Page 19 of War Hour

Doors at the far side of the room open with a bang, and Ardis strides through them, eyes looking anywhere but at me. Taking in his surroundings, he maneuvers past the fallen guards, heading straight for Lord Drytas. Broken glass crunches underfoot with each step, and I realize the chandelier didn’t survive.

I fall to my knees, chest heaving as I’m struck by unbearable exhaustion. A wet trickle traces my upper lip, and I bring my hand up to catch it. Blood.

The shield collapses, cracking into pieces before disappearing. Leaving behind only the destruction it caused. ThatIcaused.

Ardis helps Lord Drytas to his feet, leading him back to his throne. Lord Drytas orders Ardis in a strangled voice. “Take her to the dungeons. She has attacked the Crown. Who knows what she did to the Trial if all she utters are lies?”

Ardis’s eyes meet mine, and I flinch, but it isn’t fear that crosses his face. Just curiosity. “Perhaps, my lord, and I apologize if I overstep, but maybe she tells the truth,” he drawls, looking me over. My skin prickles, hair raising as I feel him analyzing my arms, the bite and tattoo adorning them. “Shedoesn’t seem capable of being responsible for what happened to the Trial.”

Belthan chokes out a laugh, and I turn to see him standing from where he had been thrown. I shrink away from his accusing gaze. He looks at me as if I’m the monster here, but I only defended myself.

“She just gave us a perfect example of what she is capable of, and if you ask me, whatever she just did absolutely could have destroyed the tunnel.” He steps forward, eyes narrowed in Ardis’s direction. “And how did you know to come running?”

“I felt the shift of powers. Whether it be hers or the Trial itself. I thought to make myself useful to our lord.” Ardis looks to Lord Drytas for confirmation, who nods. “Not to mention, I was the one to report the condition of the Trial.”

Belthan twists his lips in agitation.

“If my lord wishes, I could settle this quickly. One look in her head, and I’ll know exactly what happened during her Trial,” Ardis adds.

Drytas hesitates, looking conflicted. “I have been looking forward to a demonstration of your other talents.” After a moment, he nods. “Proceed.”

Ardis navigates the bodies groaning on the floor. When he reaches me, he kneels in front of me, mirroring my position. When his blue eyes hold my gaze, I wince, an itch creeping along my mind. I don’t look away, not willing to be the first to break. The itch grows stronger until it becomes a sharp pain.

Ardis’s struggle mars his features as a bead of sweat rolls down his furrowed brow. The more anguished he looks, the stronger the pain gets—until it breaks, like an eggshell cracking against a pan, the yolk slipping out.

Lysta.

The voice saying my name doesn’t sound like Ardis. It’s deeper, with a velvet quality to it. Although Ardis’s lips have not moved from their pursed position, I know it is him.

Show me, Lysta.

Panic floods my body as the startling realization hits me. My feet fumble backward as I move away from Ardis, but he reaches forward, suddenly too close, and grips my wrist.

I clench my eyes shut, unsure of what allows him to speak directly to me. He’s a shifter yet able to use another power.

That won’t do anything to help.

Confused, I keep my eyes closed. There isn’t a person in this room I trust, let alone the man who threatened my life just the night before.

Ardis speaks again.You don’t need to trust me. Just know that, right now, our interests are aligned. Show me. Show me what happened, and maybe he’ll let you live.

“What can you see?” Drytas asks, his frantic voice breaking through my daze. “What does she know? Is she responsible for the Trial breaking?”

“Almost, my lord. She’s just walking down the tunnel now.”

I struggle in Ardis’s grip, but he makes it impossible to maneuver out of his hold. Steeling my neck, I whip my head forward, crushing it into his face. A sickening crunch accompanies the impact, and I know I broke his nose.

A curse bursts from his mouth, rushing past my ear in a sharp hiss.

Belthan barks out a laugh, but Ardis ignores him.

Easy there, fighter. Let me help, he pleads.

Memories flood my mind as it hits me. This is the only way I would get out of this alive.

So, I show him it all, and it breaks a part of me. To give him the weapon that could so easily end me.

I show him the Kadara and the weapons. Even a glimpse of when I was strewn across its back, sobbing from hallucinations as I tried to free the animal. His presence slinks from my mind, and I relish it.

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