Page 23 of A Blightress of Wrath
“Yes, but more than that.Thefae creatures as you know them are mere children compared to what she was attempting just before…” he choked a moment, coughing into his sleeve. “JustbeforeIwas able to stop her for a time.”
Ishook my head, surveying the hatred around us once again. “Wecannot stop this as we are now.Wewill need time to train more conduits before we can rid the isle of this.Howdo we get more time?”
Somethingticked in his jaw for a moment before it was gone.
“Whatis it?”Ipressed. “You’rekeeping something else from me.”
“I’vedone something.SomethingIwasn’t sure was possible, but she asked, soItried.”
“Whoasked?”
Heflicked his gaze to mine. “Karus.Thatday she accepted the power ofBaron, she asked for the power to make you safe, happy, and loved,Rev, andItried.Idid whatIcould.”
Iswallowed back my rising anger. “Whatdid you do?”
“Idon’t think you’ll ever know.Butthis”—he gestured around us—“this can be stopped.”Hesniffed, his face blurring before me. “Thisdoes not have to be your future.Eitherone of you.”
Thedull glow ofViridisgrew as my eyes fluttered, andItried to keep my focus on the firstBaron’sface.
“Ifyou’re strong enough to stop it.”
Myeyes shot open under the birch tree asIwoke in the library.Ipanted, inhaling the fresh scent of grass and newly grown blooms that surrounded me in the garden whereIhad sought rest for just a moment.
Ireached into my pocket to find the rhyzolm.Karuswas still in the foyer of theFortress.Orthe cellar, according toAdaynth.
Ifyou’re strong enough to stop it.
IknewIwas.Whateverchoice came before me,I’dchoose the one which keptKarussafe.Whichkept our child safe.Therewas no other choice for me, regardless of what that meant for my own future.
Chapter11
Karus
AsLiatoldthe story ofVisalia’sstillborn child,Ipressed my own hands protectively over my belly.
“Bythe timeIarrived,” she finished, “Visalia’sbabe was dead.Therewas nothing anyone could do.”
“Andshe was overdue?Byhow long?”Iasked.
“Fourweeks, give or take.”
“Itwas a girl?”
“Yes.”
“Visalianever recovered.”
“Shedid not.”
“Shetore out her own heart and gave it to him.”
“Yes.Itwas then thatIleft.Icouldn’t watch my sister turn into a monster.”
Mylip trembled. “Youleft her?Inher darkest hour, you left your sister?”
Liashifted on her feet, her head bent. “I…Istruggled to watch the two peopleIloved most fall apart.SheblamedAdaynthfor the child’s death.I,”—she patted down the skirts of her apron—“Ididn’t stick around to find out why.Iknow it was wrong.IknowIshould have stayed, but?—”
“Youjustlefther?”Iscoffed. “Howcould you do it?She’djust lost her child,Lia, of course she was broken.”
