Page 7 of Heir of Broken Souls

The stars have woven a horrid fate. One that could have been intercepted at three times in my life.

The first being when I ran from the castle.

If I hadn’t, Easton would still be alive, and so would Ace. Annie and Eleanor, too. We would have all remained trapped under Peter’s thumb—but they would bealive.

The second time being when I befriended Hazel. That will haunt me for the rest of my days.

But the other time that truly haunts me is when we chose to ride the horses—when I was the thing holding us all back from flying. Sure, Knox could have carried me but truth be told he knew he needed strength for what was ahead. There’s no doubt in my mind that we could have reached Ace sooner if we had flown. We could have intercepted his kidnapper.

There is a truth lying among all these events that cannot be argued—my choices lead to tragedy. Another unfortunate truth: everyone around me dies.

Leaning back into Knox’s warmth, I close my eyes and take a steadying breath through my nose as my past and its repercussions threaten to take me under. “I don’t want to talk about it yet.”

“There is going to come a day where you will have to because if you continue to bottle up everything you are feeling, you will explode.”

“The same can be said for you. There’s certainly a lot you are avoiding. Perhaps what has become of certain members?—”

“We’re not talking about me right now.”

A snort escapes me. “Perhaps we should be.”

“And where would the fun be in that?”

Knox falls quiet, the sound of the sea and wind lapping around us filling the comfortable silence until a deep sigh from Knox has my eyes opening.

“It’s so odd to see it this quiet.”

My gaze lowers, snagging on the aerial legion below as Aurora flies over the soundless island that was once bustling with daily activity. It looks deserted—because itisdeserted.

Dragons, griffins, and their riders haven’t stepped foot on the island since the first attack eight and a half weeks ago. Little did they know that once they took off, it was going to be the last they would see of the island for two months. Others…the last time, period. And with no return date in sight, who knows if they will ever see the island again.

The attack on the Fae border, where the Mason River glides between the human and Fae lands, was the first of many. One we thought we could conquer and come out of the battle as saviors. That was until Peter ripped open a portal in the sky and the demonic army we had been searching for returned.

We lost thousands of men and creatures that day.

It stained the Mason River red, and it hasn’t returned to its natural state since.

I was there. I was right alongside Knox as we watched the horde of demons stream out of that portal. I was right alongside his court as we wept not only for Ace but for the people of Aloriah. I wasthere, and yet the memory is as hazy as a winter morning fog. It’s as if my mind is protecting me, as if it knows that I’m far too haunted by everything else, and adding one more thing will crumble me.

And I’m okay with that. Just knowing what occurred that tragic day is enough in itself. I don’t need the constant visual reminder, too.

My head shakes in disbelief. “I never thought it would come to this, yet every day we grow closer to my vision coming to fruition.”

It’s what started all of this, this path of loss, destruction, and war. After seeing the dark army and two cloaked figures destroying Aloriah, burning everything and everyone in it, we set forth to stop the darkness. Instead, I unmasked secrets, lies, and deception, unweaving a fate that was orchestrated by Peter, one who was never my father but a monster in disguise.

A monster no one can kill until we discover his true face.

Knox drops his head to my shoulder. “There’s so much out of our control and so many questions we need answered before we can act. Let’s pray to the forgotten gods that Peter truly is located at the in-between.”

“I’d rather pray for Peter’s head on a spike.”

Spike.

The word brings forth a memory, one that flashes across my mind’s eye, there and gone, plunging its claws of pain into my heart before I can stop it. My family, my three loves—Annie, Easton, and my mother—on a spike.

I physically shake my head, trying to fling the memory away.

“He really is a bastard. Of all the places in Aloriah to hide out,thatis where he chooses?” I release a snarl. “I want to destroy it.”