Page 96 of Burning Heir

Eyes ahead on the bright city, he said, “Take the damn compliment, Severyn.”

“Is that an order, Serpent?” But as soon as I said it, his face fell.

The city welcomed us with dancers dressed in flowing silk garments and bedazzled eye masks as they performed along the streets. Lanterns hung from the brick and sand buildings, and colorful fabrics were strewn across the wooden canopies, leading through winding paths made entirely of cemented sand and seashells. Vendors beckoned us toward their wooden carts of trinkets, masks concealing everything besides their eyes. The streets smelled of cooked meat and citrus, and then we were in the cluster of the city.

A crowd circled around a man whose face was half teal scales. An arched mustache curled the slender frame of his face. Gold coins danced by his feet as the spectators watched his show. His hand raised, and out came a translucent dragon, no more than the size of a rabbit. It flew around the alley, doing flips and swirls in the air before dragging back into his hand like tethered smoke.

I stopped dead in my tracks. “What is that?” I asked Archer. “It’s mesmerizing.”

“An illusionist. You don’t want to get trapped by one. They can alter your mind and force you to see things. It’s an older quell, not very useful unless you wish to spend your life as a street performer.”

“Do you believe that all quells should be a weapon? I mean, it’s sort of beautiful how he can create art with his mind,” I said.

“I enjoy beautiful women and sunsets—a quell is not beautiful. A quell is your worth in a world where power is everything.”

I didn’t hear his response. A soft buzz sounded, almost like static crawling along my eardrums. “Can we stay for a moment?” It was as if my mind was roped with chains to the performer, and even taking one more step, I felt I’d miss something great.

Archer grabbed my hand, pulling me along. “See, this is how they get you. All he wants is gold.” He tugged me harder, but I would not go. “Severyn, please—”

My boots felt heavier. My eyes laced on the man in sheer delight as he tipped his black hat and smiled at me, raising a glowing palm. “A taste of what you need the most,” he said. “After that, it’s five coins per minute.”

I asked as heat sucked through my lungs, “What do I need the most?”

And nothing could have prepared me to see Klaus standing before me.Klaus. He looked the same as two years ago but wore a Serpent uniform. He crossed his arms, staring at me as if he had no idea he was dead, as if the shock in my eyes concerned him.

“Are you alright, Severyn?” he asked, wavering between Archer and me. “Just ignore Archer. He’s a grump.”

I counted his freckles as if I’d forgotten how many his cheeks bore. I stared into that golden-flecked iris, a broken promise of his northern bloodline that boiled into steam.Oh, Klaus.

“Never better,” I said. With every gulp, my throat dried like shards of glass were poured into my airways. I wrapped my arms around him, but the empty air ripped through my broken heart. “You’re not real,” I whispered, stepping back, but something dragged me out of the alley with a tightened, chilled grasp around my wrist.

Klaus waved at us. “But the show was just getting good, Sev. You can’t leave now! I told Mother I’d keep my eye on you,” he yelled, his voice drowning out as the crowd swept him away in a flurry of smoke and ash.

It took going down three alleyways for me to come to my senses. Archer cupped my cheek, kneeling beside me—beneath me. He was shielding my mind with shadows. Darkness swirled my vision, stirring his face. My chest thundered loud enough forhim to check my pulse. His blue eyes held me upright. His lips moved, whispering my name until my hearing was back.

“What was that?” I seethed, catching my stolen breath.

“I warned you. Illusionists can contort your mind in cruel ways. There is no sense in getting wrapped in one. I wouldn’t be surprised if those same people were standing there tomorrow until the soles of their feet were blistered and bloody.” He hesitated before curling his fingers around my jaw, and I leaned into the coolness of his shadows, knowing if I heated anymore, I’d faint.

“Sometimes we see something we want so desperately it is hard to escape,” he whispered, his voice dropping to a near caress.

“I saw Klaus,” I said through my barred teeth, a lump forming in my throat. “How is that not a forbidden quell?” The air ripped from my lungs fast.

“There is no harm. He did not bring Klaus back to life. You simply imagined him. Some people enjoy being in a dream state.” Archer’s gaze lingered on my face longer than necessary, his thumb brushing just faintly over my cheek before dropping away. “We should go.”

“I feel sick,” I said, clenching my fists. “How many people surrender their life savings to imagine something?”

We stayed in the dark alley for a moment before Archer grabbed my arm and pulled me up. “More than you think. It might take a few hours for your mind to settle. It’s best to sleep it off.”

I nodded as we moved deeper into the city. Townhouses and shops framed the cobblestone streets. Archer turned sharply, leading us toward a narrow building. Above its door, the word INN was etched into a wooden beam, its once-bold letters now faded and cracked with age.

The air inside smelled of dust and wood. A red velvet couch dominated the waiting area, paired with a coffee table at its center. Books, paintings, and tapestries adorned the walls, their colors muted.

Behind the desk, a man with a black patch over one eye glanced up, his single eye darting to Archer. He scrambled out of his chair, adjusting his rounded glasses with trembling fingers as he bowed deeply.

“Mr. Lynch,” he said. “It is an honor to have you here. How may I serve you?” He fumbled for a quill and paper, his hands shaking as he awaited Archer’s reply.

Archer shook his head. “We are here visiting Kian. I should have sent a letter ahead of time. But are two rooms available tonight?”

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