Page 106 of Death of a Mortal

Oh my gods. My trial was at dawn.

I was out of time.

Chapter 25

Goodbye, My Only Friend

I sat awakefor the rest of my last night in the living realm. The numbness I felt in my cold limbs spread to my heart with nothing but silence to keep me company. I couldn’t find it in me to dwell on Zareth’s words. My thoughts were quiet, as if I had accepted my fate, and my body and brain were already giving up the fight.

Silver lining, I would see Nella soon. And my mom.

“I will not be afraid to die,” I told myself over and over, until the two new guards approached my cell. It was time.

They looked at each other, Ponytail and the other guard with a buzzed head, and then gave me a look that resembled both fear and determination.

Determined, I guessed, to be the guards who escorted the hated fae/mortal freak to her death. They’d probably be heroes in the castle.

“Let’s go, Naci. It’ll be over soon.” Ponytail held me lightly by my upper arm and guided me to the dungeon door that led back out to the underground tunnels. He nodded to Buzzed Head as westepped into the corridor that would lead to the ground floor of the castle.

It was eerie, walking to one’s death and not fighting it. And I might have considered fighting it if the beast in my heart was awake and accessible. But against two fae males, I didn’t stand a chance.I will not be afraid to die,I kept telling myself. I vowed I would greet my death with dignity, not kicking and screaming.

And so I did not fight.

The guards said nothing until we got to the doors that would lead out to the courtyard where I had addressed the fae of Dolvenar as a traitor to the mortals, and where I would go outside and feel fresh air for the first time in months.

And for the last time.

“Don’t do anything stupid. Please,” implored Ponytail.

I was used to veiled threats, but really, it was laughable in the face of certain death. And coming from Ponytail, it didn’t really sound like a threat. He sounded almost…worried. I caught him glancing around nervously.

We stepped outside into the cold of early winter, and the mass of fae began cheering as we walked through the crowd to the empty center of the courtyard. I heard jeers of “traitor,” “scum,” and “disgrace” as we walked.

“Oh, really original, I’ve never heard those before,” I snapped back at the mob of angry fae that were hungry for my blood.

Ponytail laughed and shook his head.

“And you, I’m so glad I can amuse you while you march me to my death. I’d take you with me if I didn’t have these cuffs.”

He rolled his eyes, actually rolled them at me as if he was annoyed to be here. Imagine…

In the middle of the square, there was nothing but a large metal chain attached to the stone ground. The guards marched me to it and attached the open end to the chain between my wrist cuffs, anchoring me to the spot. I looked around and saw nothing but angry fae—males, females, and children. Even the young ones lookedscared and furious, as if it were a child I had murdered and not an asshole royal guard.

It was odd, even now, how little remorse I felt for killing that guard. It was always said that killing tore your soul apart, and you never forgot their faces.

Truthfully, I couldn’t remember what the bastard had looked like at all. Maybe I wasn’t bound for the Vale after all. Maybe I was as evil and wicked as this crowd believed me to be.

The guards backed away from me, and the surrounding voices grew louder, making my head buzz. I stood there for what felt like an eternity before the king and queen stepped out onto the balcony above, the same one I’d stood on to deliver that damning speech.

And then Varyn walked out and waited behind his father, his mask firmly in place, face unreadable. Gods, he really didn’t care.

What a sad final thought.

“Citizens of Dolvenar, we begin the public trial of Ignacia Corren on this seventh day of the twelfth month. I, King Caedryn Veylor, commence the reading of the crimes for which the accused stands trial.”

The crowd booed when he said my name and cheered when he said his own. This was nearly comical.

The king’s face, however, was anything but funny. This was the first time I’d seen him since the ball. Since he’d smiled over Nella’s dead body. I saw traces of the fire demon in his cruel smile now, and his red eyes seemed to glow slightly, the way they had when he was in his vey form.