Page 101 of Merciless Is My Crown

I watched Dane’s glower deepen. “Well, that won’t make Dane very happy, since he went to so much trouble to get us ready.”

“Dane…go to Nightcairn. Stay with Lucius,” Tavion suggested softly. “I’d worry less if you two were together. Come, let’s talk.” His uncle put on a show of being inconvenienced, but secretly, Dane looked relieved.

I stared after Tavion, cape flapping in the wind, wondering if I’d ever loved him more than I loved him right now. Then my eyes swung back to Stormfall. “I have to speak to Torin before we leave. There is something I have to ask her.”

Zephryn bristled. “Whatever you have to say to Torin, you can say to Simon and I.”

I smiled brightly as I headed into Stormfall. “Oh, I know, but this really doesn’t concern you.”

40

ANARIA

An hour later I swept outside with Torin by my side, my questions answered, along with a brand-new problem to be solved, but…I was confident about my choices now.

Our plans, as they were.

Leaned against a low, stone wall, Raz, Zor, Tavion, and Tristan basked with their arms crossed over their chests in the last rays of the late afternoon sun, while Tavion appeared to be…fast asleep.

Zorander stormed toward us, frustration painted across his handsome face, his dark eyes narrowed as he looked between us. “We might as well spend another night since we’re already losing light, Anaria. I don’t know what was so important that…”

I held up my hand. “Not a waste of time if we know how to kill the king.”

He lifted a brow, but I shook my head. “We’ll discuss Serpens later. Slight change of plans. The Oracle knows we’re here. She’s always one step ahead of us. She would have anticipated we’d end up at Stormfall.”

I drew in a frozen, stinging inhale through my nose. Seriously, why didn’t we go inside already and sit by the fire like normal people?

“She’s waiting to see what we do next.” Calculation danced in Torin’s eyes. “She won’t stop us. She needs the Shadow King out of her way. Wants us to restore the magic then drop the ward between the two realms.”

“Are you sure about that?” Raziel asked, not so much questioning her as wanting confirmation.

“The more magic there is in this world, the more powerful she and her brother become,” Torin said. “She’s a master at moving pieces around the chessboard, and because of her abilities, it is always wise to assume she has already seen what happens next.”

“And you can’t?” Tristan asked softly.

“No, I can’t. Not for a very long time,” Torin admitted. “Flashes, sometimes. Bits and pieces but nothing concrete. I sometimes wonder…” She bit her lip, something like grief moving across her face.

“Never mind. Seeing the future was nothing but a burden.”

“The way the Oracle sees things, we’re just doing her dirty work. Get rid of Serpens, release more magic for her to use. And if some of us die in the process…” I carelessly shrugged my shoulders even though horror spilled through me like acid. “All the better, as far as she’s concerned.”

“So no searching for the pendant.” Zor sounded relieved. “We all head to Solarys, where you’ll explain this new plan to kill the king.”

“Tristan’s a hell of a shot. No need to get close,” Raziel offered as Tristan sketched out a bow.

“Oh, we’re still going after the pendant. Like I said, the plan has changed. Torin and her group will head north at dark. Zephryn and Simon have perfect night vision.” I tipped my head at Tristan. “How about your wyvern? How are his eyes?”

“Good enough.” Tristan straightened then added, with that endless arrogance he kept in constant supply, “Better than your dragon’s, I’d wager.”

“Good, because once the sun sets, we are all heading in different directions. You’ll go north and Raz, Zor, and I will go west.”

“West?” Zorander hissed. “What the fuck is west of here except destruction?”

“And where, pray tell, will I be in this grand scheme of yours, wife?” Tavion didn’t even bother stirring, just laid there, arms folded over his abdomen, eyes closed.

“You get to stay here and look pretty, husband. Don’t worry, you won’t be waiting long, then we’ll all be on our way to sunny, delightful Solarys.”

“You’re not leaving me behind,” he said flatly.

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