Page 119 of Merciless Is My Crown

Scared, if I wanted to be honest.

The Anaria of four months ago—magicless, powerless, weak—would kick my ungrateful arse for such useless thoughts.

“No,” I said quietly. “No, we’re not giving up. Not when we can change things for the better.” I took the book back from Zor. “But I need this.”

“Then we’re leaving?” Tristan was already to the door, throwing his cloak over his shoulders. “Because Zephryn’s already downstairs, and he is in a fucking temper from waiting. We should really get moving.”

Zephryn was, indeed, in a temper, the dragon shifter pinning me with a dark glare as soon as my feet hit the steps. “We could already be at the ward. What was so important you wasted all of today?”

“The last time I saw you, dragon, you were face down in the snow,” I told him tartly, taking a small amount of pleasure in watching him bristle. “So forgive me if I didn’t think you’d be so perky this evening.”

“Only because my potion worked perfectly.” Bella looked pleased with herself. “By tomorrow all of you should be back to full power. I came up with the mixture on my own.”

“Thank you.” I shoved the book into her hands. “For sheltering us, and for being so kind when you didn’t have to be.” I squeezed her fingers around the cover. “Page four hundred and fourteen. Figure out how to use blood magic against her. Once we get Cosimo out of the pendant…we’ll figure out how to kill her. Then none of us will live in fear ever again.”

Bella’s eyes darkened. “We are your blood. You are welcome back here any time.”

As if she’d been summoned, Adele emerged from the shadows like a wraith, a dark blue robe wrapped around her frail body. She glared at me with such contempt, her pale face cold as ice. Still, there was something comforting about knowing she had a chance at a life here, even if she was pissed about it.

Raziel carried Torin while Zor took Zephryn on the first trip, and we all held our breath waiting for them to return, even Tavion, who masked it beneath a bawdy song that had us all blushing.

Simon and Tristan were next, then they returned for Tavion and me. I took one final look at Adele then nodded to Bella.

“Take care of my mother.”

“Perhaps, given time, she will find her way.” Bella gave me a sad, quiet smile that told me what she thought of Adele’s chances. “We will do what we can to guide her.”

“Thank you, Bella.” I took Raziel’s arm, his strong hand gripping my waist. “I hope I see you again.”

She pressed her hand to her chest and dipped her head. “With the Three Mothers’ blessing, we will meet again.”

The last things I saw were the torches blazing in Stormfall’s entry hall, Bella and Vesper’s hands raised in farewell, and my mother’s hate-filled glare. Then cold swept in, light turned to darkness, and the world blurred together.

48

ZORANDER

Ilanded on a small, sheltered hill with Tavion a few seconds after Raz landed with Anaria, relief loosening my chest when she stepped away from him, pale as a ghost but safe and sound, the wind ripping her dark cloak free.

I would never get used to her being out of my sight, to that irrational grip of fear I couldn’t quite override with cold logic.

“That was awful.” Anaria scrubbed her arms, her lips white. “Like I was being pulled apart.”

“The ward was made to keep everyone out.” I tried to smile over the pain still shuddering through my veins. “Be glad we crossed where the magic was the weakest or the effects would have been far worse.” She nodded and stared to the east, her mouth falling open.

We were dressed in black; the witch gear was warm, well-made, and easy to move in. I had two curved witch blades hanging from my belt and still felt completely under prepared.

Before us, the entire Solarys army spread across the barren land like a plague, so many fires burning I couldn’t count them all. Ten thousand soldiers waited down there for the king’s next order, whatever that might be.

Most were not, inherently, bad males. Some had served the king for centuries, but I had to believe that even they could imagine a better future for this realm and for themselves.

“One more jump.” I jerked my head at Raz. “Tristan and you. I’ll take Simon.”

“Fuck.” Simon glared up at me. “Can’t I just fucking fly there?”

“No,” Raz and I said together. “They’ll shoot you from the sky.”

Zephryn refused to be parted from Torin, and while I hated leaving Anaria behind for even a few minutes, especially with the whole Solarys army slumbering a stone’s throw away, the dragon would protect her.

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