Use me; you’re free now. You will never lose me again, Green, Grey and Blood.

Her face brightened.

Her magic spoke to her, or the Trine had given it back.

Yet questions still ran wild in her mind. Her magic had never spoken to her before. It was merely something she utilised. Or was it the goddesses themselves whispering to her, willing her to use the abilities they had given back to her?

Her eyes flicked to a stray piece of paper that was scribbled with her long-forgotten Blood Plague paper. She closed her eyes and sighed.

‘Levitas.’

She whispered the enchantment to herself, and after a few tries, her eyes snapped open to see that piece of paper floating a few centimetres from the desk. She moved her hand higher, and the paper followed.

Her hand dropped and the paper along with it.

She jumped from her chair and cheered to herself before slapping her hand over her mouth.

chapter twenty-eight

chapter twenty-eight

kellan finch

the queen of fire and air answered on the second ring.

‘Kellan.’ Her voice cracked when she spoke. ‘Did you find it?’

‘No,’ he said. He heard her sigh. ‘But we’re close. Very close’

‘Then why are you calling?’

‘I wanted to tell you my plans. This family means nothing to me. The crown means nothing to me. I’m renouncing my title and my claim.’

‘You cannot.’ Her voice sounded anxious, of all things. Lupo rested on his lap; he waited for his mother to continue.

‘But your prophecy hasn’t been read yet. What if you’re destined?’

He rolled his eyes. He never cared for his prophecy before, and he likely never would. Those prophecies are what caused the wedge between him and Sabien. Took his father from him. Isolated the twins. Those prophecies are what broke the family apart.

‘You turn twenty-five at the end of summer, only a month from now.’

‘You still have three other potential successors. You said Sabien’s was promising.’

‘It was the twins’ birthday last week,’ she said. ‘They’ve renounced. It’s down to you and Sabien.’

His jaw dropped.

‘Do you know why? What was it?’

His mother sighed. ‘I’m forbidden from asking.’

‘But did they give any reasoning?’

‘No, they left,’ she growled. ‘Without a word, without a clue where they went. They’ve always been strange, but they’re dutiful, they would have told me. Their father was beside himself.’

He leant back on his couch, rubbing his temple. ‘I can’t be king.’

‘Well, your prophecy might say otherwise.’

He thought back to when Sabien got his prophecy, how he stormed out, and his eyes shot straight to Kellan in a furious glare.

‘Either way, my claim will be renounced.’

His mother choked. ‘May I ask why?’

‘Because I have more of a purpose here, than in Zakros.’

The line turned so silent Kellan checked if the reception went out.