Page 54 of Venom Sweeter than Honey
My stomach churns from the force of my mind and body’s rebellion against this endless betrayal as my mind conjures recent memories of Thessaly.
Of me destroying my father’s necklace.
Thessaly’s eyes shine with pride, and a subdued smile hints at one corner of his mouth.
See how brilliant you can be? If only you have patience, darling?
Of Thessaly, giving me the elixir to protect me against Lucen...
And him wishing to move.
Thessaly’s lips twitch, affection twinkling in the dark pools of his eyes.
Darling... do you ever think about moving?
Moving? Move where?
I don’t know. I just suppose I’ve been feeling restless as of late...
My blood runs cold at the realization.
He was trying to free me.
And he was killed because of it.
My hand lifts to my mouth to stifle the whimpering sob crawling up my throat.
“But why?”
The look on Lucen’s face tells me the answer should be obvious.
“You’re the daughter of a king. What else do you expect? For him to wait for you to steal his crown?”
My tears return, quiet with shock and disbelief, as the facade of my reality is torn away. Lucen remains silent as he watches.
“Where is he?”
Lucen arches a knowing brow. “Plotting your revenge already?”
Thetap, tap, tapof Horus’s beak hammering the window draws our gazes to the balcony doors where the drapes are pulled shut. Shoving away the pang of guilt, I ignore Horus and push forward.
“No. I want nothing to do with him or his throne. I need to know wherenotto go. Find a far corner of this realm and hide.”
Anger simmers behind Lucen’s gaze. “But your vow?—”
“—was hinged upon whether or not I find him, and I never determinedwhen.”
Under any other circumstances, I might feel shame beneath the vitriol-filled look he gives me.
Horus’s knocking becomes more insistent, before giving an annoyedcaw, muffled from behind the glass of the balcony doors. Silence follows.
“Where is he?” I repeat.
“Sinsól... Though I have no idea how to access it. Only he can bring you there.”
The largest city in all of Bellorum. A city beneath the sea.
“... And if I were to go there, wouldn’t he just kill me if I show up?”
