Page 38 of Severed Heir

“It matters to me.”

“No,” I snapped, my voice stripped bare. “You chose the easy way out of this. You chose to hide me.”

His hands dropped like he’d been burned. Like touching me might finish what this place had started.

“If you leave this place,” he said, “you are only my heir. And I’ll have to pretend that’s all you ever were.” His breath caught. “That might be the worst kind of torture.”

“It’s better than being tortured in silence,” I said. “And I don’t need your help.”

I turned and walked away, but Archer’s voice hissed through the bond.“Don’t make me your villain.”

I barely had time to process his words before another voice slipped through the cracks of my mind.“Trouble, trouble, little heir. Even the King of Night doesn’t see your worth.”

“Who are you?”I screamed silently into the bond.

“Are you going to lock me out again?”

“Yes.”

“But we’re a team, Severyn. How can we trust each other if you won’t even try to figure out who I am?”

I couldn’t do this. Not now. Not when my home stood on the edge of collapse. I slammed the bond shut and moved through the institute, desperate to find a way out.

Who was it? Who had breached my head?

Ellison? No, he didn’t have the arrogance. Callum? Maybe. But he didn’t seem like the type to play games, not now that I was no longer my father’s heir.

Myla caught sight of me and waved me over. “Gods, you look awful,” she said, gripping my shoulder. “I was afraid you wouldn’t make it the full week.”

“Myla…”

Her expression shifted. “Shit,” she whispered. “You know.”

“Please. I need to get out of here. I have to make sure my father is okay.”

Before she could answer, Rok’s whistle sliced through the courtyard. “Guards. Round up. Today’s a rest day,” he called out. “But danger doesn’t rest. Myla will be conducting her first posting.”

Myla gave me a tight smile before she stepped forward. “I’ve selected three to join me on outpost duty,” she said. Her gaze flicked to mine. “Severyn, you’re one of them.”

I asked, “Where are we going?” But I already knew. I could feel it in my chest—it was about my home.

“It wasn’t a question,” Rok snapped. “Myla thinks you’ll be useful.”

She cleared her throat, trying to soften it. “We’re going to North Colindale. It’s just a precaution to make sure the land’s still secure.”

“How are we getting there?”

“You’ll portal,” Rok said with a shrug. “Don’t worry. I’ll give you a crash course.”

“It’s just a precaution,” Myla added again quickly. “Your father never reported the extent of what happened. The guards need answers, and you know the land.”

The thought of portaling twisted my stomach after what happened to Damien. “I’ve never portaled using my own power,” I said.

Rok stepped closer, arms crossed. “Well, isn’t today your lucky day. Out of the dungeon and straight into a portal lesson.”

I nodded. Maybe I didn’t need to risk getting hunted just to escape. For once, I was grateful Myla had chosen me. “Okay. Teach me.”

He smirked. “Raise your relic and picture fire.”

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