Page 55 of Hopeless Sacrifice
Chapter Sixteen
The Eminence
Our boots trail over the soot staining the large tiles. The silence of the city consumes the castle as well. Our steps echo through the empty halls.
The memory of how angry I was when we first arrived here skims through my mind.
That anger isn’t in me anymore. I can’t imagine being that angry with any of them now. I love them. I’d do anything for them.
Even die for them …
The gift of sacrifice.
Am I the sacrifice? Is that what the magic within me is?
My stomach dips, reminding me of the bigger life that I’m now responsible for. A helpless baby unknowingly depends on me.
A heavy sigh falls from my lips.
There’s too much responsibility.
The faster this is over the easier it will all be.
My fingers grip my sword and I unsheathe it in a quick movement.
Ryder pulls a sword from his belt as well. He holds it with casual confidence, reminding me of how skilled he is with a weapon.
We’re going to get through this. If anyone could win this war, it’d be the four of us.
And if we can’t do it … then the world’s fucked.
And it’ll no longer be my problem.
“Where should we even be looking?” My whisper crawls up the arching ceilings.
Ryder hesitates for only a moment.
“If it were me, I’d go to the roof. It overlooks the city. You’d be able to see all the way to the coast.”
I nod slowly. Without warning, I grip his hand and shudder us away.
He staggers when we land but doesn’t fall.
“Okay, you’ve proved your point. I get it.”
I almost smirk at his words.
“Good.”
I stalk across the damp concrete. Strong winds pull at my long hair and I curse myself for not tying it back.
“He’s not here.” Her voice is more of a sob than anything.
I turn toward the small sound of it.
The king’s wife stands with her shoulders hunched, her arms wrapped around herself.
Her gaze takes in my appearance as I take in hers. Bruises line her eyes heavily and one is swollen shut. The cut slicing through her lip is puffy and deep.
