Page 58 of Curse of Thorns
I’m not a child anymore, I tell myself. And this arrogant king is giving me information freely because he enjoys watching me squirm. I am squirming. I’m freaking the fuck out. My chest hurts, my head spins, my fingertips are tingling. But I have to keep him talking as long as I can. He thinks he’s won this game, and so he’ll spill everything here and now.
My teeth chatter. “What did you do?” My voice trembles.
“Nothing extraordinary.” He shrugs. “Just ensured that Reveln will perish inside those wicked walls. If he gets past the first few obstacles, he will have about ten thousand wraiths hunting him. How long do you think he will last? If he makes it through Death Valley, I’d be shocked. But even if he does, he will not survive even a moment past the fires.”
I mark his words carefully. He’s giving me a road map, even if I don’t know exactly what they mean.
“Then, Rev will be dead, and you’ll have your chance to prove yourself and save the realm. Whathedoes with you—I don’t much care. Will he let you have your reward now that you helped end Reveln’s life after all?” He strokes his chin.
I groan as another wave of pain wracks through my body.
He smiles, his silver eyes glinting with dark wickedness.
“Reveln, the fraud prince, is now exactly where the Night Bringer wants him.”
Caelynn
Idon’t wait for anotherword from the evil king of the Luminescent Court. If I’d spent one more moment with him, I’d have attacked him—no matter the consequences.
There is a simple truth ringing through my brain.
Rev just walked straight into a trap set by his father, who is working for the Night Bringer. Nausea rolls through me. I can’t... God, I can’t let this happen.
I fought so hard to free myself and Rev fromhisevil clutches. I gave up everything so that we could live. And now... now he’s found a new way to carve my heart out. By killing the fae I love.
These truths add up to one obvious course of action. I must go to the Schorchedlands—now. The Night Bringer is targeting Rev.
I won’t let him face this alone. Maybe if there’s two of us... we can defeat our enemies.
I rummage through the supplies in the carriage. There’s not much here. A knife, a scarf, a few potions. No extra clothes, which is what I really need. I’m not sure I can survive that place without a sturdy pair of boots at the very least.
“What are you doing?”
I spin to face Tyadin and Kari. “Looking for supplies.”
Ty’s eyes narrow. “What kind of supplies?”
