Page 107 of Sunsplitter

The words settled slow into Antal’s ether.

One shallow breath.

Another.

He’d left her alone again.

The tang of human blood filled his nose, again.

Again, again,again—

Antal lunged at his father.

No thought. No calculation. Just fangs bared, claws ready to shred—and that memory playing over and over, Razik’s throat spilling out on the floor, the smell of blood thick enough to choke. He’d told himself Avroz wouldn’t do this again. So much time had passed. His father wanted him back. Antal was doingeverything he asked, bending himself backward for this fragile peace.

And still, there was blood in his nose. Fionamara was gone.

His claws never landed. Ixli grabbed his arm, holding him back.

“Antal,” she hissed. “What are you doing?”

Antal thrashed against her. Syvr gripped his other shoulder, a lighter touch, entreating eyes to counter Ixli’s snarl. Antal heeded neither of them.

He only stared at Avroz: calm, cold, tail low but controlled. How was healwaysin control?

“Antal,” his father chided. “Be civil.”

“Where is she?” There was no body. Not enough blood. Antal told himself there wasn’t enough blood on the ground, but it was still hers, hinting her fiery scent.

“Stop shouting,” Avroz said. “And put your claws away.”

“Tell me where she is!” Antal fought Ixli’s grasp. “Tell me what you did to her!” He ignored Syvr’s silent plea for calm. “You won’t take another one from me!”

Then, behind him: “Antal.Stop.”

Her voice lanced his heart. His name, so perfectly vicious off her tongue.

Antal turned.

In two and a half centuries upon these vast and merciless Planes, he’d never known such nauseating relief as when he saw her standing there. Whole. Alive.

He’d never beheld a creature so ferocious, her Void-and-crimson hair battle mussed. A burn from an aedari wing marred her cheek, a smear of red blood on her jaw.

He’d never clamped his fangs with such fury, at the sight of her shredded silviamesh. Ten claw marks sliced the fabric of her stomach. By Veshri’s teeth, Avroz had tried to rip her open. Yet somehow, she stood upright, glaring like a spirit of vengeance.

Antal’s claws went slack, until Ixli released him.

“Fionamara—”

She held up a finger for silence, striding straight past him when he reached for her.

Straight to Avroz.

Fionamara planted herself in front of his father, just out of claw range. Still far too close. She looked the old daeyari in the eye without a scrap of compromise. Antal was one lunge away from grabbing her, asking what in the endless Void she was doing.

But Avroz met her without sneer. Without fangs. Antal puzzled over his father’s expression, eyes wider than they ought to be, almost like…

Shock.