Page 49 of A Rising Hope

Orest gently scoffed, his lips stretching into a sad smile.

“We all die, Finn. Some are just meant to pave the way.”

“Stay alive, Orest.” My lips matched his quiet, sorrowful smile, both of us precisely aware of how grim the future was.

“Goodbye, Finn.”

“Goodbye, Orest.”

36

FINNLEAH

Priya lounged on the chaise where I had left her a few hours prior. Legs up on the headrest, she tossed a vial of poison up in the air, recklessly catching it.

“Ugh,finally!” She almost dropped the minuscule glass ampoule on the floor, catching it just a hair away from hitting the ground.

“Is that wyg root poison?” I shook my head, walking towards her. I shoved her feet off the chair, taking a seat near her. “Doesn’t it take you a year just to make a single drop of it?” I raised my brow at her.

“Yes.” She begrudgingly adjusted her legs. “So much effort for such a perfect poison and no worthy victim for it.” She shook the tiny vial, looking at the gray liquid within. “So, Freckles, the mightyEmpress,” she mocked my title. “I leave you for like a minute and you get married to the first man you meet?” She sent me an all-knowing look, content to see a flash of surprise on my face. “Oh, Freckles, you didn’t think I’d just stick around in the tent all night waiting for you?”

“Priya . . . ” I gave her a stark look.

“When you said, ‘let’s go kill the bitch’ I thought you meant the Mad Queen and not me,” Priya drawled, “but I am starting to doubt it as you are literally killing me with boredom, all fucking night. So, I had to get creative.” She sat upright. “But before you go all Destroyer on me”—She rolled her eyes, clearly disliking the power imbalance—“I didn’t torture anyone. You are welcome. But I am deeply offended that you thought I wouldn’t find out. But do not fret, I am in a good mood after all, so I shall kill him for you free of charge.”

“How very generous of you,” I added. This time it was me who rolled their eyes.

“What can I say? I’ve turned my life around. Charity and all,” Priya said nonchalantly, flicking her long braid back. I observed her, still somehow in disbelief that it was actually her here, with me. Like it was just another adventure for two girls lost in the middle of nowhere. “You know, Freckles, if you stare too much, your eyes might fall out.” She shot me a snarky glare.

“I never thought I’d see you again,” I answered truthfully. “And here you are.”

“Hell, what can I say? I am a sucker for a sad apology note.” She sighed dramatically. “Gods, they’ve done a number on you.” She looked at me, disturbed, when she saw my eyes water. “Get yourself together, Freckles, we got a damn Queen to kill. Gods . . . ” She scooted away from me like my tears were infectious.

“I am just so tired,” I confessed to her in the moment, unsure why. Not much made sense to me anymore, my mind in a constant state of falling.

“For fuck’s sake, take a nap then.” She looked at me, exasperated.

“Can’t sleep,” I admitted.

“I got drugs for that,” Priya offered, a bit skittish at my reddened eyes and gray hue to my skin.

“I . . . drugs don’t keep the visions away,” I explained, and though I knew she wouldn’t quite understand the full truth, it felt good to confess.

“Whatever you say.” She eyed me up and down. A look on her face torn between aversion and concern. I rubbed my face, letting out a few short huffs. “Okay, well, now that that is out of your system, what is the actual plan you have?” She perked up her perfectly trimmed brow. I stood up, shaking my limbs a bit, fighting the grogginess. My legs were heavy, back sore from flying. I made it across the room towards the small bookshelf. A small sphere lit up near me as I roamed through the stacks of maps.

“This will do.” I grabbed one of the larger maps, dusting off the scroll.

“Gods, it was a lot fucking easier to just read your mind instead of playing one hundred questions with you.” Priya snarled from her seat, her words earning a piercing look from me. “Want to explain what you are doing?”

“Getting a map?” I grumped back, showing her the scroll.

“And you need the map, because . . . ?” Priya continued, mouthingone hundred and oneto me.

“Because I am going to find the Mad Queen,” I responded, unrolling the map on the glass table. I grabbed a couple of cups, pinning its corners.

“But she’s a Shadow Walker, she moves between space at will,” Priya stated. At my glance, she added, “I’ve done my research on the bitch.” She crossed her ankles and folded her arms. “I hunt my prey. I don’t just randomly come across it,” she reasoned. I shrugged. Priya did have a point. This was going to be a hunt.

“Yes, she moves between space, but my husband doesn’t.” I chewed on my lip, thinking. If Gideon could find me with his magic, then surely I could find him with mine. With adetermined inhale, I grabbed a small knife, pricking my fingertip for a tiny drop of blood. The crimson drip fell to the map, staining it. I closed my eyes. Letting go of my thoughts was easy. They scattered on their own as I called on my magic with all my might. And it obeyed.

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