Page 121 of Blood Beneath the Snow

Valen sighed. “Tam held on as long as they could. Eventually, they recited the prophecy to Arraya, and then she struck her killing blow. As far as the records show, Arraya never shared the prophecy with anyone else, including her husband, before she was killed.”

“And yet you know I’m going to fulfill it?” I tried not to let panic overwhelm me. It stretched its maw wide, threatening to swallow me whole. “I don’t understand.”

“I wish I knew more, but my visions have been surprisingly limited.” Valen’s face slumped into exhaustion, a feeling I understood far too well. “Rest assured, if I see anything else regarding your future, you will be the first to know.”

The Seeing One rose and moved to the door. “Where will you go?” I asked. “Now that you’ve been released, will you rejoin the other Seeing Ones?”

They smiled. “Yes. But first, I’m stopping by your kitchens for a proper meal. You should get some rest.”

I stood and the world spun around me. “You’re probably right.”

“Oh,” they said, hand on the door. “I failed to mention one part. You will not fulfill the original prophecy alone.”

Breathing deeply, trying to clear the black spots from my vision, I asked, “Who else, then?”

“A young man whose true name I do not know.” Valen shook their head. “I believe you call him the Hellbringer.”

The world vanished into darkness.

When I woke, in mybed again, night had fallen. A few flickering lamps were lit, and I groaned, pressing a hand to my head. Would the ache there never retreat?

“Volkan?” I called out. My vision was blurry, but he was sitting in the same armchair as earlier, a book open on his lap. “I have a horrible headache. Can you heal it, or is it from the cuts on my face?”

There was a long sigh, and then a dark voice murmured, “Not Volkan, Princess.”

I whipped my head around, ignoring the flash of pain. The Hellbringer was sitting in my room, his wolf skull mask even more intimidating than usual in the flickering light. He wore his full suit of armor, the lantern’s wavering flame reflected there.

There was no fear crawling beneath my sternum, not like I’d expected there to be. He could end me in a moment, sure. But he wouldn’t—not when his queen had realized she was right and I did have power.

I, on the other hand, could kill him as slowly and painfully as I had killed my father.

I scowled, baring teeth I hoped were still bloodstained. “It’squeennow.”

He chuckled and closed the book before placing it on the armrest. He had one leg slung over the other, ankle balanced atop knee. “Don’t I know it. Congratulations.”

“You’re here to gloat, then.” I reached for the water on my nightstand, downing the glass. He didn’t respond, so I asked, “Did Volkan let you in?”

“No. I let myself in.”

“Did you consider knocking?” I demanded. “It’s rude to watch someone sleep.”

He hummed thoughtfully. “Would you say that’s more or less rude than killing your lover’s favorite brother?”

I inhaled sharply, eyes widening.

“This is probably the lesser of two evils,” he mused, tapping his gloved fingers against the arm of the chair. “But I’ve done it all. So who knows?”

The fury building beneath my skin was red-hot. Had Björn and my father crawled into my body after they died? Had the god Hjalmar branded me for daring to kill them? Was I going to combust now, burst into flames from the anger?

The song from the arena began to play in my head again. It was louder this time. The notes, so soft and pleasant the first time around, jarred now. The tempo was faster and I could barely hear myself think.

The string that tied me to the Hellbringer, though…it was clearly visible. It trembled, far more taut than the one that had tied me to my father or my mother.

I didn’t let myself think. I tugged it softly.

The Hellbringer hissed, arching his back and curling his hands into claws. Veins stood out in his neck, which was visible when he had his head tilted so far toward the ceiling. “The fuck are you doing, Revna?”

“If you’re evil, don’t you deserve to be punished?” I forced my voice to remain calm, even though the simmering anger hadn’t faded. Instead of allowing it to explode out of me, I twisted his earlier words, tossing them back at him. “What’s the greater sin: loving a monster or being one?”

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