Page 34 of Blood of Two Crowns

Mareina sucked in a deep breath, her heartbreakingly beautiful green eyes swelling with liquid despair as she turned away from Azrael to hide them.

“That would be a promise that I am not certain I have the strength to keep. And even if I did, I know at least one of them would fight to their death to keep me from you.”

At least one of them.

Anguish devoured the scant remains of my obliterated heart.

I had done this.

Another roar left my throat, broken and pleading as regret, shame, and desperation spilled down my cheeks. Her eyes lifted to mine, as though some part of her had heard it and a shuddering breath left me.

She stared up into my eyes as if she were looking directly at me. Perhaps she realized that at least one of us, whether it was me, Miroslav, or my mother would see this moment in time.

“Lohane thili,pleasedon’t do this. Come back to me. Let me make this right. Let us fix thistogether.”

Her words were so soft they were almost imperceptible.“If you see this, know that I am sorry for all that I have done against you. And despite our differences, I cherish our timetogether. I cherish you… To protect our realms, you will need to find my father.”

Chapter

Seventeen

MALEKAI

The vision the well had shown, while deeply unsettling and not entirely clear, wasn’t anything I hadn’t anticipated. Miroslav had already foretold my fate, even if this was somewhat different than what he had described.

What I hadn’t anticipated was witnessing the soon-to-be crowned King shaking with both fury and despair as watery emotion cut through his anguish, and he turned to Miroslav.

“Take me to Zurie,” Nakoa growled in a voice that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Miroslav gave him a pitying look. “They’re in Ishra. No one gets into Ishra unless they’re invited.”

A snarl ripped from my throat. “Foldme near their border.”

A blanket of violent, madness-inducing fog encompassed their borders and their shores, preventing anyone from entering uninvited. Shrouded in mystery, it was supposedly the most peaceful continent in all of Bellorum.

Compassion tugged at Miroslav’s frown. “You know that isn’t possible. You won’t make it 100 feet past it once the madness seeps in, then how will you get Mareina back?”

A vein in Nakoa’s forehead bulged. “Then I need you to bring me to Mors.”

Miroslav frowned, eyes narrowing with confusion for the first time in the near century I’ve known him.“Mors?”

If we weren’t in such dire circumstances, I might have laughed.

“Mors is her father.”

Miroslav’s lips parted as several emotions passed over his face: shock, realization and understanding,embarrassment.

“Well, as I’ve told you before, it is no simple feat to locate a god without their permission. Especially one as powerful as Mors.”

Judging by the look on Nakoa’s face, he wanted to tear Miroslav limb from limb. Before he could attempt to do so, Miroslav heaved a sigh.

“… But I shall continue to try my best.”

My eyes burned, swelling with rebellious tears—a mirror to Nakoa’s own—as I watched him unravel.

“I cannot fathom waiting a moment longer.”

Miroslav gave his head a grim shake. “You have no other choice.”

Chapter

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