Page 144 of A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash

‘It was to kill him.’

Haven’s entire body went rigid. ‘Because of the curse.’

Mal nodded.

Her sister exhaled sharply, her fingers tightening into fists. Coiled elegantly about her throat like a living pendant, the shadow-serpent stirred, its eyes blinking open the moment it sensed its mistress’s unease. Twin pools of darkness fixed upon Mal with quiet intensity—but she refused to meet their gaze, choosing instead to disregard the creature’s silent vigilance.

‘Mal… did you ever stop to think about what would happen? About the consequences of murdering the Fire Prince?’ She was pacing now, her dark skirts sweeping through the fallen leaves. ‘I am to be Queen of the Kingdom of Darkness. The very kingdom that once broke an oath marriage and ignited the Great War. Can you even imagine the devastation if you had actually gone through with it?’ She shot a glance around them, voice lowering. ‘If you had killed him, do you know what they would have done to me? To Kai? To Kage?’

Mal squeezed her eyes shut. ‘I never attempted it.’

‘Not yet.’

Mal clenched her fists. ‘I was missing the dagger.’

‘Mal, listen to yourself!’ Haven’s voice rose, sharp and laced with frustration. ‘I have been trying to gain alliances, to make friends for our future. And this entire time you have been plotting to kill your husband. What if you had done it? What would have happened to me? Was your entire plan to murder him and then vanish? Did you stop to think about Kai, Kage or me. What we would have had to deal with?’

‘No, but—’

‘You could have told me, Mal. You should have told me from the beginning what your plans were.’

‘Itried!’ Mal’s voice cracked. ‘I tried warning everyone about the curse and no one believed me. Even now you mock the concept of such athing. But the same was said about the witches andlook. They are coming for us, Haven.’

Silence stretched between them, heavy as the weight of history itself.

‘Perhaps they should.’

Haven turned a ring around her finger absently, lost in thought. Mal’s own fingers were bare. A reminder that she was fourthborn, an anomaly, an error in history.

A fourthborn had never existed before. Therefore, no ring had ever been made for one.

‘No one has ever been able to shadow-walk.’

Except for the first wyverian king, or so the tales whispered.

Mal shrugged. ‘Let’s add it to the list of my peculiarities.’

‘If the witches are planning to start a war, our parents must be informed.’ Haven turned then, striding towards the castle. Mal hesitated before following. Something about the way Haven moved—so sure, so resolute—made her stomach churn. ‘There is no true need for me to stay here, sister. I wished to in order to keep you company, but this is more important. Kage will stay here with you for now. I will have Kai travel with me back home.’

‘Haven, no.’ Mal grabbed her sister’s arm, holding her still. ‘To get home you must travel across the wastelands. It is far too dangerous.’

‘Perhaps that is what they want. They want us here contained, Mal. But for what purpose? They could easily try to attack the other kingdoms and we would be none the wiser. I must try.’ She kissed her sister’s cheek. ‘Once I am home I will send you a letter and we will talk again. I promise.’

Mal was unsure of such a promise but did not express it.

Deep down she wondered if her sisterwould write at all.

…

Ash turned sharply at the commotion beyond the door, his heart hammering against his ribs at the mere thought of Mal standing on the other side.

Alina exhaled in exasperation, gesturing for the servants to block entry before even asking who had come to see the prince. She had given strict orders—no one was to enter without her permission.

Before the maids could obey, the double doors slammed open, shaking the room with the force of Mal’s entrance. She stormed in, a tempest of fury and defiance, her purple eyes flashing like a midnight storm.

The wyverian princess barely spared Alina a glance before barking at the maids to leave. They fled without hesitation.

‘He needs to rest,’ Alina snapped, standing up.

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