Page 92 of Starkeeper of the Fractured Crown

“I run this Court.”

I fought the urge to roll my eyes.

“Hmm,” Trick mused. “Well then, I’ve greatly overestimated the damage you’ll do during this coming war.”

Raphael’s eyes hardened. “You think I cannot cause damage?”

Trick smiled easily. “You’re nothing but a sack of bones, Raphael. I could kill you without moving from this spot. You think Evanora will save you before I kill you, but you’re wrong. You’re as expendable as your grandfather and your grandfather before him. The only reason you still breathe is because you still have some use for her, although I can’t see how.”

Raphael chuckled. “You know, I’ve heard the rumors about you. God of Nightmares, a beast from beyond the Veil, a true demon in the shell of a Fallen. But I lookupon you today and all I see is a male underestimating how powerful Evanora has become. Every step we take, every word we speak, everyblinkhas been carefully written out and planned by the gods themselves. Even you, Trick Michael, stand no chance against what’s to come.”

Trick inspected his nails, his shadows shuddering around him. “Well, if Evanora isn’t going to show her face, I suppose I’ll go.” He inhaled deeply and found Raphael’s eyes. “I love games, and you should know that I’ve never lost a single one. I’m not planning on losing now.”

Raphael lifted his chin. “No one ever plans to lose, Trick. They just lose.”

The High King of the Fallen offered a bare smile as he took my shoulder. “They do indeed.” We Jumped.

~~~

Kyra

A week.

A week I spent in that house. Playing with Mark, telling him stories, crying myself to sleep at night, wondering what side-effects came from a shadow infecting a person.

I was on edge all the time. I couldn’t write, couldn’t eat, couldn’t punish myself for the decisions I was making.

The decision I couldn’t even bring myself totellMark about yet.

But we were running out of food, and Ineeded to go to the castle and tell Raphael what my decision was. What the best thing for Mark was.

I couldn’t put it off anymore.

So, I got dressed and snuck out of the house before Mom had gotten up.

I felt empty as I headed for the town square. A numb kind of empty, and I wasn’t sure if it was due to lack of sleep or the fear that now fueled me, but I couldn’t make it stop. I needed to hurt myself, the need was burning through me. I needed punished for this, for what I was doing. Giving up on my brother, handing him over to Raphael Gerodia and Evanora Fairshield. It was fucked up.

I was fucked up. But I couldn’t give him the life Raphael could. I would never have that kind of money. All I could do was hope that how I raised him, what I taught him, would help him push through their hatred. Maybe if he did get on the throne, maybe he would have a chance to change something.

Unless that was, Trick Michael won this war. With his terrifying obsession over me, wouldn’t that mean he would try and keep Mark alive too? I hoped so.

I needed to believe in that. I had no choice.

I stopped in the alley across from the castle, people teeming despite the chilled weather and newly fallen snow. Therian was actually beautiful during the winter. Everything had a new sheen to it, and the holidays immediately caused everyone’s mood to lift.

Mark would move into the castle just 12 days before Christmas. I wondered what they would buy him.

Over the years, I’d gotten him a handful of toys alongwith some much needed winter clothes, but nothing truly unnecessary. Nothing like what the High King would give him.

“Turn around.”

A demand, not a request.

It was the first time I had heard his voice in my head in weeks. The first time I had heard his voice at all since the night in the woods.

I wasn’t sure if he had been giving me space or if he had been watching me through the windows of my house, or if he had just gotten bored of me and left, which obviously wasn’t the case. Whatever it was, he was back, and I truly wasn’t in the mood to listen to him or his arrogant speeches. I needed to focus.

But he wasted no time. A second after he made his demand and realized I was ignoring him I felt a cool chill start creeping up my legs slowly. A familiar chill.

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