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One full second, I basked in a mix of giddiness and hope. One second, I rode that cresting wave before Solok’s gaze crashed down on me once more, his lip curling up to reveal sharp, pointed teeth.
“Oh, I have not come for you, Descendants. I’m here for her.”
His eyes glittered with deadly promise. “What is your name, girl?”
My name slipped out between numb lips. “Anaria.”
His chuffed out a laugh before his wicked eyes traced my beaten body, my scrap of a dress, my bruised wrists. “Well Anaria, today is not your day, is it?”
6
ANARIA
The Axe was lying. He had to be.
Hecouldn’tbe here for me. I was in shock, which was the only explanation for this cold, numb feeling that turned me to stone as Solok’s silky promise wound through me.
I didn’t feel the gravel cutting into my feet, the cold breeze chilling my naked skin, the touch of rain in the air while I stared at The Axe in utter disbelief.
“That’s right, little thief, you get to cross over the wall and leave this realm for a better one.”
If I trusted my ears, that sounded almost…reassuring.
“A land of wealth and riches, where you’ll never be a slave again.” Every word made my heart leap with yearning, yet every word felt like a lie. And if I knew anything, the Fae were clever liars.
“You’ll never go hungry,” his gaze skimmed over my sunken ribcage, “You’ll never have to run from the likes of them again. You will be the king’s favorite, coddled and treasured and safe.”
Berenger hissed and I choked off a laugh at the sounds of indignation around me, these all-powerful Descendants who couldn’t stand losing any sort of competition, even one that led to certain death.
“You truly believe them powerful?” Solok tilted his head, his yellow eyes clearing enough for me to notice his pupils were wrong. They were like a snakes’, going the wrong way.
I wondered if he’d read my mind, if this was a trick question. “They’re the Descendants of Varitus.” I managed to whisper, my throat closing up. “Yes, they are powerful.”
His amused gaze settled on them, long enough for fear to clog the air with a bitter tang.
Perhaps I shouldn’t have said anything. I was only a slave. Even though I could read, I had no formal education, had never traveled beyond the walls of the castle. I knew the world was bigger than Varitus, but I’d never expected to see it.
Much less have that world march in here, smelling of doom.
I didn’twantto see it, now that Solok was here and I’d glimpsed the depths of cruelty in his eyes. If this was any indication of what the realms outside Varitus were like…I was better off here.
“Do you even know what this place is?” Solok tilted his head, a predatory, unnatural movement as he gestured around us. This time, I stayed quiet.
“Mongrels. You’ve studied in schools all over this kingdom, no doubt your families provided the finest tutors, as befitting your status. Educate the little slave on this realm you rule.”
“Varitus Omnis is an independent free state, having absorbed Varitus Major and Varitus Minor five hundred years ago.” Estienne stopped his recitation long enough to take a shaky breath.
“We have a powerful king and generate all the wealth on this side of the wall. Our mines in the mountains produce gold and precious gems, our farmlands are fertile, producing enough food to feed not only ourselves, but enough to sell to the Aschers across the Shoaling Sea.”
“And what of your magic?” Solok’s voice was too soft. I wondered if anyone else noticed his near-feral hunger as he studied my captors. I edged away, the rough gravel cutting my feet, the ruined dress bunched together in one hand to hide my nakedness.
“Listen carefully, little slave, for these are hard truths you must learn.” I shook harder when Solok added, “There is a natural order to life, where you reside on the lowest end of a system where power is the only thing that matters.”
There was no malice in Solok’s face, only cold, hard finality when he added, “Poweristhe only thing that matters. Those that have it, and those who don’t.”
“In Varitus, Descendants are the only wielders of magic.” Estienne was bolder this time. “Gifted to us by the Fae King himself, who chose us to rule over these lands.” A flame of blue appeared above his outstretched palm, the flickering magic casting cool light on his face.
That faint flame drew me like a moth, every piece of me aching to touch his flickering power.
