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I scrambled backward away from the blue flames, but it was no use — they wrapped around me, binding me in place like chains. But instead of burning heat, the flames pulsed with something icy. It was so cold that my body began to go numb, and soon my skin was cracking like ice on a pond.

What the fuck was happening?

The flames that subdued me remained as the rest of the room calmed again. Lord Castemont stepped forward, his hands clasped behind his back as he surveyed me with disdain.

“You were saying?” he hummed triumphantly, one brow raised and a crooked smile marking his face.

How?

I shot upright, my breath leaving my body in heaving gasps as my hands grappled for icy chains that weren’t there. The room in the Taithan castle where I’d been dumped by Castemont materialized around me as I blinked wildly, trying to clear the fear from my head.

A nightmare. It had been a nightmare. It wasn’t real. And yet, I was awakening to another nightmare entirely, and this one was real. Agonizingly real.

I glanced at the ceiling, finding nothing to center me in this new hell in which I found myself. Who was I now? I was no longer the poor girl from Inkwell. I was no longer the step-daughter of a powerful Eserenian lord. I was the prophesied Daughter of Katia, Keeper of the Benevolent Saints. I was the seemingly unexpected Daughter of Rhedros, Keeper of the Blood Saints. And I had no idea what any of it meant. I closed my eyes, hoping for the sweet oblivion of sleep to take me away from it all once more.

“Your Majesty,” a rough whisper cleaved through the silence.

My head whirled around to see a gaunt face peering down at me. I scrambled backwards on the bed, away from the stranger, my defenses up. “Who the fuck are you?”

“I’m sorry to wake you,” he whispered, his eyes wide. “My name is Tomkin. I don’t have much time.” His movements were shaky and nervous as he looked over his shoulder at the closed door. Only then did I notice the armor, the metal dark as liquid night against his sandy blonde hair and hazel eyes. A Cabillian soldier.

“Take this,” he said, handing me a small canvas pouch before launching himself at the door, feet surprisingly silent despite his heavy boots. Hand on the doorknob, he quickly turned back to me, his voice just above a whisper. “You have friends in Taitha.”

And he was gone.

Dawn was beginning to break, the dim silver tones casting shadows throughout the room as I sat dumbfounded, staring at the door. My heart still pounded against my ribcage, and I could feel raw exhaustion pressing down on me, heavy and demanding.

As I opened the small canvas bag, a candle the color of blood tumbled into my lap along with two small pieces of parchment. I squinted at the first one, which looked like a page torn from a book with a handwritten scribble at the top.

The Prophecy

FROM THE DEPTHS OF THE DEPTHS

OF A WALLED CITY’S SCUM

‘NEATH THE HOLIEST MOON

THE PROMISED WILL COME

A DAUGHTER DIVINE

WITH BLOOD OF OLD CREED

AND THE WORLD WILL FORGET

THAT ON PAIN THE DEMONS FEED

I read through it three times, trying to make sense of the words printed on the page.The Prophecy. This is what the realm was waiting for? This is why the Board of Blood held Initiation? I peered down at the second piece of paper — a note.

Daughter of Katia,

You are safe in your room, guarded by those whose hearts beat only to protect you. You have an army at your disposal ready and willing to follow the Daughter of Katia. Cabillia is yours. Should you desire it, Lord Castemont and King Kauvras will be captured on your behalf. Light this candle and place it in the window come nightfall and your will shall be done.

The prophecy was right….You and your power have arrived. We’ve been waiting a long time for you.

My stomach dropped as I folded the unsigned note between my fingers. My eyes shot to the narrow gap between the door and the ground where shadows marked the feet of the two guards standing just outside.Holy shit.My head spun as I frantically held onto the tiny sliver of hope that had come in the canvas bag.

But nightfall.