Page 140 of Heirs of the Cursed

“Thea, let’s go!” she heard Baelisa shout.

Yet the monster continued to navigate the man’s body, wanting to command his blood to stop pumping to his heart so that he’d suffer a slow and painful death. Naithea should have ordered it to stop, or at least she should have tried to. But she didn’t want to. So much had been taken from her throughout her short life: her mother, her freedom . . .

The last thing Naithea had to lose was her life.

Her song delved deeply into the man’s soul, and the screams that rose in his throat echoed through the dark streets of the city. Her victim clutched his hands around his head, digging his nails into his flesh to stop the pain that coursed through his body.

Naithea watched him scream and sob, enjoying the scene unfolding in front of her. It was when blood spilled in the form of tears that Naithea pushed her magic harder. Until she saw the bastard’s eyes explode with starlight and only two holes of darkness were left in their place.

She strode up to the man to finish him off and satiate herself with his blood. So as to let the Fiend know that he could never have her.

To let Prince Killian know she’d come for him.

Regnera’s voice stopped her before taking another step forward. “THEA!”

Glancing at him one last time, Naithea pushed her magic deep inside her, clenching her hands into fists until her nails dug into her skin. The monster she harbored had protected her and saved her friends, but she didn’t wish for harm to befall them. For the first time, her gift stirred only once against her firm grip, before soothing and letting her regain full control.

Naithea sighed in relief and ran toward the ship. She reached the ladder, each step faster than the last, and accepted Leonel’s hand as he helped her jump inside. She squeezed it in gratitude before focusing on her sisters. When she’d asked him to find a way to get her sisters to safety, Leonel had complied withouthesitation. A captain would sail them off Bellmare, to a place she was unaware of.

And she might never see them again.

“Here,” Naithea said with shaky breath, taking the heavy bag she’d stolen from the brothel and offering it to Jehanne. “There’s enough vramnias for you to start a new life away from here.”

“What are you talking about?”

It was Larka who spoke the undeniable truth she offered, “She’s not coming with us.”

The hetairas’ voices rose in the air, refusing such an idea and arguing with Naithea about her decision. As if she knew that no words would accomplish its purpose, Regnera kept her two-colored eyes on her with a stern and worried expression that reflected a hidden prayer.

Tanea shook her head. “No.”

“You cannot leave us,” Anera pleaded.

“There’s no other way . . . If I go with you, I’ll be putting you in danger. The Royal Army already knows who I am, and wherever I go, death will follow. I won’t do this to you!”

Caisen stepped forward and pulled Naithea toward her, to embrace her one last time. “Be careful. And as soon as you end those bastards, come back to us.”

Naithea nodded, tears burning in her eyes. They were her sisters, all that mattered to her. She’d sacrificed so much of her to keep them safe. And she would again, if that meant they would now enjoy their freedom.

The rest of her sisters joined them, until eleven brave and strong survivors were holding each other.

“Don’t forget us,” Faithe said.

“I can’t.” Naithea shook her head. “You’re my family.”

“And you’re ours. So don’t do anything stupid, all right?” Sundi requested.

“I’ll try.”

Leonel cleared his throat. “It’s time to go.”

“We’ll meet again,” she promised her sisters, scanning their faces to engrave them in her memory forever. “To start a new life. Together.”

They squeezed her hand one last time before Naithea turned to follow Leonel back to the city, where the hunt of the cursed princess threatened the fragile peace and stability. The city where she’d end up dead. But she’d needed to do this before setting out on a dangerous mission to find her biological sister.

If they joined forces, they might stand a chance.

“I’ll go with you!” Jehanne declared.

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