Page 98

“So it was, with a heavy heart, the king’s mistress sent her child into a foreign land.”

An image of my mother flooded my brain. One of her crying, kissing my cheeks, and then thrusting a blade into her chest.

Portal magic required a blood sacrifice. My mother sacrificed herself to protect me.

I wasn’t abandoned. Rejected. This news should have offered me some comfort. It didn’t, as I was no longer a child who cared about such things. The story Yaga told felt long separated from me. As if it had happened to someone else.

“The king mourned the loss of his lover and son. When he discovered what his queen had done, he cursed his remainingchild, ensuring the realm would reject Idris when it came his time to rule.

“Furious, the queen plotted, and when her son was old enough to claim the throne, murdered the divine king. When the kingdom’s sacred arbor rejected the cursed son, his mother urged him to capture a sorceress who could force a bond. Problem was, a sacrifice was needed. Knowing her actions were the cause of his curse, the queen surrendered her life so that her son could access Carcerem’s power.”

Shadows from the flickering flames haunted Runa’s expression. “So, not only did my sister open a connection between the two, she was ultimately responsible for the queen’s death.”

Yaga nodded. “Sadly, the eldest son was more like his mother than his father. He abused the power granted to him, using the tree to drain Carcerem until the kingdom was a withered shell of its former glory. For a while, it seemed all was lost until a prophecy came to light. One that claimed Carcerem’s one true king lived and would someday return. Which brings us to now.” Her discerning gaze took me in.

In her eyes, I felt…

Judged.

Lacking.

My defenses rose in response. “It’s a lovely story.”

The hag narrowed her cloudy eyes. “You don’t believe me.”

Runa’s glare now matched the hag’s. That I’d dared to question Yaga.

“I’ve learned to put little faith in prophecies over the centuries. Most never come true. Others were invented by drunken soothsayers, selling snake oil and fortunes trying to make a buck.”

“Careful, vampire,” Runa growled.

“It’s okay, dear,” Yaga stated in a way that made it clear it was anything but okay. “Those without faith often have trouble believing things they haven’t seen with their own eyes.”

“You forget,” I snapped, “I have experienced the effects of this so-called prophecy firsthand, along with everything it might have set into motion. First, upon having all I’ve worked for stolen from me before I was banished to a barbaric land. Next, by falling off a cliff into the jaws of a gallspawn. Then, by being sold to a gangster who promptly shipped me off to Idris, who treated me like a game piece.”

Yaga opened her mouth as if to speak, and I cut her off. “Did I mention I was recently burned alive by a dragon?”

“And you are better for it,” Yaga declared with a thrust of her bony chin. “All of it.”

“Better?” I snapped my fingers, emitting sparks that fizzled and died. “Behold my god-like power. One look, and I’m certain Idris will quake in his royal boots. Tell me again how I am the lost king sent to save a decrepit kingdom filled with criminals and commoners.”

Runa scoffed. “Don’t waste your breath, Yaga. The vampire believes in nothing of real value. He puts his faith in the almighty coin. That which cannot be bought has little value to him.”

“I have faith,” I spat. “Faith in myself.”

Runa snapped to her feet, standing before me. “And that is why you ended up on that ledge, exiled and alone.”

I rose from my seat as well, not one to be looked down upon. “I’ll tell you what I believe. I believe my mother was right to send me into the mortal world, saving me from a miserable life in this rabid, uncivilized land.”

“Perhaps it is you who doesn’t deserve the kingdom.” Runa took an aggressive step forward. “By your own words, all you care about is yourself.”

“Because I am the only one who’s never let me down. I owe this realm nothing. And now we are free of the pit, I oweyounothing as well.” I stabbed a finger into Runa’s chest. “I held upmy end of our deal. It’s past time you held up yours. You promised me a portal.”

Instead of shrinking in the face of my anger, Runa thrust her nose an inch before mine. “Still, you hound me about your flarking portal. Even though you’ve just found out you are the only one who can save Carcerem’s people, your only concern is returning to the mortal world.”

“Finally, you understand.”

“Is that the reason you ‘fell’ saving my life? Because you’d prefer to die than be stranded here?”