Page 208 of The Kingdom's Reckoning
When the guards stationed at the door surged forward, weapons raised, Graeson whipped his tail out, striking them both with a sickening thud. The nearby horses reared in fright. Several of them sprinted away, their hooves pounding against the ground as they bolted.
Several yards away, Domitius, clinging to his stallion, adjusted his weight and held onto the pommel.
Graeson released a vicious roar, the sound causing the very earth to shake.
Domitius lost his grip and was thrown off his horse. He hit the ground with a painful thud. He rolled over onto his stomach and pushed himself up, shouting at his horse to come back. But the stallion was already darting toward the back of the castle.
Kallie stood. With her dagger in hand and Graeson’s blades strapped to her back, Kallie couldn’t help but pity the king of Ardentol.
"You were supposed to be dead," she said as she landed on the steps.
A haunting laugh echoed inside the bull helmet as Domitius rose to his feet. His once-clean armor was now dirtied with mud and grass. "I thought I had taught you better," he said, straightening his tilted helmet. "Always confirm the kill, Kalisandre."
Hearing Kage’s voice washed away any remaining doubts Kallie had. There was no mistaking it now. He was alive. They had failed.
"I saw your body burn to ash," she spat.
Graeson snarled, echoing Kallie’s statement.
"Face it, Kalisandre," Domitius said, his voice hollow. "You cannot kill me. No one can."
Graeson growled. He lowered his head, inching it closer to Kallie as she stood atop the steps of the Frenzian castle.
She lifted her chin, refusing to let Domitius get to her. She wasn’t the same girl he had trained. "I might have failed last time, but I won’t make the same mistake twice. You taught me that, remember?"
"To be honest, I should thank you for even trying to kill me," Domitius said, as if amused. As if his death wasn’t imminent. "I wasn’t sure if it would work, but you proved it did."
"If what worked?"
Domitius cocked his head to the side, and Kallie cursed herself. The question had spilled from her mouth before she could stop it.
"Did that handmaiden of yours ever tell you about her brother?"
Kallie’s steps faltered at the mention of Myra’s brother, Mynhos. Beside her, Graeson snapped his head up, his nostrils flaring. His talons dug into the earth, and he eyed her wearily, their thoughts in tandem.
Myra wasn’t the only one in her family who had a gift. Her brother had one, too. One particularly dangerous in the wrong hands.
Was this truly how Domitius survived the fire? Could he have Mynhos’ power in addition to Kallie’s?
"Ah, so she did," Domitius said when Kallie remained silent. "Good. That saves me some explaining."
Kallie’s eyebrows furrowed. Myra had said that her brother had died. She and Laurince had killed him—for better or for worse.
"Mynhos is dead," Kallie said, calling Domitius’ bluff.
"That is true. Unfortunately for him, his body could only handle so much. The dagger that had been driven through his heart had been there for too long. When Dr. Thorne’sreplacement had gotten his hands on him…" Domitius waved a hand dismissively. "Let’s just say the young healer can get overzealous in his pursuits. Stone pushed Mynhos’ body too far." He shrugged. "No matter. I got what I wanted."
Domitius strolled forward, dragging his sword through the dirt and leaving a trail behind him. "You see, for decades, I had been searching for someone like Mynhos, someone who bore any power resembling his ability. When I discovered him, I was in awe. Not only could he heal a minor wound, but he could regenerate his limbs. And watching it happen with my own eyes? It was as fascinating as it was horrifying."
Kallie blinked, the truth settling in as she reached the bottom of the steps. If Mynhos could grow his limbs back, did that mean Domitius could not be killed?
He was bluffing. He had to be.
Kallie’s power surged within her. She let it slip across her tongue, coating her words. "Tell me the truth."
"Fire could not kill me, Kalisandre. What makes you think a measly blade can?"
A low growl sounded, and a puff of smoke twirled around her as Graeson trailed behind her.
