Page 97 of Queen of Thorns

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Rev

Iam surrounded byblinding light, and Caelynn is no longer visible. I don’t see the wave pummel her. I don’t hear the crash or her screams. There is simply nothing.

“She is not worthy of death,” I say, realizing that my body is mobile again, but I am trapped inside this bubble of light.

“You are all worthy of death,” he hisses.

“If that is the kind of king you want to be, then be our judge and kill us all.”

The water stills. “That is not the kind of king I was. But now, I am no king at all.”

“And whose choice was that?”

The room fills with such aching silence, my own breathing stills. Waiting.

“You are a brave being to speak to me this way.”

“You have the life of my mate in your hands. I have very little else to lose. I will do what I must to save her.”

“Her? The fae that killed your brother? You would risk so much to save her?”

“Yes,” I answer quickly. “I’d risk it all.”

“Why?”

I press my lips together, considering how to best respond. I’d say that I love her, but it won’t make a difference to him. “You say she is deserving of death, but I disagree. I have seen her strength, her loyalty, her honor, her compassion. She has faced more pain and fear than any being ever should. And when I put myself in her position—I don’t know that I could have done what she did. I would have been too cowardly. If it had been me, the Night Bringer would have already won and this game would be over. But because of Caelynn’s strength, even sometimes the strength to do terrible things in the name of justice, we have a chance.”

“So, if I were to test her, you believe she would pass?”

I pause. “Test?”

“Yes, a test.”

I blink rapidly. She is so strong, stubborn but strong. “Yes,” I whisper. “If you need her to prove it again—well, it hurts me to think she must suffer another time, but I know she will succeed. I know it in my very soul. So, fine. Test her if you must. She will surprise you, the way she has surprised me.”

“You think so very highly of this Shadow fae.”