Page 153 of Reign of Stars and Fire

I sniffed and smiled at the empty bed. “Maybe there are answers here. I just wish you were here to make sense of it with me.”

When I stood, the pillow shifted. Behind it was a neatly folded parchment with my name on it. That was Stefan’s hand.

Gods, that hadn’t been there last time I visited. I whirled around, looking in the corners of the room, the loft, and coming up with no sign anyone had been there.

I swallowed and reached for the parchment. Writing I didn’t recognize scrawled over the corner:

You’ve run too long. If you hadn’t, this would’ve been yours long ago.

Blood chilled in my veins. The sealed parchment was propped against a wooden box the size of my palm.

“What the hells?” My fingers trembled as I peeled back the seal. Tears dripped over my lashes as I read the few lines.

My Calista. My princess.

I won’t be returning with you. I knew it the moment you said a raven was heading our way. This is the final farewell. How do I know this? Well, it is my hope you understand that not all has been as it seems.

Whatever you have been told, there are some absolutes you must know.

I love you. I have loved you since the night our world broke. It has been every honor of all lifetimes to protect and love you.

I will be with you, as they will be too. You have used your father’s voice, but you were always meant to find your own unique power. Now is the time to restore that bond, lost so many turns ago. You are ready, as he said you would be.

This is what you must know. Find the lost bond.

I will be drinking to your power in the great hall. Never far.

Your servant. Your brother.

Annon Vektäre

I dugmy teeth into my bottom lip to keep the heaves of sobs from spilling out of my chest. Doubtless at the first cry, the room would be filled with blood fae. Then I’d have too much to bleeding explain.

I hugged the note to my heart and looked at the box.

Light from the moon shifted, and my stomach lurched. No, gods no. With the box in hand, I rushed to the dusty window.

My lips parted in disbelief, in acceptance, in fear.

Slowly, a shadow crossed over the moon. The way it had nearly ten turns back. A tinge of red, a crimson moon.

A memory:death at crimson night.

It wasn’t over.

Breaths came sharp and fast as I fumbled with the latch on the box, hands trembling, until at last the lid lifted. My heart raced frantically against my breastbone. Turns without them and now . . .

Placed neatly on black satin was an ebony rose. Fresh petals wafted fragrant air over the musty room. The stem had been cut short and tied with a thick ribbon, the shade of night when the moon was hidden.

This had been recently placed.

I whipped over my shoulder, searching. For turns I’d received roses at random. They ceased after the fight in the isles. The difference with this rose was not the packaging, it was the rolled piece of parchment beside it.

Not once had my shadowy admirer left a bit of word.

I didn’t breathe as I unfurled the strip of paper. I didn’t breathe as the words sank into my blood, almost like an omen. So simple, yet a shiver danced down my spine.

Sing with me, little rose.

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I toldmy Cursed King and my Kind Heart I didn’t want any part of this, but did they listen? No. If you’re ready to help me try to fix everything bleeding thing these sods have broken grab the FINAL stand in Song of Sorrows and Fate HERE for the ensemble finale of the Broken Kingdoms.

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