Page 68 of Devour
“The seer… didn’t finish the reading.”
“Why?”
Is he angry? I don’t know what I could have done to warrant anger.
“I don’t know.”
“What did they say?”
“They said some readings are more… powerful than others. And sometimes, their minds can’t handle it or something.”
He doesn’t respond to that, so I glance over my shoulder at him. He stares at the ground, seemingly lost in thought.
Thoughts about what?
“Do you know what that means?” I ask him.
He shakes his head. “No, I do not. But I don’t like it.”
31
Haze
Head high, heart closed off, I march toward the sanctum to face my fate.
I feel nothing because I must. I am good at shutting down.
Six confident strides and I kneel before the three beautiful priestesses standing beside the well of Nihility. They are silent as they consider me. My heart remains at its calm pace, my face impassive. Eyes dead, as usual.
“That was an impressive showing yesterday,” the youngest says first.
“A surprise, if I do say so myself,” the blond one drawls. I don’t recall either of their names. They are meaningless. They only parrot Blythe’s opinions. “We’d begun to lose hope you would finally embrace your destiny.”
“Yes, I’m still rather…confused,” Blythe says, her eyes narrowed like a snake poised to strike. She has always known she gets under my skin. She likes it. “What, exactly, prompted such a change?”
“The girl, obviously,” the blond says.
“You believe that?” Blythe says, stepping forward. Her eyes remain only on me. I let my annoyance show but nothing more. “A little mud rat was so appealing he couldn’t help but develop a stunning magical display to win her?”
“She was selected by the magic. Perhaps there is more there?—"
“The girl means nothing,” I say calmly, feigning boredom with this whole thing.
“Oh?” Her expression slips into something resembling joy.
“It’s been a long time coming.” The best lies are rimmed with truth. I hate Ivar, and I use that emotion to cover my dangerous truth.
“What exactly?” she croons.
“Me and Ivar. He’s pissed me off one too many times, thinking he’s a king out there. He pushes limits, uses unnecessary cruelty, and taunts each of us.”
“Unnecessary cruelty?” Blythe tilts her head. “Do you also think the Ancient One is so cruel?”
“I know better than to think I am wiser than the Ancient. I would be a better leader than Ivar, though. His ego is too big. He needed a good challenge, and there are few able to give it to him.”
“I didn’t thinkyouwere able to give it to him. Where has that strength been hiding all these years?”
I clench my fists but then force myself to flex my hand. It’s taken active effort to hide that part of myself.
