Page 179 of Severed Heir

Caius scoffed. “This is ridiculous. Can someone please tell us what the hell is going on?”

“It was a flame quell that started the fire on your realm. Perhaps you wanted to be the Serpent of Wrathi sooner than later?” Rok asked, lifting a brow.

“I did no such thing, and how dare you state such horrid accusations on me,” Caius spat.

“Then you won’t mind being next to have their quell tested?”

“I know what a siphon is,” Caius snapped. “You take a bit and never return it. That damn quell should be forbidden.”

Rok clicked his tongue. “Frowned upon, not forbidden.”

Myla stepped forward, fury sharpening her voice. “Tell them the truth. Tell them why they’re really here.”

Rok chuckled. “How do we break it to them that they’re replaceable?”

“This isn’t a joke, Rok. These are theirlives.”

He didn’t answer. Instead, his daggers clinked as he walked the line of heirs. “The Forgotten have called for war. They want their land back. And we, the Malvoria guards, have chosen to fight. If we win, they’ll stay out of Verdonia. But that choice came with a bargain, one that required every heir to fight.”

Caius jerked forward. “You bargained our lives?”

“A fair bargain,” said Rok. “The Forgotten believe this land was stolen. They think only one ruler should reap its power. That is how the first war began. Heirs and rulers whose power shaped the borders. The Forgotten expect us to fight them, but they do not know we have a weapon on our side.”

His gaze slid to me.

“Severyn Blanche. She holds a forbidden quell. One that can save lives. With conditions, of course. A life must be taken to save her own.”

“Shut up,” I spat. “No.”

Rok tilted his head. “You asked for answers, Severyn. A desperate plea opened a whole new door.”

“No one will die for me.”

“Maybe no onehere. But you have an entire realm sworn to protect you whether they want to or not.”

He wouldn’t. Not after what he said last night. Not after Delair.

“You know what it’s like,” I hissed. “I’ll die before I let you touch Demetria. I amnotyour weapon.”

Rok’s smile returned, slow and cruel. “Your shadow lover should’ve been friendlier. I imagine most would favor a second chance at life. They’re heirs. A civilian’s life means nothing.”

“I won’t let you,” I choked out. “I’ll end myself. I swear it.”

But maybe everything he’d said last nightwasa lie.

“A life worth shattering a bond is unusual, if you ask me,” Rok mused. “Almost like he knew to break the bond with his dragon.”

“He didn’t know—” I started, but the words caught. Hehadknown, even before the pearled wings rose when Naraic chose me. Even before I stepped outside that cabin the morning after a beast swiped at him.

Find him.Maybe he’d read Klaus’s stories. Maybe he knew more about what was coming. All at once, I realized those journals he had kept of Klaus’s had every answer for him.

Damien’s voice cracked through my shield.

“I warned you, Sev. Archer does what he wants. Hate me all you want, but you know the truth.”

“I don’t believe you.”

Rok lifted his arms in mock surrender. “Then where is he? A boat takes a day and a half to reach us. He’s not in a hurry. You’re just an heir.”

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