin’s pout looked insincere. Was his brother evil? No. Thorin was good. Malvolia was evil.
“Her mates will sadly die defending her.” Thorin rubbed his hands together and eagerly licked his lips. “But I will help Flora and her daughters escape to Caldaria where we will join forces with Fachnan.” He waved his fists in the air. “Together, we will rise up against Malvolia, and we will defeat the evil sorceress queen in a crushing blow.” Shadows fell over Thorin’s features as he glared down at Selig.
Selig swallowed. Great goddess! Malvolia had turned evil!
Thorin helped Selig stand. “Now go tell the world. Say it has come from a powerful seer who was executed by Malvolia shortly after she delivered this prophecy.”
“Yes, brother.” Selig stood on shaky legs. His undergarments were wet and sticky. How had that happened? Then he realized none of that mattered. He had to warn Malvolia’s court that their queen had turned evil before she destroyed them all.
