Page 121 of The Throne's Undoing

He had to get her out.

But when Graeson burst through the doors, windows shattering in his wake, she disappeared from his arms.

A maniacal laugh echoed all around him, making his stomach turn with dread.

The bull king flashed before his eyes, but before Graeson could grab him, he, too, vanished.

Yet the laughter continued to rain down on Graeson.

He spun, round and round, but he could not tell where the sound was coming from.

"You think you can save her? You can't even save yourself!"

Graeson fell to his knees. He pressed his palms against his eye sockets, willing the voice to go away--to leave him alone. But no matter what he did, the voice continued to berate him.

Soon enough, though, it transformed. Despite the heat that coated his skin, an ice-cold breeze swept over him.

"You continue to hold back, son," Barinthian whispered.

Graeson slammed his hands against the ground, and the earth trembled beneath his palms. "I am not your son!" he roared to the god.

Barinthian laughed. "Still telling yourself that, I see."

The air shifted around him, the flames growing taller and taller. When Barinthian spoke again, Graeson could feel his breath against his throat. "Why do you stop yourself from becoming who you were meant to be? Wouldn't it be easier to just let go? To free yourself from this cage you have built?"

Graeson dug his fingers into the dirt, the ground peeling his nails back. "I will not be like you. I will not destroy worlds and families. I will not--"

"Be a monster?" Barinthian taunted, cutting Graeson off.

The god laughed again, the sound wrapping around Graeson's throat and strangling him. He fought to break free, but it was no use.

"You already are."

Graeson jerked awake,his entire body feeling as if it were on fire. A rumbling roared inside him. And before he could think twice, he ran.

Chapter 40

KALLIE

While Kallie bracedagainst Ellie's swing, Graeson burst from the castle, his eyes blazing silver.

As she followed him with her eyes, distracted, Ellie shoved her and then knocked her legs out from under her.

Kallie barely registered the fall, only momentarily feeling its sting as she fixed her attention on Graeson. "Where is he going?"

"Huh?" Ellie asked, turning towards where she was looking.

Even yards away, Kallie could practically sense Graeson's entire body vibrating with an untamed energy.

"Should someone go after him?" Kallie urged.

Terin, who had been observing Kallie's training, extended a hand, and Kallie took it. As he helped her up, he said, "I don't know. I don't think it'll help."

Mouth agape, Kallie snapped her attention to him. "You're just going to let him run off?" she exclaimed.

Terin scratched his head and shrugged.

"Trust me," Ellie said, her tone weary, "whatever is going on, he does not want company right now."

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