Page 122 of Burning Heir

Damien hoisted Knox over his shoulder, carrying him far enough for the fire to return to my veins. The molten heat surged, forbidden and uncontrollable. I swallowed the shadows on my tongue, the metallic taste clinging as I yelled, “Drop him. Drop him now.”

Damien obeyed, lowering Knox to the ground. “Sev, you’ve already saved him once. We don’t know what will happen a second time. Everett gained a Winter quell doing this. It could be bad.”

I looked to the sky, knowing Father was watching his son die before his eyes. “I can’t let him die, Damien,” I said, my voice cracking.

Blisters burned my cheeks as I wiped the tears away, placing both hands on Knox’s face. Darkness swarmed the Spring realm,the sun and moon seemingly colliding in the sky. Knox gasped, his first breath shattering the silence.

I reached for Archer’s bond, but all I felt was static, a cold hum rattling between us. He’d cut the unwoven cord the moment he saw me touch my brother. He’d done it to save Ciaran and himself.

For a moment, I considered pounding on Naraic’s bond, daring to demand,“Release me.”But I knew the cost—my death, days or moments away. Naraic deserved better than to be tethered to a death sentence.

I cried into my palms, forcing myself to stay grounded. Perhaps it wasn’t my life on the line, but Archer’s—he’d interfered with a Serpent trial.

The darkness faded to gray, melting into clouds before the light broke through again. Knox stirred, his face contorting as he sat up, shaking his head.

“What… what happened?” he asked, his voice weak.

Damien held his bleeding eye. “Your sister sacrificed her life for you after you nearly killed her and Malachi,” he said, his words sharp and pointed. “The trial’s almost over. It’s nearing dusk.”

Knox’s face twisted in confusion and pain. “I don’t remember anything. I would never hurt Severyn. Malachi is my friend.”

Damien plucked a glass shard from his knuckles, glaring. “Then shield better next time. Someone compelled you today.”

I pressed against the torn leather on Knox’s chest, putting pressure on the wound Malachi’s blade had left. “You need to act as if you’re writhing in pain. I don’t care if they keep you in the infirmary until the Serpent Bid.”

I shoved him hard into the dirt, slicing a shallow cut against his skin with my dagger. “Do you understand?”

Knox nodded, clutching his gut with a loud, exaggerated groan. There was enough blood for his wounds to look convincing.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

After the trial, I sat on my bed for the last hour, waiting for the headmaster to barge in and demand how Knox was still breathing. But it was only Malachi.

There were a few beats of silence between us as she sat on the end of my bed, crossing her legs. “I guess we should talk,” she began.

“How long have you known?” I met her eyes from across the bed.

She didn’t hesitate. “Since we got those letters.”

“You’ve known for that long?”

“It told me two students were up for my title, and it was easy to narrow it down to Knox and you. After we quell-shared, I was sure of it. Monty pieced it together first. He plans to kill you. He hoped Knox would do it.”

“All my life, I had no idea,” I whispered. “Whydidn’t you tell me?”

“And perhaps that’s how it should have been.” Malachi shook her head. “My life is sad. But we are blood, Severyn. You are my family, and perhaps I enjoyed knowing I had one. Your mother’s letters were so sweet, and I couldn’t disappoint her.”

“Right, bonding with her dragon should have been a dead giveaway.” I pressed a finger to my temple. “What happens next? The people of Verdonia will not take lightly finding out there is a whole other bloodline set for the throne.”

“Do you want the throne?” she asked.

I never had time to process the weight of her question. I hardly saw myself as ever being a Serpent, let alone ruling over the Continent. I slowly shook my head. “I don’t see myself as ever being someone great.”

“I spent my entire life being told what to do, what to wear, who I shall marry. I envy you. I truly do. For you to walk in and decide you do not want a title as callously as discussing the weather makes me angry for some reason. All five of my siblings never returned home from the academy. I’ve lost everyone I know. I swore that wouldn’t be me. I made a promise to survive.”

“I know. And that’s why you deserve the title,” I said quietly. “This isn’t my life, Malachi.”

“It isn’t that simple, Severyn. Nothing ever is. Knox was compelled to kill us both, which means someone else knows. Monty can’t compel. Someone knows, and they will do everything to pin us against each other. I don’t want to die. If something happens to me, I want you to claim what is rightfully yours.”

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