Page 68 of Beneath the Flames
A memory flashed of disgusting, cold skeleton fingers grabbing my chin and silver eyes ringed in violet outside my room at the castle.
Carrow.
Terror overtook my body as I desperately scratched at his hand, trying to free myself.
Where was Rhydian?The fire was down to embers, which meant he’d been gone a long time.And how had Carrow gottenpast the magic barrier Rhydian had put around the shack?
“Be a good pet and stay silent,” he ordered, then the weight of his hand disappeared from my mouth.I sucked in a long breath, willing my trembling body to still.
Carrow straightened to his full height—he was freakishly tall—then threw back his hood, those strange eyes boring into mine.
“Carrow,” I managed to whisper.
His lips split into a wicked smile, and I half expected to see razor-sharp teeth glinting in the dim light.I swallowed hard as the violet ring in his eyes flared.
“I’m flattered you remember me, pet.”
That nickname instantly made bile rise in my throat.“What are you doing here?”I asked, though my voice was barely audible.I pushed myself to a seated position, glancing around again.“Where’s Rhydian?”
“Oh, don’t worry, your beloved beastie will return soon.I needed a word with you.”
I fought a shudder at him calling Rhydian my beloved beast.The only real beast here was Carrow himself.
“With me?”My hands shook in my lap, and I pushed them together to stop it.Much like with my father, I refused to give him my fear.I wouldn’t give him any more power over me than he already had.
“Yes, you.”Prince Carrow turned around and stalked to the fire, sending it roaring with a wave of his violet magic, much larger than what Rhydian had done.Carrow faced me again.“Rhydian is planning something, and you need to stop him.”
The words went in one ear and out the other.“How did you get in here?”I demanded.
“Focus, pet.There’s not much time.”Carrow seemed likea master at keeping his expression neutral, but for the quickest second, I saw a flash of trepidation cross his face.
“What are you talking about?”
“Has your precious Rhydian told you Avalea’s history yet?Particularly about the beasts of Eroth and Nefaroth?”
My heart stuttered.“Yes.What about them?”
Carrow’s lips split into a sneer.“I’m assuming he didn’t tell you thewholetruth.”
“What are you talking about?”I repeated, wishing he would get to the point.
Where was Rhydian?Why had he been gone for so long?
“Rhydianwantsto awaken the beast once more.That’s why he’s so desperate to break the curse.”
“He told me about this already.”I scoffed, pretending I wasn’t afraid.“He said breaking the cursemightrelease the beast, but that it was the only way to save Eroth.”
Carrow’s smile had goosebumps rising on my arms—and not the good kind.
“Of course that’s what he told you.”Carrow ran a hand over his slicked-back hair.“Rhydian is a dangerous Fae.He wants to rule Avalea himself, and releasing Kharos is the only way to do that.”
“You’re telling me that the only reason Rhydian wants the curse broken is so that he can wield the beast to rule Avalea?”
Carrow’s face relaxed, pleased that I understood.
I tried to reconcile what Carrow was saying with what Rhydian had told me.Rhydian hadn’t kept the existence of the beast a secret, and yet he also didn’t tell methis.Who was telling the truth?I had a hard time believing that Rhydian could be that…cruel, and yet a part of me felt compelled to believe what Carrow was saying.
“Why are you telling me this?”I asked.
