Page 94 of Ruin of Revenants

Lily paused, shaking her head, shooting me with a reproachful look. “Did you know all along? You didn’t tell us.” Her voice wobbled. “Why?”

“We’re blood-bonded,” I whispered. “I encountered her in a graveyard after a revenant attack. She healed me, and we discovered the bond. If we’re more than a mile apart, we’ll both die. It’s why Father is agreeing to let us both travel to Vithenna's temple to break the bond.”

Lily blinked back tears. “And you didn’t trust us enough to tell us?”

My gaze snapped to Owen, whose mouth was downturned. “Yes. Why did you keep this from us? Especially after we helped you with that other phoenix and her son.”

I looked to where Cliff watched silently, his brow scrunched in confusion. He didn’t know about that escapade, and it was hard to read what he thought of it or Isoria’s identity. I’d never seen Cliff angry, but surely I deserved everyone’s anger now, whether friend or servant.

“I figured the fewer who knew the truth, the safer you would be.” The excuse felt flimsy as I spoke it aloud. Maybe that had been the truth at first, but later, had I held the secret so closely because I didn’t want my friends changing how they viewed Isoria? Trying to convince me my growing feelings were only from the bond and wrong?

“It hurts, knowing you didn’t trust us with something this immense.” Owen scrubbed a hand through his hair and shifted in his seat. Annoyed, Onyx hopped off his lap and padded across the library to me.

Still leaning against the doorframe, I lifted my cat and cradled him close, eager to have his comforting presence and something to do with my hands.

“We have already defied your father with you, many times,” Lily added.

My eyes strayed to Cliff again, who finally spoke.

“My loyalty will always be to you, Your Highness. You’re a good male. A good prince. You love Emberglade, and I trust your judgment.”

I sucked in a breath. “I’m sorry, to all of you. I didn’t mean to…” I sighed. “I was confused. Trapped in an unwanted bond with one I was supposed to execute, only to find she’s—”

Lily studied me closely, thoughtfully. “Not what you expected?” she supplied.

“Not at all. She’s intelligent and warm. Kind and self-sacrificing, prepared to heal and build and repair, even those who would harm her if they knew who she was.”

This time, Lily’s mouth curled into a smile. “No wonder your engagement was so convincing. You love her.”

I stiffened. “She changed my mind about all phoenix shifters being cruel and hateful, but that doesn’t mean…” Hesitating, I shook my head. “It doesn’t matter. I need to know: Will you help me now? Help us?”

“Do you trust her?” It was Owen.

Setting down Onyx, I stepped further into the room, needing my friends to see the sincerity in my eyes. Hear the conviction in my voice. “Of course. She’s still the same female you’ve befriended. This is Isa I’m talking about. There’s only one soul she’s ever harmed, and it wasn’t exactly intentional. Her magic protected her when Dell attacked her, and even after he murdered her, she feels remorse. She’s still your friend. We have to save her.”

Lily nodded along, setting me at ease. She was with me. With Isoria. “Tell us everything, quickly, and we’ll make a plan.”

Chapter Forty-Six

Isoria

Every muscle was tense from sleeping on an uncomfortable cot. A headache throbbed in my temples from the oppressive atmosphere, laced with the influence of forget-me-nots, and my jaw ached from clenching it against the discomfort for so long.

“Wakey, wakey,” a male said in a sing-song voice as I blinked awake, sitting up on my cot to all these unpleasant sensations and the light from the torch he held blazing in my face. “You have a little trip to go on.”

“Maybe a revenant will kill her for us,” a female guard said, her grin full of bloodlust as she stepped into my cell with the male.

My gaze snagged on the shackles in her gloved hands, and my stomach dropped. More metal infused with forget-me-nots.

Archer? I thought, panic lancing through me. Were we already out of time?

“Trip?” My voice was a rasp, dry and throaty from disuse. “What about my execution?”

“Didn’t you hear?” the female said, rolling her eyes. “About how I’m hoping a revenant will kill you? Makes it pretty obvious that you’re going to travel beyond the barrier to Vithenna's temple. Something about needing a bond with His Highness broken to end your manipulation of him and your sorry life.”

Vithenna. A memory tickled the back of my mind at the goddesses’ name.

“But hopefully you’ll die on your travels so we can be done with you sooner and not have to drag you all the way back to the capital,” the male cut in, dragging me roughly to my feet and slamming the shackles around my wrists.