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“Exactly,” I snarled.

Runa’s palm exploded against my cheek. Though I could have stopped her, I welcomed her fury. It fueled my own. Fury felt better than the pain and confusion I experienced during Yaga’s story.

“You disgust me,” Runa snarled, then bolted from the room.

Silence reigned, my fury-driven breaths the only sound.

At length, Yaga heaved a heavy sigh. “Well, that was disappointing.”

“Yes,” I growled. “I’m getting that a lot lately.”

Again, silence fell between us while Yaga tapped her whiskered chin, glaring into the crackling fire.

“Perhaps I was wrong then. Both when you were a youngling, and again, when I sent my greatest treasure to you.” She shifted her bony frame, squaring her slumped shoulders as if she’d come to some difficult decision. “Very well. Victor Custodis, if power is all you want, then power is all you shall have. If you still insist on returning to the mortal world, then you should not go back empty-handed.”

“What do you mean?” I cast her a leery glance.

“I mean, you’ve made your point. For all you’ve suffered, I believe you are overdue a reward. The choice is yours. You can return to your realm broken and exiled or return as a god.”

“I’m listening.”

She narrowed gleaming eyes that seemed to see nothing and yet everything at the same time. “I must warn you. The journey will be difficult. And to start, you must do something you’ve never done before.”

“That is?”

“Apologize.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

RUNA

The rushof water sliding against a rocky beach echoed in the distance. Flutterflies danced upon a briny breeze, alighting on delicate pink and purple blossoms. At the center of the queen’s royal garden, a multi-tiered fountain gurgled with turquoise water. Manicured hedges lined the path to an enchanting gazebo with curved arches. Ivy wrapped around the stone pillars, creating a flowing canopy that trailed over the domed roof.

On any other span, I’d have found it captivating. I plopped down on an iron bench tucked beneath the gazebo, glaring at the tranquil view. Maybe Victor was right. Maybe the prophecy was nothing but the ramblings of seers gone mad.

But what if he was wrong?

Since my parents’ deaths, all I’d desired was to redeem myself for the wrong I’d committed. To make up for the fact that I’d failed to fulfill my mother’s dying wish—preventing Raelynn from putting Idris on the throne. So, I stole enough to pay their taxes, keeping their homes from burning. Stole to keep their children fed. Yet it was never enough.

While Idris drained the obsidian from the land, bleeding the kingdom dry, I’d lie awake at night, dying inside and praying for a solution.

Except if Victor Custodis was sent here to be the kingdom’s savior, the fates must surely be blind.

I closed my eyes, picturing Custodis on Carcerem’s throne, and, strangely, it wasn’t too difficult. He certainly had the bearing of a king, wearing his arrogance like a crown. While bossy and demanding, I couldn’t discount his leadership skills during the Fallen Trials. There were many times that I’d floundered, not knowing what to do next, but Victor always seemed to have a plan. He’d made snap decisions that saved our asses time and again. Sure, the vampire had been heartless when it suited him, but he’d also acted with confidence.

Then there was the dragon. Victor could deny it all he wanted, but I knew that he’d leaped to my rescue, believing he would die. Proving he was willing to sacrifice his life for others when the mood struck. Were these not the actions of a noble ruler?

Perhaps Victor didn’t believe in the prophecy because he hadn’t grown up here and didn’t love the land or its people.

Nor me, whispered a tiny voice deep in my conscience.

I tensed at the thought. What did it matter what the vampire felt about me in the grand scheme of things? I certainly hadn’t developed any tender emotions toward him. My heart twisted like a hardened rock scraping beneath my breast. Nope. No feelings at all. That he could so easily walk away from me after the time we spent together had no bearing on the situation.

Hell, my own sister had abandoned me for power and wealth. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that someone like Victor would do the same.

So why the heck did my chest ache?

Footsteps scuffed the ground. I whipped around. Custodisapproached me with slow, careful steps, as one might a cornered animal.