Page 93 of Ruin of Revenants

“Prince Archer. I’ve been wanting to speak to you.”

Hope, fragile as it was, bloomed in my chest. Was she going to ignore the lies I’d given Father? Was she really not going to reveal that the bond didn’t have to be broken for him to accomplish what he wanted?

But then, her words registered, and that hope was replaced with anger. “What?” I lifted my gaze toward Vithenna, the bitterness of betrayal coating my tongue. “Why answer our prayers now? I’ve asked many times for answers about the revenants, for a way to save Emberglade.” As soon as the words left my mouth, I realized how bold they were, how Vithenna, mercurial as the gods were known to be, might simply strike me down then and there. That she would say she didn’t and never had owed me anything. That she hadn’t needed to respond to Mortius when I’d bargained with him for information, and had stood by to watch what I’d do instead.

We were all playthings to the gods, after all, subject to their whims and ever-changing emotions.

When and if they bothered paying us any heed at all.

Maybe that’s why she hadn’t outed me to my Father. Maybe she wanted to see this drama play out, see the bond broken and what moves I’d make next on the gameboard of life.

“The time was not right,” Vithenna said with a self-satisfied smile, reminding me of Onyx lounging in the sun. It was a fancy way of telling me exactly what I’d been thinking. She hadn’t wanted to answer me then. “But I’m not here to break your bond now, either. My presence is not strong here in your mortal lands, not anymore. We gods have ascended to make our lives on the Immortal Heights. However, my faithful worshippers at my temple can assist you. If you visit and make an offering to me there, I will be strong enough to linger and to help.”

Her smile was sharp. “We have much to speak of, young prince.”

As swiftly as she’d stepped forward, she was gone, like she’d never been there at all.

Exhaling softly, I let my worries deflate. At least Isoria would remain safe for now. Whatever her motives, Vithenna had chosen to let me keep my secret about the bond.

I blinked at Father, reeling. “You called on Vithenna to break the blood bond?”

“It seems she thought your and Isoria’s plight had finally gotten interesting enough to use what power she had to descend here and share that message. Which means this is our chance. You will travel to Vithenna's temple and have the goddess break your bond. Then you’ll see how this death-lover has manipulated you and you’ll finally be free. We’ll execute her without repercussions for you and before she can find a way to break the bond herself and murder you.”

“She would never—”

“Don’t make me question my decision. Don’t tell me you’re too far gone to be saved, that I’ll have to keep you locked in the dungeons for your own safety and the safety of our family.” His voice was clipped.

“If I travel that far without her before the bond is severed,” I said, voice monotone, “we both will die. She has to go with me.”

Father dipped his head in acknowledgement. “She will travel in shackles.”

“The bond means that her shackles will also stop my magic—”

“Exactly the point,” Father cut in. “Both of you must be neutralized, because she would manipulate you to use your magic for ill the same way she would. You can take your friends with you if you wish, but I will be sending trusted guards to keep watch over all of you. If you, Isoria, or your friends make a move to avoid breaking the bond or to harm my guards, they are under orders to kill.” He hesitated. “Even you, if necessary. I will not risk your sister or this kingdom.”

Or your power, I thought darkly.

Internally, I cringed. Being watched by Father’s lackeys—forcing Isoria to travel in those forget-me-not chains—that sounded like torture. “Very well. Unchain me and I will go.”

Father rang a bell and the guards returned with the key.

Chapter Forty-Five

Archer

Lily was pacing through my library while Cliff stood against a wall, his arms crossed, looking uncomfortable to be out of the stables and servants’ quarters. Owen brooded in an armchair when I returned to my quarters. He was petting Onyx almost absentmindedly as the cat purred in his lap, soaking in the attention neither Isoria nor myself had been free to give him recently. Under any other circumstances, I might have laughed at my friend, for he’d always pretended to be standoffish toward my cat, claiming the smaller versions weren’t much different from Cliff’s jaguars.

As it was, I forced a smile instead, listing my head carelessly to the side as if it hadn’t taken me by surprise to find my friends already waiting for me. There was a hole in my chest like an open wound, actively stifling every breath I took.

My grin felt like a dare, a challenge, as I jested like nothing was wrong, like Mortius’ curse wasn’t draining the strength from my body. “I see you’re not giving me time to wash the prison filth off before invading my quarters,” I told my friends.

Lily whirled toward me, her green eyes wide, her golden red hair tumbling wildly around her shoulders at the movement. “The king summoned us and announced that you were being released—that you’re taking a trusted group to Vithenna's temple, where she can break a blood bond you have with…with Isoria?”

Father had rushed to assemble the friends he knew I would want to travel with. He probably expected me to leave tonight, to hasten to break this bond so he could execute the phoenix shifter plaguing his nightmares. My stomach clenched. “Yes, that’s what he wants me to do,” I muttered.

Lily scrubbed a hand across her face. “I still don’t understand. She’s a phoenix shifter? You hunt phoenixes.”

Owen spoke up, his voice quiet from the armchair he hadn’t moved from. “He also freed one.”