Page 149 of The Stars are Dying

Zath glanced at her touch, and I felt the need to look away from them, instead occupying my attention with the egg that remained.

“You’re welcome,” Zath said without a thank-you.

“What is that?” Calix asked, coming up by my side.

I reached for it, but Zath grabbed my wrist.

“Oh, hell no. We are not taking that to hatch a baby serpent demon.”

“I don’t think that’s what it is,” I said.

He let me go, but his wariness remained.

My palms went to cup the egg, skin pricking with anticipation. I hesitated in awe when it changed color. Texture. It became gritty white with fiery red hues like it had been born of flame. Though it was equally as mesmerizing, it wasn’t the one I wanted. It switched back as if posing a question.

A choice.

Though the brilliant, warm-toned egg was beautiful, it didn’t feel right in this realm. So when it changed twice more, my hands flattened on the black-and-silver etched egg.

My heart skipped a couple of beats.

Nothing happened, but it did not switch again.

“It’s probably dead,” Zath muttered.

The shell was cold. My fingers moved over the thin, glittery scales, tracing the silver swirls that reminded me of my own. I marveled at it with a flare of protection, but Zath’s assumption dropped in my stomach. I lifted it fully, momentarily bracing as though the walls would tumble down with my claim on it.

“I send you for the key and you retrieve trinkets.”

My blood chilled at Drystan’s voice from above. Our attention whipped up to him, and the others braced. The prince leaned over the balcony on his forearms as if we were an amusing spectacle.

“I can’t say I’m surprised, but he’s right. It’s nothing more than an ornament. Perhaps worth a pretty penny though. Now dip into your pocket, Calix, and give her what she needs.”

Calix frowned, patting his side, and his eyes slipped to me as he retrieved…

My final key piece.

“You might want to hurry along. I would have killed that past lover of yours, but I’m trying to remain unseen, and it seems he has the protection of guards, which only means one thing: right now he’s heading to my father, and if he already knows about you, you’ll have to trust I’m a lesser force to fear.”

“Hektor is here?” Zath growled.

I shivered at the lethal glare he cast Calix in accusation. My brow furrowed in apology to find Calix still clutching his wound.

“Calix needs help,” I said to Zath.

“I’m not leaving you with him,” he snarled.

“You have to. It’s almost over.”

I approached Rose, and she seemed to read me as her hands reached for the egg. I released it to her with a dash of reluctance. She wasn’t one to express her concern often, and I could only smile to ease whatever pinched her expression in protest. We both knew there was no other way. This was the sacrifice Cassia had been willing to make.

Rose extended her key to me. “Good luck.”

I nodded, trying to appear brave for them. “Don’t let the king capture you. It might be best to find somewhere in the city to lie low for a while. I’ll find you all after,” I promised.

When I scanned the space above, Drystan was gone.

“Stray—”

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