I palm my axe as I come down the stairs. My power stores are high right now, thanks to Quinn and the mating bond. I just hope it’s enough to beat Gia.
The thought of truly harming her makes my stomach churn. In all the other matches we’ve had, I went easy on her. She didn’t know it, but I held back because I didn’t want to hurt her.
But there’s no trace of the little girl I once knew.
There’s a wild glint in Gia’s eyes, and her fingers twitch at her sides as she sizes me up.
With a flick of her wrist, a gust of wind opens the window across the room. The glass panes shatter against the walls.
Just as my foot makes it off the last step, a lightning bolt shoots inside, heading straight for me.
Everything goes white.
My muscles seize and I fall to the floor. The back of my skull smacks hard against the marble, and pain radiates through every cell of my body.
Everyone is screaming, but I barely hear it over the ringing in my ears.
My head throbs. My skin sizzles. My heart beats in an odd, unstable rhythm. I try to move, but I can’t.
I’ve been hit by lightning many times before. Just a hazard of flying. No big deal. It usually stuns me for a few minutes, but I can’t afford to be immobile right now.
I blink up at the ceiling as Gia struts over to me.
I hate to admit it, but if the beginning of our fight is any indication, I’m no match for someone with enhanced powers.
Wielding lightning? My father’s the only person I’ve ever known who can do that.
I try to call on the birds, the vines, insects—anything that might be able to create a diversion. But they’re all under Gia’s command. If our abilities were different from each other, I might have a chance, but right now, we’re pulling on the same rope.
I’ll lose this tug of war because she has more influence than I do.
All I have is my wits and physical strength, both of which are extremely hindered at the moment.
As if being completely incapacitated wasn’t already enough, roots break through the floor underneath me. The marble cracks as brown ropes twist around my torso, arms, and legs. Some of them have thorns that scrape and stab me.
Gia circles my body, and I spy an iron spike in her hand. It’s unlike a knife or a spear. The tip is needle-sharp, and it becomes thicker toward the base.
My sister doesn’t want a challenge.
She wants an execution.
I’ve always had respect for her, but memories of her cowardly attempts to claim the crown bubble to the surface. The way she tried to take advantage of my disability. The times she pretended to be finished, only to jump up and strike me in the back. Her use of iron weapons; even after we’d agreed to leave the dangerous metal out of it, she always found a clever loophole in her wording.
Nothing was too low for Gia.
I used to think her smart and resourceful.
Now, I see her for what she truly is—ruthless and deceitful.
“I’m doing this to help you.” Frowning down at me, she grips the wooden handle of the spike. “What sort of existence could you possibly have now? Your fated mate is gone. You’re blind. You won’t be a ruler. I’m simply putting you out of your misery.”
She actually sounds sincere. It’s so ridiculous that I laugh.
“You knew Quinn was my fated mate,” I croak out, trying to keep her talking. “How?”
I mentally will my body to pull against the binding roots, but I barely manage a twitch because of the electricity still numbing my limbs. If I was at full strength, I might be able to break them. But right now, it’s no use.
Gia snickers. “Oh, poor Kirian. The fact that you were too much of a moron to realize it is proof I should be queen. It was obvious the second I saw you together in the dining hall. The way you had to touch her all the time and how you angled your body in front of hers, protecting her. Even when there was no threat, you were willing to die for her. Besides, you ran off to the human realm all that time for no reason? I don’t think so. You were drawn to her and couldn’t stay away.”
“Just another reason to be jealous of me, eh?” I probably shouldn’t try to piss her off right now, but I can’t hold in the low blow.
“Yes,” she hisses, then throws a quick glance at Farrel. “No offense, dear.”
“None taken,” he grits out. “But, darling, I think you should take a moment to reconsider your actions. This isn’t you.”
“This is me! For the first time in my life, I feel right.”
“Where’s Mother?” Tingles are replacing the numbness in my fingers, and I successfully make a fist.
Slowly, I try to get to the handle of my axe. It’s just a few inches away, and Gia doesn’t seem to notice my movement.
“In the dungeon, along with the rest of the council and anyone who dared to defy my orders.” She grimaces, looking somewhat ashamed. “I had to use iron shackles. It was the only way to keep her from interfering. She’ll forgive me someday.”
“She won’t,” I say with certainty. “Don’t do this.”
She ignores me. “Goodbye, brother. I’ll see you someday on the other side of the stars.”
As she raises her weapon, my grip closes around the handle of my axe.
But it’s too heavy.
Fear strikes me harder than the lightning did. This might actually be the end for me.
My life flashes before my eyes, and the whole thing is a culmination of Quinn.
She’s pulling me out of the river. She offers her coat when I know she’s colder than I am. She gives me her marble. Years pass, and everything is a blur but her. She reads to me. She hums while she helps me harvest the
