Page 202 of Heir of Broken Souls

“She’s gone,” I say.

My words finally penetrate. His head snaps back to her body and down to the rotten heart in his hands. Then he heaves. Despite the burning in my throat, I move toward him again, not knowing what to do or say now.

But I don’t need to.

“I have waited months for this,” he declares hoarsely. “So why does it not feel as good as I thought it would?”

His shoulders drop with such heavy defeat, I forget the pain in my throat and the bodies lying around us. Even Hazel’s fades into nothing.

He shakes his head, silver lining his eyes. “It didn’t bring him back.”

My heart stops. “We knew it wouldn’t,” I answer softly.

He sobs in earnest, clutching his chest. “But it should have made me feel better. Her death should have made the ache in my heart hurt less, so tell me why all I feel is pain.”

“Because revenge is best served slowly,” a voice booms across the clearing, sobering us both. “Haven’t you learned anything from me, Delilah?”

The twin dragon swords are in my hands, Hazel’s death and betrayal forgotten, as Axel and I turn to face Peter, grinning from ear to ear. He beholds Hazel lying at our feet, her blood dripping from Axel’s hands.

“I feel I should thank you for cleaning up my mess,” he tsks. “She was a pesky little thing, always demanding such abominations.” He gestures at me. “Quite like you, she was a dreamer. What a pity. At least now she will be reunited with whoever she sold her soul for.” He cocks his head. “What was her name? Lilly? Lucy?”

“Luna,” I find myself spitting.

“Ah, yes, that’s the one.” His eyes spark as they narrow on my blades. “I see you found the keys to the portal. How was the trip?”

“Sweltering,” I respond, taking a slow step forward over Hazel’s body. “Someone burned the castle down.”

A muscle ticks in his jaw.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” I say sweetly. “Should have known it was yours. It had been invested with rodents with how disgustingly dark it was.”

He flashes me a thin smile. “Not to worry, my new home is much larger.”

I don’t take the bait. After all, I learned to never rise to his disgusting words.

I lift my blades and pray Axel is paying attention as I point my finger to the left. I need a distraction. I need time and a moment where Peter takes his eyes off me for just one second.

I know the blades will kill him. The prophecy hasn’t failed us so far, and I know that it will ring true when I bring these blades together and slice his heart in two.

But I need to find the right moment. I only have one shot at this.

I tug on Aurora’s bond, hoping and praying she comes to me and that the invisibility magic holds.

He paces around the clearing, never taking those beady eyes off me and the dragon swords in my palms. “There was this one estate I saw from the sky. It piqued my interest. Perhaps you know it? A large white building along the sea cliffs, with a horse and griffin pastur?—”

His words die as a golden dagger sinks into the ground at his feet.

“I’d rather die than see you in Knox’s estate.”

The corner of his lips lift. “Well, that is the plan.” He taps his lip. “Not yet, though, I still have use for you. But after that…perhaps I’ll frame those golden wings of yours as a trophy for all I’ve accomplished.”

The spot between my shoulder blades seems to pulse in fury, right along with my magic that is pacing like a wild animal beneath my skin. I continue to coax it, breathing in and out through my nose.

Not yet.

Cannot pounce just yet.

Leaves crunch, twigs snap, and a grunt roars out as Peter’s beady eyes slide behind me.