Page 79 of The Kingdom's Reckoning
Peering into those gray, tear-stained eyes, Kallie’s heart cracked. She should have told him how much she cared about him, how much his encouragement and trust meant to her. That this sacrifice, while for the good of the seven kingdoms, was also for him. Mostly for him.
Because, bond or no bond, she would do anything for him.
For her entire life, Domitius had doubted her, believed she wasn’t strong enough. But not anymore. Kallie called out to the swirl of power waiting eagerly within her. In an instant, it filled her veins, coating her tongue.
She lifted her head, a wicked smile peeking through the strands of hair that had fallen in her face. "I think it is about time you bent the knee to me, don’t you, Kage?"
Wide-eyed, Domitius fell, his knees smacking the ground with an ungraceful thump.
One of the winged guards made to move forward, but a flash of silver sliced through the air, landing beside his toe.
"Next time, I won’t miss," Ellie called out, twirling another jagged star around her finger.
The guard stepped backward, his fingers twitching at his side beside his sword.
Kallie’s power hummed within her, a torrent of energy buzzing inside her. She was not afraid, not of herself and not of death.
"Actually, Ellie, I think I have a better idea," Kallie said as she observed the guards. "Join him."
One after the other, the guards’ knees struck the ground, their wings flaring out in anger as they fell victim to her command.
"That’s better, don’t you think?" Kallie asked, looking down at the man whom she had looked up to her entire life.
She slipped the dagger from its strap and brushed the tip of her blade along the edge of Domitius' neck, enjoying the way his eyes widened in terror. She dragged the metal from his jugular to his jaw before tipping up Domitius’ chin.
She had once admired him, respected him, wanted tobehim. Now she only wished to drive a sword through his heart.
Although, a quick death would be a mercy for him. Domitius deserved to feel all the pain he had caused her, her family, and her friends.
"Tell me,Father," Kallie spat, the term that once held so much weight now leaden on her tongue. "How does it feel to be on your knees before me?"
"You think you’re strong for holding steady? Is that it?" Domitius sneered, his nose still held high. "You do. It’s laughable, really."
"I’m not laughing. Now am I?"
"Oh, Kalisandre, you still haven’t learned, have you? What good does killing me do? You havenothing. Your so-called family, the ones who share your blood, theydespiseyou. You’re the very reason their beloved prince is dead. You have no friends, no home, no kingdom, nocrown."
He was wrong, yet the blade shifted in her hand.
She couldn’t have cared less about a title. It was the other claims that had her halting. Kallie wanted to believe she had earned a home with Graeson and Terin, but she had seen the way Dani looked at her. The stony stares and hushed whispers. They may have been on speaking terms now, but it didn’t mean Dani had forgiven Kallie. Nor did Kallie want to be forgiven. There hadn’t been a day that went by since Fynn’s death when guilt didn’t coat her tongue and taint her lungs. Every breath Kallie took was another reminder that Fynn no longer breathed, that his and Dani’s child would grow up fatherless, just like he had.
As if knowing he had hit his target, Domitius drove the verbal knife in deeper. "Your brother—Fynneares, was it?—he’s dead. But he has a twin, does he not? The crown has been passed to him. So where does that leave you, Kalisandre?"
"Kal," Graeson called out.
She shook her head. Graeson promised he would let her do this. She had to be the one to end it all.
For Fynn.
For her father.
For the innocents who had died because of Domitius’ greed and her mistakes.
"I could have given you everything, Kalisandre," Domitius taunted.
"You used me!" she shouted, her anger snapping like a strike of lightning.
"Of course I used you! Do you think they won’t?" he asked, glancing at Graeson and Ellie. "You don’t even realize the full extent of your ability!"
