Page 160 of Lightlark
Aurora turned to face Grim.
“And that was when he became my accomplice.”
Isla stilled. Grim’s face had gone ashen. He did not meet Isla’s gaze.
“A person’s emotions have colors, apparently.Celeste’shad the same shade as mine. He figured out my identity right away and was about to slay me, knowing that my survival meantIhad spun the curses. But before he could, I told him that the only reason I kept returning to the Centennial with a new face was because I could not rest until Egan’s familial line was destroyed for good. I presented him with a plan that would kill the king without dooming everyone on the island, break the curses, and give him control of Lightlark. All he had to do was help me.”
“Hearteater,” Grim said, trying to get her attention. But she couldn’t even look at him. He growled, tearing against his binds. But it was useless. “She told me the original offense was a Sunling ruler falling in love with a Wildling ruler—Egan loving Violet.” His breathing was labored. “To break the curses and fulfill the prophecy, the original offense had to be repeated again. You had to make Oro fall in love with you. But we were already in love. You would have refused. So, I had to take the memories of us together away.”
Isla could barely breathe. That was why Grim had avoided her for weeks when she and Oro were working together. She thought about his strange comment, encouraging her to dance with Oro at the ball.
His voice took a desperate edge as she still refused to look him in the eye. “It was the most difficult decision I’ve ever made, Hearteater. Knowing that succeeding meant you beguiling someone else. Making you forget our story. Our love.”
She finally met his gaze then. “Difficult foryou?”
His voice turned resolute. “I was going to give the memories back. Once Oro loved you ... and you remembered you lovedme... we could take all of Lightlark’s powers and rule together.”
Aurora pursed her lips. “And, once Oro was drained of his abilities and link to the island, I would be free to kill him.”
Grim spoke again. “I did it for my realm. Your realm. Forus,Heart.”
It fit the prophecy perfectly. Rulers being joined. Winning immense power. A ruler and their familial line dying.
Aurora sighed. “You have to admit ... itwasa great plan.” She grinned. “Too bad it was all a lie.”
Grim thrashed against his restraints, bellowing in anger. Immediately, thorns from the vines tying him down dug into his skin, drawing blood. He winced, already weakened. And now Isla knew why. Both he and Oro had been drained of power.
And so had Isla. Though she hadn’t been weakened ... not like them. For she had never relied on power.
She couldn’t miss something she never knew she had.
“I need to thank you,” Aurora said, looking down at Isla. “You not only found the bondmaker for me ... but you gave me all six powers at once.”
Isla was shaking.
Everything had been orchestrated. A game much bigger than the one she thought she had been playing.
Isla finally rose. Grim had done everything for the same reason she had tried to win the Centennial—to save those he loved and bring power back to his realm. On every level, she understood.
The difference was Isla had been willing to give up everything for him. When, the entire time, he had used her as a pawn. She spat in Grim’s direction.
Isla looked at Oro and hoped he read the apology in her eyes. Because of her, because he had been foolish enough to love a Wildling, his worst fear had been confirmed. He had lost his power.
He had been right not to trust her. Not to trust anyone.
She should have done the same.
Isla took out her blade, then faced Aurora. Everything made terrifying sense now.
Aurora had killed Juniper after he wrote them about knowing who had spun the curses. Not Cleo or Ella.
Azul must have somehow figured out Celeste was Aurora and tried to stop her during Carmel.
Isla swallowed, knowing she had to finish the job.
She was quick, faster than lightning striking—her blade was at Aurora’s throat in a moment.
But before she could pierce flesh, the blade shattered.
