Page 134 of The Throne's Undoing

Almost two months had passed since her wedding had gone up in flames. Other than Terin and the others running into a group soon after they had left Frenzia, they had not encountered any further issues. Although Kallie had heard rumblings ofsearch parties wandering Vaneria, there was no immediate threat of danger.

Perhaps Domitius had finally given up on her or found another way for his plans to come to fruition. The king was not a patient man. He would find a way. After all, he had made it clear that she was only a tool to be used. He would craft another, and perhaps he already had, Kallie thought as her mind wandered to Myra.

Terin shook his head. "While it has been quiet in recent weeks, we should not take the bull king's silence for complacency. He took you once. He will take you again."

Kallie tossed her head back, and frustration colored her voice when she asked, "What need does he have of me?"

Terin and Ellie exchanged wary glances, but it was Ellie who spoke. "That remains to be determined, but I hope for all our sakes that we never find out. Still, we would be foolish to think that this game of his is over so easily. He told you he wanted to control the seven kingdoms. As far as we know, his goal has not changed."

Terin nodded and added, "He gave you up to us with little to no fight. There has to be a reason. Something we are missing."

Kallie huffed, for she already knew why. "The reason was he believed I would kill you all in anger."

"Would you have?" Terin asked, brow arched.

Kallie pursed her lips, but she could not lie to him. "I--I do not know. I cannot say for certain. When I awoke in the woods, I was angrier than I had ever been before when I saw Graeson. It was as if something had come over me. I didn't realize at the time that was exactly what was happening, that Myra had manipulated my feelings toward you all and increased my rage and anger. I almost killed him then."

Kallie turned away from Terin, unable to bear his gaze any longer.

If she had been successful, it would not have been only her hands that would have been covered in Graeson's blood, but Terin's, too, as her command filled his veins.

Kallie cleared her throat and turned to Ellie. "But you and the queen fixed that, did you not?" she asked.

She didn't know why she needed to ask, but perhaps she feared Domitius still held her in his trap, as if she were still running through one of his mazes, lost with no trace of an exit.

Ellie nodded. "We did," she said softly.

"So what are you afraid of?" Terin asked.

"I am not afraid," Kallie corrected, squeezing her clammy fists together.

"Yet," Terin said, the word drawn out as his stare bore into her, "you hold yourself back."

Kallie rolled her eyes. "I see no reason to manipulate Ellie. I shouldn't rely on my gift in a fight in case it fails me."

"Have you tried?" Terin pressed.

Kallie's tongue became lead in her mouth as her gaze bounced from Terin to Ellie. She cleared her throat. "It's a violation. It would be wrong."

"It would be good practice," Ellie piped up.

Kallie's entire body burned as they stared at her, waiting for her to admit they were right. But Kallie wouldn't; she couldn't.

"I really shouldn't," she said after a moment. "It's--"

"Have you tried at all since you woke?" Terin interrupted.

Kallie rubbed a slick hand across her throat. She felt as if the air was swept away, as if the world had been stripped of all the oxygen.

"Kallie?" Terin urged.

Unwillingly, she looked at her brother.

"You haven't, have you?" Terin asked as if he could see the truth behind her gaze.

Kallie bit down on her tongue as she squeezed her throat slightly with her hand. She hesitated in answering him, for she found it hard to find the words.

When the intensity of his stare did not lessen, she relented, forcing a weak explanation out. "I just--I do not wish to use it."

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