Page 105 of A Fate Unwoven

Lena tried to push her away. “Shut up,” she whispered, sweat beading on her brow. Sisters, Venysa was strong. Stronger than she’d been before the former Fateweaver had passed.

You can’t trust them,the first Fateweaver said.You can’t trust any of them. They will use you to get what they need, and then, when they are done, they will lock you away, just as they did me.

“Get OUT!” Lena yelled, pain slicing through her head as she tried to shove Venysa out.“Get out get out get out—”

“Put the bangle on her,” Ioseph said, his voice panicked now. “Hurry, before she loses control!”

“Wait!” said Casimir. She could feel the pressure of his hands holding hers. Feel the pull of his threads. “Lena, listen to me; you’re stronger than this, alright? I know you are. Don’t let her win.”

Another voice now, this one soft and so achingly familiar in its tenderness. “We’re here with you, Lena. Please,” Maia said, her voice breaking. “Please don’t leave us.”

There was a brief weakening of Venysa’s presence.It’s a trick.They’re going to betray you,the spirit said, frantic now.You must stop them, Lenora. Now!

NO!

Lena’s magic surged from her, uncontrolled, and leaped menacingly toward Casimir’s threads. She reached for the bangle in his hand.

And slipped it around her wrist.

Her power faded in an instant, taking the voice inside her head with it. Lena could still feel them both, but they felt … distant. Almost like they were encased in a block of ice too thick to break through.

Lena blinked away the last of Venysa’s influence to find the warm brown of Casimir’s eyes peering intensely into hers. “Lena?”

“It’s me.” Her voice was shakier than she’d have liked.

“You put the bangle on yourself.” Dimas was standing a few feet away from her, his dark brows knit.

“I did. Venysa, she’s … getting stronger.”

Now that the bond was broken. Now that Lena had destroyed the only protection she’d had against the first Fateweaver’s influence.

“I hoped the bangle would make it easier to resist her,” said Lena.

“And did it?” the emperor asked.

“Yes …,” Lena answered. “But I don’t think it’s a permanent fix. I can still feel her. She doesn’t think I can trust any of you.” She frowned at Casimir and the smuggler winced, but before he could say anything, Lena added, “But not trusting people is what got me here, so I’m really hoping she’s wrong.”

“Sheis,” Maia insisted.

Lena offered her a weak smile. She might not have known whether Venysa was right or wrong, but she knew one thing.

She couldn’t do this alone.

“Alright,” Lena said, running a finger along the bangle around her wrist, “I think I have a plan.”

FORTY-FIVE

LENA

“Are you sure about this?” Maia asked.

She’d followed Lena out of the cave whilst the others had finished making preparations, and in the gray light of the approaching dawn, the redness to the wound on her face was even more pronounced. The sight of it only strengthened Lena’s resolve. She wasn’t going to let any more people get hurt because of her.

“Maia, it will be fine.” When the younger girl only chewed on her lip in response, Lena added, “Finæn will be fine.”

Tears welled in Maia’s eyes. “I shouldn’t have run with Yana. I was weak, and now my brother isgone.”

Something in Lena’s chest broke. She’d thought Maia had been quiet because she’d blamed Lena for what had happened to Finæn, and whilst it was a relief to know that wasn’t the case, the realization that Maia blamed herself was somehow worse.