Page 80 of The Throne's Undoing

Soon, more voices joined in, the chorus returning and spinning around the room.

Round.

And round.

And round.

A sea of shouts spread across the room, slithering over her sweat-slicked skin.

Still, her father's voice was the loudest of them all.

"Who has trained you all these years?" he thundered.

Kallie sobbed, no longer able to hold back her tears. They streamed down her face as her father's disappointment laced each word.

For years, all she had wanted was to prove to her father that she was more, that she was capable, that he could trust her. But now, all of her work began to crumble in the darkness.

Brick by brick, the pieces fell.

Each training session, each sacrifice, each mission--they fell from the tower she had spent her entire life building.

Kallie tried to scramble forward and catch the falling pieces, but the chains yanked her back.

"Who has promised you power, the power you otherwise would not have access to?" Domitius challenged.

Kallie's lips began to tremble, and the tip of her nose burned as the frost rose.

"You did," Kallie said at last, but the words were ash on her tongue. Still, she wanted to believe them. Sheneededto believe them. Because if they were not true, then why had she done everything she did? Why had she tarnished the servant's reputation in Frenzia? Why had she manipulated all of those civilians? Why had she betrayed her flesh and blood?

If they weren't true, then who was she?

Who would shebecome?

"If the truth within is not found," another said, their voice miles away. "Then--"

Before the stranger could finish, her father interrupted, "Do not let your emotions get the better of you, Kalisandre!"

Lavender and mint mixed with whiskey. It swarmed around her, sweeping across her face and her neck. The scents wrapped around her throat, forcing the words out. "I--I won't."

Her hair flew across her face as a gust of wind smacked into her.

"Kals!" Fynn shouted through the darkness.

Kallie tried desperately to reach for him, but her hands were frozen to her sides.

"You have to fight it, Kallie," Fynn urged, his voice sounding farther and farther away.

Kallie struggled to turn as the ice held tight around her body. She tried to break it apart, but her entire body was quickly growing too numb to move.

Her father chuckled, and the sound had the hair on the back of her neck standing.

"I can give you everything," Domitius crooned.

"Fight it!" Fynn pleaded.

Her heart raced faster.

"He's lying to you, Kal," another voice said, ripping through the noise.

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