Page 176 of Tears for a Broken Sky
Then— “My daughter…”
His throat worked as he swallowed.
“She was taken. Sold to King Ashton’s court. Given to him as a gift for his birthday last year.”
He didn’t need to say more.
Ray’s face twisted—like he might be sick, or scream, or shatter. But he held it in. Just barely.
Maddie covered her mouth. “Oh my gods…”
I looked down.
The scar over the brand I used to wear as a Shade felt like it was burning through my shirt.
I’d seen horrors at Ashton’s court—more than I ever want to admit. And I’d looked away from most of them. I told myself it was survival. I told myself I couldn’t change it. That looking too closely would only get me killed.
But right now, nothing in my past felt more shameful than this.
“How many more people do they have to take?” I growled, my fists clenched at my sides.
I saw the markets—crowded and cruel—where people were ripped from their homes like livestock.
I saw the raids. The arrests.
The ones dragged off just for speaking out. For existingwrongunder Ashton’s rule. For failing to show enoughdevotion.
I saw Frostwatch again.
The burning homes. The children crying in the smoke.
Tom’s face—gods, Tom’s face—right before he was forced to fight me in Varrowmere.
All because Ashton had to own the will of the Shades.
All because Vael had to own the woman I love.
Because theycould.
This had to end.
They had to die.
“Vael took someone,” I said. “Someone important.”
Lia didn’t flinch. “Elira.”
My chest tightened. “You know her?”
She sighed, but didn’t answer the question directly.
“She’s in the tower,” she said instead. “He’s keeping her there. Our spies say she’s unharmed… for now. We’ve been trying to get help to her, but with Vasquez in the city, we know Ashton won’t be far behind.”
My stomach turned.
Two petty kings, circling the same prize.
So determined to own her—to own everything—that they’d burn the world before they shared it.
