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“How can you be so sure?” I ask quietly.

“I can’t explain it. I have this weird sense about things and I’m always right when I feel it. Sometimes I have strange dreams, and pieces of them come true.”

“Like a blood wielder’s seer dreams?” Sasha asks.

“No, not exactly. I’m not a seer.” Lilyana frowns. “It’s more like... the answers are right on the tip of my tongue, but I can’t quite grasp them. I knew you would win the trials. I could feel it in my bones. Just like I feel the connection between you and my brother, just like I sense there is more to you than we know. I don’t know what it is, but there is something.”

Slightly disturbed by her proclamation, I clear my throat, hoping to steer the conversation away. “What about you, Sasha? Is there someone you’re seeing?”

Sasha’s grin widens. “There is, actually. His name is Chance—one of the guards.”

Lilyana laughs, tossing a pillow at her. “You dirty little courtesan! Tell us everything!”

The rest of the night passes in a blur of wine, pastries, and laughter until our sides ache and our worries fade, if only for a little while.

Reign and I stay silent throughout the carriage ride home. Plagued by my own thoughts, I decide to leave her to hers. Seeing her so heartbroken over the blood wielder fractures some of the ice around my heart. I tried for so long to break the mind magic. Vanna is an Infinity, and her magic is damn near impossible to shatter, but when I heard Reign scream, I feared the worst. The spell broke only for me to find Reign cradling the blood wielder, crying. Shivers run down my spine at the memory.

The scene was horrifying. Blood seeped from the wielder’s ears, nose, and mouth, and the most unsettling part was her eyes—tears transformed into blood. I have never seen anything like it.

When we arrive at the palace, I head straight to my room and wash up. Even in the shower, I can’t stop thinking about Reign. I need to check on her.

Dressing swiftly in my sleeping pants and a loose shirt, I leave my room to head to hers. I knock. No answer. Holding my palm up, I send shadows under the door to look around. Empty. Hmm. Where is she? Maybe the library.

On my way to the library, I hear Kylo and Elm talking. Staying hidden around the corner, I listen.

“Yeah, I’m glad Reign won. I knew she would,” Kylo says.

“I’m proud of her,” Elm says, his voice full of brotherly affection.

“How was she in the Hollows?” Kylo asks. I send a few more shadows to cover me, ensuring I’m not spotted while eavesdropping.

I listen intently, hoping to hear something about my Reckless’s past.

“At first, she was scared of everything. Timid. Her husband did a great job of making her scared of all men. She was covered in bruises from him when she came to the Hollows. Big Al did a great job of breaking her too. Larah and I helped put the pieces back together as best we could though.”

My blood is boiling. If her husband wasn’t already dead, I’d kill him myself. Maybe I can somehow figure out a way to bring him back just so I can kill him again. As for Big Al… I may need to pay the Hollows a visit. As much as I like learning about Reign, her traumas are hers alone to share when she’s ready. Still, I can’t stop listening.

“Larah and I took her under our wing. We protected her, taught her to fight. And then, before we knew better, she was protecting us. She is formidable. I love her, you know. She is the sister I always wanted.”

“It’s obvious,” Kylo chuckles.

“She’s happy now. It’s so good to see. I never thought we would be free and happy. She’s even happier when he’s around.” My heart skips a beat at his words.

“Yeah, the prince is too. I’ve never seen him like…”

I step around the corner, interrupting the conversation, not wanting to hear about myself.

“Go. Watch their corridor.” Kylo dismisses Elm.

“Do you know where she is?” I ask Kylo, I don’t need to name her. He already knows who I’m talking about.

“They’re having a girl’s night in Lilyana’s room.”

Headingto Vanna’s sitting room, my shadows tell me she is there. I kick open her door and have shadows wrap around her, pinning her down before she even realizes what’s happening.

“What did you do?” My voice is filled with so much fury it rattles the mirrors, as each of my approaching steps sends terror flickering across Vanna’s face.

The fear in her eyes is worth every ounce of trouble I know this will bring. I stomp over to the couch where she’s restrained, looming over her with barely contained rage.