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Back The Shattered Lands Save as PDF
Chapters (47)
  1. Cover
  2. About the Author
  3. Dedication
  4. CHAPTER ONE
  5. CHAPTER TWO
  6. CHAPTER THREE
  7. CHAPTER FOUR
  8. CHAPTER FIVE
  9. CHAPTER SIX
  10. CHAPTER SEVEN
  11. CHAPTER EIGHT
  12. CHAPTER NINE
  13. CHAPTER TEN
  14. CHAPTER ELEVEN
  15. CHAPTER TWELVE
  16. CHAPTER THIRTEEN
  17. CHAPTER FOURTEEN
  18. CHAPTER FIFTEEN
  19. CHAPTER SIXTEEN
  20. CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
  21. CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
  22. CHAPTER NINETEEN
  23. CHAPTER TWENTY
  24. CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
  25. CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
  26. CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
  27. CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
  28. CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
  29. CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
  30. CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
  31. CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
  32. CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
  33. CHAPTER THIRTY
  34. CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
  35. CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
  36. CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
  37. CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
  38. CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
  39. CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
  40. CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
  41. CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
  42. CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
  43. CHAPTER FORTY
  44. CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
  45. CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
  46. Acknowledgements
  47. THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING

Ashes drummed her fingers against Sapphire’s cheek with a haunting expression.

‘There are certain depths of darkness from which I shield you.’

The two stared at each other, Sapphire’s heart thundering in her chest.

‘This is our secret to keep. Do you understand?’

Secrets. These days Sapphire was carrying so many she feared she would collapse from the weight.

‘I understand.’

Ashes nodded, pressing her lips to Sapphire’s temple before bidding her good night.

When Sapphire reached the lake, she found a place to sit atop a large boulder and she stared up at the moon. She could not return to the castle – not yet.

Child, did you notice anything about the men in the forest tonight?

Sapphire kept her head buried in her hands, refusing to acknowledge the question.

The monsters you know. The monsters you admire. The monsters who roam the very halls you do. The royal crest is only worn by those who directly serve the kingdom, no?

She waited for the final blow she knew Ryvinika would deliver.

They’ll kill her. With smiles on their faces. What is your world without her?

Sapphire’s stomach turned.

A world without Ashes. Without her gentle touches, stolen moments, without the intimacy they found in the dead of night among the shadows beneath the moon.

A world that would hold no interest for her. She racked her mind, trying to recall the night in detail. But all she could see were Ashes’ eyes as she watched Sapphire taunting that man. All she could hear was the sound of bones snapping. She took a deep breath, trying to slow her mind.

It wasn’t treason. It was an order.

Sapphire shut her eyes, trying to push the voice out of her head. She could not differentiate between Ryvinika’s voice and her own, and the realization crashed upon her.

The monsters you know.

The monsters you know.

The monsters she knew.

Kip and Araxia on their golden thrones. Smiles on their faces. Lies on their tongues. Blood on their hands.

But not Ashes’. It would never be Ashes’ blood.

She would make sure of it.

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

Ryvinika was silent in the days that followed.

Sapphire dreamed of death.

She tossed and turned, ripping the linens from the mattress as she fought to free herself from the torture.

In the morning, the bags under her eyes told of her struggles. Claye looked at her with a concerned expression but never spoke. It was as if darkness radiated off Sapphire, forcing her into silence.