Chapter 4

An ache began low in Lorelai’s back, traveling up her spine until agony spread out through her limbs. Her eyes slid open to stare into the darkness. How long had she been down there?

Every muscle screamed as she dragged her body toward the wall to sit against it.

Her magic had long since depleted, leaving weakness in its wake. She’d used what little power she had stored up during the first few days of her imprisonment to keep the cold from sinking into her bones.

Now it had taken up root in her very soul.

Did they get out? She still didn’t know, but if Davi had caught Ramsey and his grandchildren, they’d be with her in the dungeons.

The only other person she’d spoken to was the pock-ridden man who brought her food twice a day. Her uncle was a man who enjoyed dealing with the prisoners himself. Ramsey had gone through a lot of torture within these walls. Yet, he hadn’t come to her.

She wasn’t the only prisoner. The cells stretching in each direction were full of people from the villages. Rebels, no doubt. Each time a new group came in, she asked the same question. Was there news coming out of Dreach-Sciene? Did anyone have information on the whereabouts of Ramsey Kane?

The answers never changed. The border remained quiet. Ramsey Kane hadn’t appeared.

She leaned her head back against the wall.

“Lorelai.” Her name came from the dark and she sat upright.

“Who is that?” she croaked.

“You’re the seer?” The voice asked. “The king’s niece?”

“Who are you?”

“Is it true?” She could tell it was a man’s voice this time. “Has the magic returned to Dreach-Sciene?”

Lorelai closed her eyes. How was she supposed to know? She’d been trying to will a vision to come to her, but she was even too weak for that. The truth was, she had felt no trace of magic in weeks.

“I don’t know,” she finally said.

“Before I was taken, I met with a rebel spy who’d just come from the border. He told us the power had returned.”

Tears pricked the corners of her eyes. They’d done it.

The man continued. “I just… we’re probably all going to die down here. I want it to be for something good. Like you. You helped reunite the Tri-Gard.”

“We’re not going to die.” As soon as she said the words, their falseness struck her.

“When they brought us in, we passed a structure they were building for a… a mass execution.”

She squeezed her eyes shut again.

Silence stretched between them.

“I joined the rebels because of your mother.”

“I’m sorry.” Her voice was so quiet she wasn’t sure if he’d heard her.

“I don’t regret it.”

The corner of her mouth tilted up. She knew what he meant. She’d never regret everything she’d done. Not killing Marcus. Trying to save her mother. Helping Ramsey.

The only thing she’d ever get sick over was betraying her cousin. Not when she aided the Renaulds in escaping. No, she’d betrayed him long before that. She’d been betraying him the entire time he’d been in Dreach-Dhoun. Watching as his memories were stolen. Lying to him about everything. Asking Ramsey to take Rissa from his mind completely.

She slid down the wall and curled up on her side.

The door to her cell opened and in walked a man Lorelai would have recognized anywhere. She’d been a young girl the last time she’d seen Briggs Villard, but the Tri-Gard never changed.

“Briggs,” she whispered.

“Hello, Lorelai.”

She scrambled to sit up. “What are you doing here? Has my uncle captured you as well?” She buried her face in her hands. “The Tri-Gard failed, didn’t it?”

A low chuckle escaped from Briggs. “My dear, you have a fanciful imagination. The Tri-Gard fail? No. We have brought magic back to Dreach-Sciene just as your uncle wanted us to do.”

“My uncle—”

“He is a masterful planner and much more patient than me. Fifteen years ago, he sent you to set his plan in motion, and now it’s all coming to fruition.”

Memories of being a teenage seer in Dreach-Sciene rushed back to her. The prophecy she’d given Marcus Renauld had been Calis’ words, but it hadn’t been the true purpose of her presence there. She’d been charged with delivering Davion into enemy hands. Her first betrayal.

Briggs walked farther into the cell, not stopping until his boots hit her curled legs. “Stand up,” he ordered.

She struggled to get to her feet. He grabbed her arm and yanked her up with more strength than he looked like he had. He released her seconds before a wall of magic slammed into her, forcing her up against the stone face behind her.

A cry left her lips.

“Your uncle has yet to punish you, girl. He seems to think his idea of a public execution is enough. But you chose your side in all of this. Ramsey…” He spat. “Was the wrong man to align yourself with. For so long, I had to watch his grandchildren grow and not do a thing. But your uncle told me he cares about you.”

His magic released her, and she slumped forward before a backhand sent her sprawling to the ground. Her lip split, flooding her mouth with the metallic taste of her own blood. She pushed herself up onto her hands and knees. His boot collided with her stomach, and she collapsed, gasping for breath.

Briggs looked down on her. “Sometimes it’s more satisfying letting my body do what my magic could.”

“Briggs!” He froze as Calis’ voice surrounded them. “I told you not to come down here.”

Briggs opened his mouth to speak but shut it before he did. Defiance sparked in his eyes.

Calis stepped into the dim light outside her cell and glared at Briggs.

“Sire,” Briggs began calmly, as if speaking to a child. “We need to make an example of her.”

“And we will. At the executions.”

Lorelai shivered. Executions. She’d accepted her fate, but that didn’t quell the terror inside her.

Briggs stepped closer to Calis and lowered his voice. “Your Majesty, Lorelai is the reason he didn’t give himself over to you fully. You know the truth in my words. She twisted him. It’s the only explanation for him turning against you.”

Lorelai watched their faces, trying to ignore the pain rocketing through her. What were they talking about?

“Davion—”

Calis cut him off. “Leave. Now.”

Briggs sent Lorelai a final glare before disappearing down the long hall.

Calis walked forward and crouched in front of her.

She waited for the blow she knew was coming.

He held his hand out in front of her and she was prepared for his magic to strike. Instead, a cloth appeared in his hand.

She flinched away when he touched the damp end to her lip.

“Lorelai.” He sighed. “Let me help you. I’m sorry. Briggs never should have been allowed down here.”

He held the cloth to her lip, and she let out a yelp of surprise when warmth from his magic struck her skin. The blood dried up and her pain lessened to a dull ache.

“I can’t heal it,” he said, remorse lacing his words. “But I can help with some of your pain.”

This was the uncle she’d known as a young girl. The one she’d loved so deeply her loyalty remained through everything he asked her to do, every change in him she’d witnessed.

But she couldn’t let herself be drawn back to him. Not when she knew the kind of man he’d become.

“When are the executions?” she asked.

He reeled back as if she’d struck him and jumped to his feet. “Soon.” He tugged at his hair. “I can’t stop them.”

“I didn’t ask you to.”

“Dammit, Lorelai.” His eyes blazed into her. “When did you turn on me?”

“Not soon enough.”

“Haven’t I given you everything? A home. A purpose.”

She shook her head and pulled her filthy braid over one shoulder. “It’s not about what you give, but what you take. I’ve done so much bad in your name, sacrificed so much. I’m glad I get to die knowing I chose the right path at least once in my life.”

He spun and slammed his palm against the wall. “You don’t know the meaning of the word sacrifice.”

She tilted her head to the side. There’s only one sacrifice that would matter to her uncle. “Where’s Davion?”

Calis let out a roar that every person in the dungeons must have heard. “Dead if he ever sets foot back in Dreach-Dhoun. I won’t hesitate.”

Lorelai’s mind whirled. The only way Davi would choose the Renauld king over his own father was if he had his memories back. A smile spread across her lips. He was home. That was all she wanted for him. Her death would be worth it knowing that had been made right.

“It’s a good thing he’s too smart to return here then.” She met her uncle’s gaze.

“His end will have to wait for a battlefield in Dreach-Sciene.” Calis’ eyes hardened, but a deep sadness cracked the stone of his expression.

Lorelai pushed herself up and stood on shaky legs. “You don’t want to kill him.”

“Davion is now the enemy.” Calis stepped back away from her.

“Uncle, what are you afraid of? Admitting you love your son?” She narrowed her eyes. “Why didn’t you let Briggs rough me up? Is it because you care?”

He shook his head, but she continued.

“I have been by your side since I was young. For my entire life, I have been the only person who did not fear you. Until Davion. We loved you.”

“You betrayed me.”

“Even now, you can’t admit you needed us.”

His eyes darkened. “I have a Tri-Gard member at my disposal. The best-trained army in a century. A royal treasury bursting at the seams. And allies in every part of Dreach-Sciene. I don’t need you to get what I want.”

“What is it you want?”

“I will reunite Dreach-Sciene and Dreach-Dhoun as they once were.”

She stumbled as she walked forward and knocked into him. When she righted herself, she looked straight into his eyes. “And you’re going to do it alone.”

“I just told you—”

“You have armies and allies. But all war does is destroy. It will tear you down. Who will build you back up again? Who will mourn when you lay dead in the middle of a battlefield?”

She pressed her lips into a line and leaned back against the wall to slide down to sit on the floor again.

She rested her arms on her knees and lowered her head.

“I will, uncle. And Davi, I’m assuming. Because you’re family. But we won’t fight for you. Not anymore.” She raised her gaze. “Let me ask you this. When I dangle from your noose, will you shed a tear for me?”

His brow furrowed as he stared at her for a moment. Without answering, he turned and walked away.

She wiped at the tears that had fallen. “Maybe I was wrong. You are the monster you try to be.”

He didn’t hear her final words because he was already gone.