Page 150 of The Kingdom's Reckoning
Kallie frowned. They wouldn’t be able to help him if Moris didn’t tell them what happened. Kallie took a deep breath. When she exhaled, her power buzzed, and Moris started talking.
"In my nightmare, I was undergoing the transformation. It was as if it was happening for real. Every inch of my body burned. It felt as if my blood was on fire. Then, the wings started growing. Bone snapped, skin ripped. And once the transformation was complete, all I could feel was rage. All I couldseewas rage. One minute, I was fighting Domitius, then when I blinked, she was above me."
"Is this normal?" Kallie asked.
Moris grimaced. "The nightmares happen every now and then."
"What about the blinding rage? Isthatnormal?" Graeson asked.
"When my emotions become heightened, they can be all-consuming, yes," Moris admitted, ashamed.
"Any emotion?" Graeson asked carefully.
Moris nodded. "Yes, but anger is the most potent."
"He’s lucky I didn’t kill him," Ellie said from the bed. "He almost gave me no choice."
Graeson glanced at Kallie, and something flashed across his features. Worry or fear, she couldn’t tell.
"Whatever they did to us," Moris said, his voice haunted, "it changes something within us. One second I feel fine. But then, like the strike of a match, it all changes in an instant."
Chapter 58
MYRA
Cracking open the exit,Rian peered out. The brisk autumn air seeped into the tunnel and sent a chill down Myra’s back. Laurince’s hand tightened around her shoulder.
Myra had calmed the pain just enough for Laurince to walk and not hiss with every step. But based on the sweat dripping from his forehead, the pain was swiftly returning, her gift’s hold on him draining.
"Oh!" Phaia bounced on her toes as she slipped outside the tunnel. "I know exactly where we are! Come on." Shehurried forward, beckoning them to follow.
As they headed down the alley, faint screams sounded from those escaping the castle behind them. Myra glanced at the sky. She could have sworn she saw drakonises flying above the castle, but she couldn’t be sure. The shadows melted into the dark sky as night fell over the capital.
"My house is down here," Phaia said after a while.
"You don’t live in the castle?" Myra asked.
Phaia held up a hand, and the four of them halted. She peered around the corner and whispered, "I did. But when Sebastian acted in His Majesty’s place, I no longer enjoyed beingin the castle. I needed an escape. I wasn’t the only one either. We can stay at my house."
"We can’t," Rian rushed out. "If there are others…I can’t…we can’t trust anyone right now. We shouldn’t even be trusting you."
"That is probably true. I head what Ferencia did, but I’m not her."
Myra glanced at Phaia. Although her gift was weak, she could still feel Phaia’s emotions. There was no malicious intent. No pangs of jealousy. Phaia wasn’t Ferencia.
At least Myra hoped she wasn’t.
"If you don’t want to stay with me, you don’t have to."
Laurince’s weight collapsed on top of Myra as he keeled over in pain. Rian slapped a hand over the captain’s mouth, muffling his groans.
"Rian, I don’t think…I don’t think we have a choice," Myra whispered, looking between him and Laurince. The captain was barely hanging on. He needed to rest.
"Your Highness, I have never betrayed you, but it is your choice," Phaia said.
Rian bit down, his jaw popping. But Myra could see the moment he relented.
"Go," he said, tipping his head forward.
