Page 141 of A Broken Throne of Bronze

My nightmare suddenly makes sense now. The God of Death’s words fill my mind.

“When the time comes, you must choose. Choose life, without love, in a cursed land. Or choose death in the name of love, and sacred sacrifice.”

No.

Not one of us.

Me.

I’m the only one that can break the curse.

“No.” Viridian’s voice is hard. “No. No one is going to die.” He looks down at me now, holding my face between both hands. “You hear me? I will not let anything happen to you. Not now, and not ever, Little Fawn.”

I nod, though the motion is empty.

Then a terrible realization dawns on me. One so awful, I almost can’t bear to speak it aloud.

But I do. “Viridian, your mother…”

What feels like forever ago, Viridian told me that his mother had been with child for a second time, and that both she and the child died. Now, I see that was a lie. A story meant to conceal the true cause of her death.

His amber eyes sharpen. Then he turns those daggers onto his father.

“Mother didn’t die in childbirth, did she? There was no second child.”

Vorr just stares at him and swallows.

“Did she?”

“No,” Vorr rasps at last, looking down at his gloved hands. “She didn’t.”

“That’s why you wear the gloves,” I say, voicing my realization out loud. “Because anything you touch—”

“Falls ill,” Vorr finishes for me, eyes sad. “Yes.”

“And all the miners…” Viridian’s voice rises. The air surrounding us hums with electricity, goosebumps trickling down my arms. “How many will die before your sins have been atoned for?”

“I don’t know.” Vorr is near silent. “I know I’ve been a coward, Viridian. I’ve been too ashamed to face what I’ve done.” He takes a breath, touching his fingers to his forehead. “You and your mate are the kingdom’s only hope, now. My time has… My sins have come for me. I can feel it.”

“What?” Viridian’s voice loses its edge, and the electricity pulsing around us subsides.

“My time in this realm is nearly gone.” Vorr looks at us through clouded eyes. His words sound like a goodbye. “You are a far greater male than I could ever be. And a far better king.”

“Father—” Viridian protests, voice wavering.

“It’s all right, son.” He forces a small smile.

Viridian’s lip quivers, but his hard expression doesn’t break. I hold him closer and rest my head on his shoulder. He leans into the gesture.

“Go now.” Weakly, Vorr waves us away. “I’d like to be alone with my thoughts.”

Viridian merely bows his head. Tightly grasping my hand, we leave the throne room.

Double doors close behind us, and it feels like the final nail in Vorr’s coffin.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Time seems to have frozen still since I’ve returned to High Keep. Despite his recent withdrawal from the East Tower, the High King hasn’t lifted his ban on passage in and out of the castle. Servants speak in hushed tones, and I would have sworn High Keep itself had died if there wasn’t any movement through the halls.

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