Contents ( 41)
- CAST OF CHARACTERS
- ACT ONE
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- ACT TWO
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- ACT THREE
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- EPILOGUE
- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
- ABOUT THE AUTHOR
- ALSO BY NAFIZA AZAD
Suddenly the air in front of her shimmers. Croi raises her head to see the central hall changed.
No longer is it in a state of tragic disrepair. Now it is illuminated by light stones embedded in the wall, powered by magick. The tapestries on the walls are untouched by dirt and wildly growing vines. The trees are verdant, their leafy branches raised proudly to cover the vaulted ceiling. The floor is gleaming wood, and the tree growing in the middle of the hall is no longer withered.
Croi sees four monarchs standing around a pedestal on the dais in the center of the room. A dryad stands at a distance from them, presiding over what appears to be the Saol ceremony. Croi watches as each monarch places the HeartStone of their kingdom onto the pedestal and takes a step away. The four HeartStones tremble before they are pulled together and unite to become a whole. Then, one by one, each monarch steps forward and infuses the HeartStone belonging to their kingdom with the elemental magick native to them. Croi recognizes the Forever King and watches him ingest a magick stone before he infuses the HeartStone with magick, but even then, his face empties of color. Once all monarchs have filled the HeartStones with their distinct elemental magick, the dryad sings words of magick. The united form of the HeartStone breaks into four once more. The other three monarchs disappear with their HeartStones, but the Forever King lingers, not picking up the HeartStone. The scene fades and the air shimmers again.
In the next moment, Croi hears the metallic sound of swords colliding with each other coming from the bottom of the stairs.
Two fae men are engaged in a sword fight. There are other kin also present in the hall, also fighting, but they are blurry figures. The identities of the fighting fae are obvious.
One is Lugid, the Usurper, and the other is the Forever King. At this point, Lugid has the upper hand. The Forever King is gray with exhaustion; his magick is low and sluggish. Croi watches Lugid feint a move with his sword. The Forever King, probably more used to fighting with magick, is deceived. Lugid seizes the chance and stabs the king right through his heart.
The Forever King screams, as does the Caisleán.
“Despicable,” the Forever King says through bloody lips. “Attacking me at my weakest.”
“I’m despicable?” Lugid laughs hysterically. He is also heavily injured. “You claimed it a sign of your favor when you sent my entire family to the Grace estate while I was away doing your work. There, you had them all killed so that no one would know the atrocities you have committed! Generations of my family! All gone.” A choked sob punctuates Lugid’s words. “You didn’t even spare children, and I’m despicable? You sent soldiers to attack me when I was returning home. The only reason I’m alive is because your soldiers have more heart than you do.” The man sneers, the emotion fading from his eyes. A terrible coldness fills them instead. “I’m not despicable, Collum. I’m just returning the favor. You believe in the old adage, don’t you? An eye for an eye? A family for a family?” He spits at the Forever King and takes a few steps away, disappearing.