Page 112 of The Stars are Dying

Rose sat up and looked around the room as if the walls had eyes. “Have you ever heard of the nameNightsdeath?”

I blinked, haunted by it. “Yes,” I breathed.

“He’s the reason the king is so feared. He doesn’t just kill people by ordinary means; heisdeath. Some say a God of Death, able to kill masses and fulfill horrors in the minds of men. He is what keeps even the vampires afraid, and he leads most of the king’s armies. His heart is black and he does not know mercy.”

I turned so cold I had to stand and pace to the fire Davina had lit for me earlier. “What about him?” I dreaded to ask.

“Without Nightsdeath, the king is nothing.”

“How do you expect to find him?”

“We already have.”

My pacing stopped and my heart lurched up my throat.

“The prince. It has to be him.”

I almost relaxed as the face with warm caramel eyes didn’t register with the chilling name. “I don’t think you have that right,” I said.

“Why? Because he has leaned in close and flashed you a dashing grin? I need you to be less naïve if you’re ever going to help carry this through.”

“I’mtrying,” I defended. Running a hand of exasperation over my face, I tried to think it over. My mind kept rebelling against Rose and Cassia’s conclusion, but she seemed so sure.

So did Nyte.

If this were true, his warnings settled with a new clarity.

“Cassia and I have been figuring this out for many months.”

“Wouldn’t people have seen him? The kingdoms would know the prince is the notoriousNightsdeath.” I could hardly say the name without shivering.

“They say a person rarely lives past getting a glimpse of him. He’s only known to arrive for one reason: to kill the king’s problems. What better way to hide than in plain sight? He likes secret weapons.”

Yes, he does.I turned nauseas as I recalled Nyte’s insight into the king’s transitioned vampires. I didn’t think burdening Rose with that knowledge would be helpful to her game right now.

My head spun, and I sank down into the chair with heavy breaths.

“You need to keep yourself together,” Rose said, firm but with a note of understanding. “You chose to take her place, and I’m holding faith you can handle the plan we’ve had set in place for years. Fate isn’t fair to cast this on you, but it is our only hope.”

I didn’t voice that I’d come fully prepared to die here. Scheming to take down the face of the realm’s nightmares was not a part of that plan.

“What was your plan?” I asked because it was too late for anything else now. Still my blood roared, unwilling to hear the answer.

“When falls Night, the world will drown in Starlight,” she recited.

I was beginning to think everyone knew of this damn prophesy but me.

“Cassia is so certain it refers to Nightsdeath, that his fall will be what we need. She didn’t come here to play games—they were a distraction to get close to the prince. Win his heart…and end him.”

I shook my head. “I’m not Cassia.”

“Youhaveto be.”

“Ican’t.” My hands clammed up and I wrung them, trying to process what Rose was implying. “I can’t light up the room with a laugh like she could. Or stand up for what’s right no matter what like she would. I wouldn’t walk into the line of danger like her. I’m not as beautiful or extraordinary. She’sgone!” A single tear slipped down my cheek, and I swiped at it with the anger it brought forth. “I’m not brave like she was,” I whispered. Each time I placed her in the past knowing her present was gone and her future wouldn’t come, it cut fresh wounds.

“You are.” They were the softest words to ever leave the stern exterior Rose always wore.

“I don’t need your pity.”

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