Page 24 of Omen of ice
“That makes two of us.” I shift in my seat, realizing my hands and feet are tied tight and there’s a rope around my neck. I’m not sure of its purpose until I try to move and it pulls taut, threatening to squeeze off my air.
“Please don’t do that,” she says. “I’m not looking to kill you.”
“That’s a relief.” I sit as still as possible and plaster on my most charming smile. “What, if you don’t mind me asking, are you looking to do, exactly?”
She’s sitting on a chair beside me. As she stands, her head tilts just a bit to the right. It’s a move I’ve seen countless times, yet now it seems troubling. “We need your cooperation.”
Who is we?
I yawn, giving her my most practiced bored shrug. Whatever is going on, I need to stay calm. “You know me. I’m always willing to lend a helping hand.”
“The people need to know that the Omen is on their side, not the side of the court.” She comes to stand in front of me. “They need to know that you’ll do what you can to topple the current rule.”
“First of all, since when do you believe in such dragonshit? The Omen? Me?” I try my hardest to keep the anger from my voice, but it’s impossible. “And second, do you have any idea what you’re saying? The consequences that come with threatening the Winter Lord’s rule?”
“We’re well aware,” a deep voice says from the shadows. A moment later, a tall Fae with black hair and hazel eyes to match Kitara’s steps from the darkness. “As I’m sure you are of your uncle’s inadequacies on the throne.”
“My brother is right,” Kitara says. “I know you’ve seen the fault in Orbik’s rule.”
“Brother? I didn’t know you had a brother.” I flash him a toothy grin. “Nice to meet you. I’m the Fae who’s been brashing—”
Her brother snarls and punches me in the face. The blow knocks me sideways, and the chair wobbles, stopping just before toppling to the ground.
“Roan. That won’t get us anywhere. Stop it.”
“This oversize child isn’t going to help us, Kit. If we kill him here and now, it will ensure he doesn’t fight on the wrong side of the people.”
She sighs. “I was really hoping—”
“Um, excuse me. But as Kit can attest, I don’t fight at all. Too much effort, and it cuts into my drinking time.”
“Will you help us or not?” Kitara pushes Roan away and kneels in front of me.
“I am not the Omen,” I say through gritted teeth. There’s mutual respect between Kitara and me. A friendship based on years of antics and a multitude of capers that usually ended in equally satisfying encounters that left us both breathless. But this? This is betrayal. It’s betrayal, and it stings like nothing has in a long, long time.
“Valen, we’ve all heard the rumors. You can’t deny them!”
“Rumors? Really?” I snort. Kitara is the last person I would have expected to behave this way. “Even if I was,” I say, “I wouldn’t help you.”
Her eyes go wide, and she jumps to her feet, shocked. Why? It’s like she doesn’t know me at all. She glances at her brother, then back to me, before taking a step away and brushing her hands down the front of her skirts.
“Fine. Then Roan gets his wish.” She starts toward the door but pauses in the doorway without turning back around. “At least promise me you’ll make it quick, painless. If nothing else, he was…amusing.”
She disappears, leaving me with her brother. His expression is stony as he pulls out a wicked-looking knife. “I told her that the Omen was too dangerous to play games with. My sister never listens.”
He lifts the knife and brings it to my throat. I hold my breath, focusing on the power thrumming through my blood. If I release it, his fate is sealed. He can’t see my magic and survive. But I don’t want it to come to that unless I’m left with no other choice.
The blade presses into my skin. Something warm rolls down my neck—blood—and Roan chuckles. “Huh. Maybe you’re not the Omen. Either way, I’m more than happy to be rid of you.”
The blade twitches, and I ready myself to release a fatal blast of ice, but Kitara suddenly stumbles back into the room.
No. Not stumbles. She’s been thrown.
“If you do it, I will gut your sister and make you watch as she bleeds out in front of you.” The Aphelian grabs Kitara by the hair and hauls her to her feet.
“Roan!” Kitara struggles, but it’s pointless. The Aphelian’s grip is like iron.
A moment later, there’s a commotion outside, and several Winter Guards storm into the room. They take Roan and Kitara away without a word, and the Aphelian comes to stand in front of me. Just stands there.
