Page 185 of War Queen
Her mouth opened in a silent scream, but she didn’t make a noise. Not a noise. She could only sit, with the crushed butterfly in her hand.
She had crushed it. Not let it fly off again.Crushed it.
Hopelessness fell away, and air filled her lungs, and for the first time in months… she could breathe.
Norah sprang from the bench and ran back through the gardens, still clutching the butterfly. She tore into the war office, where Mikael stood with Caspian over a series of maps. “Fate can be changed!” she cried. She held the crushed butterfly in her hand, breathless. “Look!”
Mikael stared at her. Caspian gave a polite nod and left to give them privacy. She didn’t wait for Mikael to react.
“Look,” she said again as she held the butterfly closer. “Bhasim showed me a vision, when I went to the temple, where I held a butterfly in my hand in the garden, and then it flew away. But I changed it.”
He brought his hand under hers, pulling it up to look closer. But he said nothing.
“Don’t you see what this means?” she said. “Fate can be changed!”
He reached and cupped her cheek, giving a sad smile. “You never give up.”
She drew her brows together. “What does that mean?”
“I’ve tried to change my fate long enough to know what the seer says is true.”
He didn’t believe her, and her pulse raced faster. He had to. “It’s not! Look!”
“The fate of a butterfly isn’t the fate of a king.”
“It doesn’t matter. Itcanbe changed. No matter how small it is, this proves that change can happen.”
He nodded, but didn’t seem to accept what she was saying.
“Mikael, please.”
“What does this matter? Being able to change fate or not, what would you have me do differently now? Everything’s been set in motion.”
She didn’t have an answer for him.
“It’s too late, Salara.”
“How is it too late? I literally changed this vision in the moment! We have to keep trying.”
He frowned and swayed away from her, but she caught his arm.
“Mikael. Mikael, listen to me. Don’t go to battle.” Desperation filled her voice because it filled her heart. “Let these days pass. We can change it.”
“You want me to… just not show up for my fate?”
“Yes! Yes, I do.” That’s exactly what she wanted.
“If it were only that simple. Would men not have done that already?” He paused and pulled her closer with a deep sigh. “The curse of fate isn’t truly one’s actual fate. The curse is being consumed with changing it. And I’ve wasted enough with this obsession.” He smiled sadly.
She shook her head. He was accepting his fate. He couldn’t. She wouldn’t let him. “No. Mikael—”
“You’re a strong queen, Salara. I know you’ll stay strong, no matter what happens.” He locked his eyes with hers. “I don’t want to speak about fate again. Ever again. I want to take each day as it comes.” He brought his lips to hers in a tender kiss. As he pulled back, he smiled. “I love you, Salara.” Then he turned and followed after Caspian.
She stood alone, astonished. It was like he didn’t believe her. He didn’t even want to try. No—he wasn’t allowed to do that. She wouldn’t let him. She raced through halls, almost tripping, bumping into random people and not caring at all.
She finally found Soren in the armory. “Soren!” The poor soldier she interrupted gave a startled bow and backed away before leaving. “Soren! Fate can be changed!”
He turned toward her with a crease in his brow. “What?”
