Page 61 of A Petal in the Crown

“I saw Eudora and Alaric together. I don't think they brought their men this time. Their army must be somewhere else. It was just the two of them. And they stood right here. Right where I’m standing, staring down at the village as it burned.”

“Did they say anything?”

Evangeline shook her head. “They were silent. Completely silent, just staring at the smoke. Smiling. They're sick. It's—”

“How many people do you think lived here?” Erik interrupted, turning to Gray.

“No more than fifty.”

“And how many with magic?” Erik asked.

“Three, that I knew of. So you agree with what I’m thinking?”

Lea’s eyes bounced between Gray and Erik, her stomach sinking as she connected the dots along with them.

Erik's face was grim as he nodded. “Eight at the last village. Three here. If he looked as bad as everyone said, the magic of eleven people shouldn't be enough to make that much of a difference.”

“What are you saying?” Thomas asked, his voice hard and sharp.

“That we’re missing something,” Gray said, jumping up onto Obsidian. “We have to go.”

“But the bodies. Their souls want to be put to rest.” Emma’s voice was desperate, and Lea wished for a moment that they had time to spare. That they could give the departed the rest they craved. The rest they deserved.

But it would have to wait.

“We’ll come back,” Gray said. “I swear it. But we can’t risk the living for the sake of the dead.”

Chapter 38

Gray

The village of Illyn was nothing but ruins. A tiny village. Maybe five families who had once called it home. Gray didn't even stop his horse as they passed, leading them to the next closest town. Another hour of riding that dragged on as they fought against time. They’d known before they’d even cleared the hill that it, too, had been decimated and was now nothing more than the smoldering carcass of the community that had once called it home.

This village had been larger, maybe ninety people, and it had been reduced to ashes just like the others.

Gray jumped off his horse, frantically searching for survivors within the rubble. “How is this possible?” he asked, flipping a beam lying across the street to allow the others to pass through. No one answered, because surely, they were all asking themselves the same question.

How quickly was the Lonely Death taking effect, and how many villages had been infected? Fury pounded in Gray’s blood, so hot he thought maybe he could create flames, even without day magic.

“Ride on Erik,” he ordered. “To Coombes. Warn them to leave. To go south to Calir if Alaric hasn't attacked yet.”

Erik didn't even respond, kicking Cinnamon’s sides and racing away withJanelle.

“Evangeline,” Gray said, desperation clawing at his throat. “Please. What can you see? What do we do?” Shame burned the back of his neck at the panic and fear in his voice, but what were they to do? It made no sense—how could Alaric work so quickly? How could he be so far ahead of them? Based on the stages of embers, he didn't even seem to be going in order by location. Was he choosing villages at random? How many in their kingdom had already been killed? How much magic had been stolen? How many of his people were even left to save?

Evangeline rubbed her forehead, focusing. “I think there’s another to the north. Yes. At the very north end of the kingdom. But that one,” she scrunched her forehead. “I think it's been a while. I don't know. I don't know,” she said again, frazzled. “I don't think I'm seeing things in order. I don't know if it's Eudora scrambling my visions, or if I’m just seeing different possibilities. Maybe I’m seeing them out of order… I don’t— I’m sorry.”

“I'll kill her,” Gray said. “I'm going to fucking kill her.”

“We have to find her first,” Lea said, her fingers trailing her crown absently.

“He said he's playing with you,” Emma said, nodding to the air. “Yes, thank you. I’ll tell him.” She turned to Gray, her face pale. “It's a game. The dead said he's returning to his army now. He wants you on edge, wondering where he'll go next. He thinks lying low will make you even more anxious, just waiting for his next attack. They heard him speaking to Eudora.”

“So we have time?” Gray asked.

“Some, it appears.”

Through his rage, a tiny flicker of gratitude ignited in his chest. It wasn’t much, but knowing they had time to make a plan felt like a miracle.

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