Chapter 66
The dungeon reeks of damp stone, rotting blond, and burning magic.
Chains dig into my wrists where Mara nailed them through my palms. My arms are stretched out wide and pinned to the wall, my head drooping to the side from the iron spike driven through my throat. It hasn’t killed me. Il can’t kill me, but it paralyzes the voice the fears most: mine.
My magic tries to Mitch me back together, Over and over. But her nails, laced with cursed obsidian, undo what little progress my body makes. The agony isn’t just physical. It’s mental, Her spell coils around me like a noose, and every second, I feel it tighteni.
But hem still here.
I’m still me.
Barely
Texhale shakily, head pounding with pain, but I welcome It Pain means I haven’t surrendered and the pain helps me to remain clear inside my head and need that since Mara’s plan is in the works.
After Eden fled with Axel, Mara’s fury shattered the stained–glass windows with a scream so violent that the shadows filed from her. She is furious that she hasn’t found Eden yet and now she has ordered the knights and the shadows of the Nightmare Court to find her.
A smirk curts my lips as Mara stands there dressed in a gown made of cobwebs and black fabric. Her lips are blood red, and her face has been powdered white. She turns her head, glaring at me. The smirk on my lips is enough to piss her off further, even if I’m the one crucified on her wall.
“Do you know what the most delicious thing about this is!” she says, tilting her head like a curious cat. “That every time I hurt you, you little mate feels it. She may be whole in body, but your pain reaches her through the bond.”
She is wrong. All my magic is blocking any pain from reaching Eden. It slips sometimes, but I don’t tell my sister that.
Ijust look at her.
Mara narrows her eyes. “Still resisting. You were always stubborn. Just like Rhinoa.”
At that, something inside me snaps.
Rhinoa.
Our innocent little always–smiling brother.
“You killed him,” rasp, voice hearse despite the spike still in my throat. “You slaughtered him.”
Mara’s eyes flicker with amusement. “He betrayed me. He chose love. He chose weakness.”
“No,” I growl.” He chose freedom.”
A slap cracks across my cheek.
It doesn’t hurt as much as it enrages me.
“Still so noble,” she sneers. “That’s why it’s going to be so fun breaking you.”
She circles me like a predator and drags her fails lightly down my side. My skip bubbles where she touches. My magic reacts, trying to fight hers, but she is the queen here, and most of my magic is one protecting Eden-
I’m stronger, but not right now.
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Chapter 66
“After I’ve destroyed and infiltrated your mind, Azriel,” Mara whispers, “you’ll help me rip out your little fox’s heart. You’ll hold her down while I consume it All that magic, all that power… It should’ve been mine from the beginning.”
I grow low in my throat, and my sister smiles while trailing a hand down one of my wings. They have started to heat. I feel the itch of regrowth. The stretch of new skin over old bone.
Mara sees it, and the smiles.
“No,” I mouth, panic shooting through me
But she doesn’t care.
Her fingers tighten and tear.
My wing my most sensitive organ, rips under her claws.
The bond between Eden and me surges. I feel her react across the realms. Her pain floods me as she echoes mine, and that… that is worse than anything
“STOP“I rear, blood flying from my mouth.
But Mara only laughs.
“You’ll beg soon, Azriel,” she coos. “You’ll beg me to end your sad little life.”
She turns to leave.
That’s when the raven taps on the high stone window.
Cedar.
He shifts into a young man, cloak fluttering behind him as he lands lightly in the torchlight. He’s lean, with water–silver hair braided back, and blue tattoos curling down his neck like river vines. Around his neck hangs a small, glimmering seashell. Pale as moonlight.
He bows
“Queen,” he says calmly.
Mara lifts a brow at my old friend. “How bold of you to come here”
“I bring word from the border courts,” he says, but I can tell it’s a lie from a mile away. “They grow nervous. Whispers of rebellion. I thought you should hear it from me before someone else delivers it less… respectfully.”
Mare considers him. “Fine. I’ll hear it in my chamber.”
She leaves. Cedarwaits until the door shuts behind her.
Then he’s at my side, pressing a hand to my shoulder.
“Ar,” he whispers. “You look like hell”
I attempt a smile. “Feel worse.”
Cedar crouches. “What did she do this time?
“Ripped my wings again.”
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Chapter 66
Het brows drew together in sympathy. “They were just healing.”
Cedareshales. “So what now?”
need you to go to Eden,” I say. “Find her. Help her train.”
Herons “Train? Ar, I’m no warrior. I’m a water fairy, not a combat brute.”
“You’re a shapeshifter” remind him. “And you know how to fight well enough. She needs you.”
Cedar toys with the seashell around his neck. “Towe you. But it’s dangerous out there in the human realit
u to walk on land, Cedar.”
I don’t feel one bit bad when I say, “Remember who made it possible for you to
His gaze litt
continue.“You wield shape–shifting magic only because that seashell is infused with my magic. Perhaps I shall take it away?”
Cedar clicks his tongue. “Low blow.”
“know”
“Didn’t think you would go there…
“Please,” “Trasp. “Eden is everything. She can’t face what’s coming alone”
Cedar sighs, then nods. “Alright. But after all of this bullshit is over and your sister is fucking dead, you owe me a drink. Not a cheap one either!”
I manage a chuckle. “Deal,”
He squeezes my arm once. “Hold on. Don’t let her
And then he leaves me nailed to the wall Dying slowly
But now I have hope. Cedar can help train Eden and if she learns how to weld her magic, then maybe she will stand a chance for when Mara eventually
come for her.
De when my t
true name is spoken again, breaking my meenitality further I have no idea ho
I’m holding on, or maybe I do, but don’t want to face it
Dark eyes watches me from the shadows.
ways meant to be king the shadows say.
I close my eyes don’t want it”
I don’t answer. The shadows know the reason don’t want the throne. My high–fae grandfather, whose powers were almost as powerful as mine, grew mad once he sat on the throne and realized no one could challenge him..
You would
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stronger than him if you became the king the shadows whisper while clinging to the walls. Much stronger than any high–fae has ever been.
ugh leaves my lips. “My powers are powers, no one should have, and I don’t need to grow any stronger than this. I’m already-
Chapter 66
Going to rule them all
The shadows all laugh and circle my feet like living ink. I press myself to the wall, but there’s no escaping the shadow and their laughter.
Your mentality isn’t broken betause we haven’t allowed it to happen, the shadows say. But our patience is running thin, Prince Azriel, Soon, we won’t help you fight your sister. Not unless you accept what you are
The new madairy king.
