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For the first time, I notice chalk markings on the ground and an open book on the floor. It’s covered in runes I can’t read. My eyes go wide.
What’s she planning?
“How can you do this? You know what’s at stake.”
Her eyes burn with fury now. Her lip curls into a snarl.
“What, exactly, is at stake, Dan’thiel?”
“You act as if I’m just some horny miscreant looking to fuck around! I’ve waited too long already. Cor’than has been on my throne, wearing my crown, for half a year. I should have left immediately to find her, but I didn’t. I stayed here. With you. Because I care about you.”
Mal’s eyes burn bright as she summons her Chroma.
“You think you need to protect your people, but you’re wrong. Cor’than established a fair and stable rule in Valenfall. They aren’t pining for your return, Dan’thiel. You’re an incompetent failure, and they loathe you for it. Cor’than saved your people. From you.”
I let out a visceral, wordless scream, if only to block out her voice. I won’t believe her lies. My thieving little brother spilled Fae and Elven blood in his civil war. He will pay for his crimes.
Her icy hand grabs my face hard, driving her nails deep into my flesh. “I was willing to be with you even though you didn’t benefit me, but all you care about are your delusional ambitions.”
I’m feral. I only see red. Wildly, I gnash my teeth, trying to bite the cunt’s hand off. I thrash savagely against the chains until my muscles ache with weakness. I scream until I taste the blood in my throat, my voice broken and hoarse.
My labored breathing stills my body as my heart thumps in my chest. Malicryn is chanting an incantation.
What language is that?
“What are you doing?” My voice is hoarse and cracked, too much desperation seeping into the cracks.
“Breaking your soul apart piece by tiny piece. Even if you find your fated mate, you won’t be able to bond her.”
Breaking my soul apart? She’d betray the Gods to spite me? Unthinkable. My head spins. Vile. Insidious. How?
“You’d damn my soul for eternity for this?”
“Goodbye, Danny.”
Her eyes glow red as she channels her Chroma. The last thing I see as she brings the dagger down into my heart is hatred seething in those beautiful, cold eyes.
Chapter One
Mira
My eyes drift to the clock on my computer screen again. My stomach churns, knowing my time is almost up. Every breath is one closer. I shift in my seat, trying to look busy with work. My heart pounds, gripping my chest in a tight fist as the building dread holds rational thought hostage. I swear I hear a clock ticking somewhere in the distance. The anticipation claws at my insides. Any second now.
Then it finally happens.
A shadow darkens the doorway to my office. A tall man clears his throat. I suppress an internal groan as I pull my eyes to him. I feel like a cartoon coyote falling off a cliff as resignation settles.
Happy hour with coworkers.
I wonder how much it would cost me to bribe them to stop.
Every second Tuesday of each month, I hide in my office or duck out early, trying to avoid it. But today, I promised my best friend, Lisa, I’d go. Ross shakes his dark curls to the side as his lips curl into an affable lop-sided smile.
“Coming, Mira?”
With a final rotation in my mental Rolodex of excuses, I force a small smile and nod. “I’ll catch up in a minute. Just finishing up.”
After he walks off, Slack dings on my computer with a DM.
