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I plaster a sugary smile on my face. “To what do we owe this pleasure, Your Highness?” I ask. “Was I misinformed that we were to bring the Crógemma to the palace? Surely, Your Excellency has better things to do with his time than meet us here.”

I hope to stall long enough for Saoirse to arrive, and whisk the Cadre to safety. She claims she’ll be here swiftly, but how she’ll manage to take all of them at once, I’m unsure. I just pray she isn’t too late to help.

The king’s jaw ticks, a smirk playing across his lips. “Yes, well,” he coos. “I was worried how you were faring, so I decided to meet you here instead. Nothing is more precious to me than you, my darling. Now, hand over the diadem, and I’ll fulfill our bargain.”

If I were a na?ve woman, I’d believe him to be trustworthy because he presents himself as gracious.

If I were a silly woman, I’d fall for his handsome face and silver tongue.

However, I’m neither a na?ve nor silly woman.

The ruthlessness he hides is peeking through the cracks in his carefully laden facade, as an unsettling madness waits to be unleashed.

I fear that the smallest bits of his cruelty I’ve witnessed are only a taste of what he’s truly capable of.

Apparently, my hesitation isn’t the response the king desires, as a dark presence caresses my mind once more. “Don’t make a scene, my prize. My patience grows weary.”

Removing his presence from my head, he flexes his fingers. “Hand it over, my darling,” he says again.

I tilt my head up as I straighten my spine. “I’ll make a deal with you,” I challenge. “Fulfill our bargain first. Then I’ll give this to you.”

The king lowers his hand as I twirl the crimson-laden diadem in my fingers.

Domhnall appears inches from my face. “You ssstupid girl,” he hisses. “He issss your king, and you will obey.”

King Tiernan snaps his fingers to silence the creature.

“It’s alright, Domhnall,” he says. His eyes bore into mine in challenge.

“She doesn’t trust me, but we must fix that immediately.

Perhaps she’s listening to too many voices as of late.

” My heart drops as his lips spread into a dazzling smile. “We should remedy that.”

In the blink of an eye, Domhnall disappears, reemerging before me with Laisren and Riordan in tow. Domhnall holds two black knives against each of their throats. They swallow heavily as thin rivulets of blood drip down.

“No!” I yell.

I lurch forward only for Emyr to hold me back. “Don’t, Rosey,” he whispers.

Your Highness, I beg you not to hurt them,” I plead.

The king laughs, walking around two of his most esteemed commanders, grimacing at them as if they’re trash.

“Oh my exquisite darling, I won’t harm them as long as you follow my instructions carefully.

Give me the Crógemma, and I’ll spare them ,” he croons.

“I’ll even bring back your family, as we originally agreed. ”

Emyr spins me to face him. “Maeva, don’t,” he warns. “There’s something that I need to te—” His face slowly turns every shade of red as he struggles to speak. He takes a deep breath, trying again. “There’s something that you must kno?—”

The veins in his neck protrude as his face reddens once more. Gripping his chest, he lowers himself to the ground—opening and closing his mouth as he gasps for air.

I grab his face, searching for the source of pain. “Emyr,” I murmur. “Emyr, what’s wrong?”

As he opens his mouth, his body violently shakes. His fingers dig into the snow as his face now morphs into a purplish hue.

My chin quivers as I attempt to comfort him. I’ve never seen him like this, and it frightens me.

What is possibly happ?—

I gaze over my shoulder at the king, who’s smirking.

Though his eyes aren’t glowing, I reason that he’s somehow harming him telepathically.

“Stop,” I snarl. “You’re hurting him.” Tiernan shakes his head, which only stirs my roiling anger.

I bare my teeth at the king as I growl, “You’d harm your only son? ”

The king laughs sardonically. “What’s happening to him isn’t of my doing, my darling,” he sneers.

“He’s brought this on himself.” The king slowly walks toward his son who’s writhing on the ground.

Tiernan bites the corner of his lip as he shakes his head—disappointment briefly crossing his face as he leans down.

“Even after all these years,” he whispers to Emyr, “you continue to prove where your true loyalties lie.”

I blink rapidly. “What are you talking about?” I scoff.

The king smiles as he stands to his full height once more. “Ask him,” he replies.

“Emyr,” I say. “What’s he talking about?”

Emyr opens his mouth, but the same nonverbal response comes out as he cries in pain.

I throw my hands in the air. “Will someone kindly explain what’s happening to him?” I shout. My patience is wearing thin from the riddles and half answers. I can’t stand seeing Emyr in such torment.

Tiernan sighs, dusting imaginary lint from the mantle on his shoulders. “If you must know,” Tiernan replies, “he’s fighting the oath he made to me ten years ago.”

My brow furrows as I glance between the two Galrosans. “What does that have to do with me?” I ask.

Tiernan rolls his eyes. “Honestly, Maevriana,” he whines. “I thought you’d at least figure it out by now, or somewhat remember us. It appears that your brother did a better job than we thought at hiding your memories from you.”

My breath catches in my throat, as my heart stops. I wipe my sweaty palms on my leather, as if that would rid me of the wariness I feel.

What in the bloody Celestae is he talking about?

I had a brother?

He hid my memories?

Why would he do that?

But also, he said he hoped I’d remember “us.” Is Emyr a part of that “us?”

Tiernan pinches the bridge of his nose, sighing heavily. “Oh, for Celestae’s sake, darling,” Tiernan groans. Then, he grabs my wrist, pulling me to my feet as he drags me away from Emyr. “Honestly, must I do everything myself?”

Emyr reaches a trembling hand toward us. “N-No,” Emyr chokes out. “D-Don’t, F-Father… p-please.” Emyr’s hand lowers to the ground as his body seizes once more.

The king grimaces, licking his teeth. “It’s quite humorous to me how I’m ‘Father’ only when it suits you, General,” Tiernan sneers. “The sooner this is over, the better, and we don’t have to pretend anymore.”

Tiernan turns over my palms, rubbing circles in their centers. “Don’t worry, my darling,” he croons, reinforcing his hold on my wrist. “This horrid affair will be over soon.” Glancing over his shoulder, he calls out, “Domhnall, a blade, if you please.”

Domhnall appears beside the king, holding one of the knives.

In one quick slash, he slices open my palm.

I scream in agony as dark blood slips down my fingers onto the stark white snow beneath.

Then, the Scythe vanishes only to reemerge behind the two commanders that he’s bound in rope.

Riordan and Laisren shout, attempting to squirm out of Domhnall’s bindings.

Tiernan’s ring glows as he waves it at the two commanders.

“Sleep,” he commands. Riordan and Laisren lie still in the snow, their torsos slowly rising and falling with their breaths.

My chest hurts as hot tears sting my cold cheeks. “ What did you do?” I inquire.

Ignoring me, Tiernan tucks his gelid hand beneath the hemline of my tunic, wrapping his fingers around the golden chain, freeing the pendant from its hiding place. Tiernan’s ring glows as a dizzying sensation sweeps across my body.

I want to run—to flee—but my legs won’t move. They tremble like leaves, threatening to buckle at any moment.

A small sob escapes me as his hand hovers over my chest where the Dragon’s Flame rests.

His mouth quirks up on one side as his glowing eyes become slits.

“Quite clever of your mother and father to ward it so that only you may touch it,” he marvels, moving his hands up to caress my face.

His mouth is just inches from mine as he whispers, “However, your precocious brother was foolish to hide your memories within it.”

My face is hot as I jerk my head back; however, he’s much stronger than me as his hands tighten to the point of bruising. A small yelp escapes my lips as my body trembles from his touch.

I need to get away.

What he’s saying is nonsensical.

Saoirse was wrong. I’m not strong enough to endure this.

Tiernan shushes me, as if I’m an insolent child. “Don’t worry, Maevriana,” he chastises, stroking my cheek. “This will hurt, but only for a moment. ”

Then, he places my bloody palm against the Dragon’s Flame pendant, holding me still as severe pain burrows deep into my flesh.

I shriek as agony crashes through me in wave after nauseating wave.

My starlight erupts from the Dragon’s Flame in horrifying rivulets that wind around me.

It feels like fire scorching my veins, and I desperately wish to claw it out. “Stop! Please, I beg you!” I shout.

However, the king is transfixed, watching my blood mix with iridescent light spanning across my torso. He pushes my hand harder against my chest, causing me to wail in my suffering.

“Only after what’s been hidden is revealed,” Tiernan chants above my screams, “will the Na Fíréin awaken and be unveiled.”

Maevriana! I’m coming! Just hold on! Saoirse bellows.

She sounds so far away… and I feel so… tired…

Then, everything goes black.