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But I refused to dwell on it, pushing the thought to the side. I refused to be underestimated any longer.

There were strangled and depleted breaths escaping her throat, choking out like unnatural gurgles. The texture of her skin started to melt, her copper-toned skin burning to a deep purple, the oxygen fleeing her blood. Her hands thrashed to grab at the shadows closing her airways. I wanted her to know that I was in power. I was in control.

“Don’t mess with the Shadow Queen,” I uttered, as her body fell limp to the floor, her remaining sobs escaping her throat. A piece of my heart whimpered at the sight of watching her body fight for air.

My best friend was fighting for her life.

My best friend betrayed me, and I made the choice to kill her.

Her last breath screeched out in a haunting wail, saying something in a language I had never heard before. In a matter of seconds, Tobias seized my mother, bringing her past the door and through the hall we were standing in, as black creatures held out their taloned claws toward the window.

The pane cracked and broke to the ground, the shards of glass clinking as they shattered, bringing in large Deathlies, swirling throughout the room. Their wings were tall and distorted, their fangs bony and unnatural, and their talons long and pointy. Their eyes were bottomless and lifeless.

The creatures were answering Cora’s pleas for help.

1.Maxz (Mahz): Ability

Chapter sixty-two

AURELIA

“Dad!” My scream echoed through the room as my father conjured a towering purple shield, reminiscent of the one encasing my tower. Stretching from floor to ceiling and spanning the width of the room, it formed an impenetrable barrier. The purple hue of the magical shield cast a hazy blur on the other side, separating us from the threat of the Deathlies. But in its protective embrace, it also sealed me off from reaching my father.

The violet shield continuously flowed with movement. The purple magic drifted and swirled in place like lasers through the room, not allowing us through.

There were Deathlies ramming into the shield, attempting to reach us. Their claws were outstretched, ready to have any contact with the flesh of our skin. Their sickly bodies crashed into it, rebounding backward from the force. The noises that erupted from their vocals screeched their desire to tear us to shreds.

I lunged toward the veil, my voice rising in a desperate cry as I pounded against the barrier, my fists pounding against the unforgiving magic. The urgency pulsed through me, driving me forward as I struggled to breach the barrier between us. Why had he shut me out just when I needed him most?

I hated him. I hated him for so long, but he only ever wanted to protect me, to love me.

Despite my own thrashes and hits, my body stayed on the other side of the impenetrable force field.

He came up to the veil, with Cora’s limp body sprawled on the floor behind him, and the Deathlies roaring around the room. His face was twisted, tears on the brink of being released. Nearing the purple veil, he lifted his hand, meeting right in front of me. I raised my right hand, meeting his own.

My mother came up next to me, doing the same. His eyes glanced toward her, loving and full. The rest of the Scalebound colony, Damian, and Tobias were behind the both of us, waiting and supporting.

“Dyla, my dear,” he said as a tear trickled down his cheek. The lines of age filled his face, the creases showing his story of life. “I love you. I always have and always will.” My mother broke into sobs, her body doubling over at the thought of losing my father. My father then glanced at Tobias. “Take her away. Make sure she is safe.”

Tobias followed his instructions, forcing my mother back, even through her cries and her pleas to have more time with my father. My other hand made its way to cover my mouth, covering the painful noises that erupted, understanding what was happening. As my mother and Tobias left, only the Scalebound colony and Damian behind me, I turned back to look at my father.

My father’s face softened to a degree that I had never seen before. His cheeks flushed with red, the tears rapidly flowing,yet he remained calm and contained. “My little girl. I have always loved you so deeply, even if I never was able to show you properly.”

“How? Why did you lock me away? I don’t understand,” I said, the events of everything swirling in my mind.

He sighed softly, weight gaining on his shoulders as he spoke. “I only wanted to keep you alive. You bear the burden of my curse. And I would never have been able to forgive myself if anything ever happened to you. Your mother and I have fought for years about what to do. For the time being, we wanted to keep you in your tower to keep you safe. We had heard of too many Scaleborne trades and didn’t want you to ever be a part of them.”

I thought of the underground bar–of men slicing my skin. I wouldn’t have survived if it weren’t for Belle or Damian.

“Why not tell me? Why not help me understand?” I stuttered. The Deathlies continued to screech, their talons pounding on the wall, desperate to reach us.

“A child should never have their safety as their own burden. We tried our best to keep you safe. If I could go back in time to do it better, I would. Your mother had her own motherly instincts that we couldn’t trust even our most trusted staff. We followed it.” He glanced behind his shoulder, taking in the death of Cora. “She was right for a reason.” A lump in my throat formed, a sob wanting to escape. “I was in a position to choose. You could either be safe and hate me while alive, or love me while dead. Although I regret other things I have done in the process of keeping you safe, I would never regret keeping you alive. I am so proud of you.”

My voice faltered as I said, “But father, why? I haven’t saved the kingdom. If anything, I have let you down.” My thoughts jumped to being kidnapped, dying and having the wish usedto save me, spending the time to train. But never saving the kingdoms from the Deathlies that were still so prevalent.

“Oh, my little girl. Your strength and tenacity know no bounds.” Confusion riddled my face. “Aurelia, you spent twenty years in a tower and were so bull-headed that you stole a map from the future king, memorized it, and then burned it in front of him and myself–not one king, but two. That takes guts that I have only ever seen in one woman and I married her.” I thought of Mother. Was I really so much like her?

He smiled and then continued, “You have the strength, courage, and drive to prove yourself a worthy queen.” My heart thudded in its rib cage.Worthy queen.He really thought I was worthy of being queen? “Anyone else who had been locked in a tower their whole life would not be back here, regardless of the situation. They would’ve left, finding their own freedom in life. Do you know why I am proud of you? Do you know what you have accomplished?”