Page 61 of Essence of the Throne

“Watch carefully,” I announce to the room, my voice echoing in the stillness. “This is what happens when you forget who I am.”

With a slight twist of my fingers, I completely block her air supply. Her body gives one final jerk before going still. Just like that, another life snuffed out. Another soul for the Angel to collect.

I focus on Marek once more, unsurprised to find disappointment etched in the deep lines of his face. “You’ve made your choice, then?”

“I made my choice twenty years ago.” I spin and step over Isolde’s body, striding toward the door. “Everything since then has just been preparation.”

“For what?” he calls after me.

I walk through the threshold, not bothering to look back as I leave the building and ignore his question.

The walk back to the castle gives me time to process what just happened. I’ve always had a quick temper, but it’s never something I will apologize for. Marek knows that, so the fact that he threatened disowning me is strange. I know I can still trust him, though, so my father’s journal will remain there and he can come groveling whenever he’s ready.

My feet carry me through the castle gates as my mind still churns with everything I’ve learned and have yet to do. Go to Meridian, kill the king, fix the Accord.

Simple.

“There you are.” Caspian’s voice breaks through my thoughts. He’s striding toward me, his face tight and wary. “Where have you been? I’ve been looking everywhere. I thought you’d be back sooner and when I didn’t find—” He halts, his eyes narrowing as he takes in my appearance. “Is that blood?”

I glance down at my hand, still bearing the stains from Isolde’s desperate struggle. “Not mine.” A petty lie, but I don’t need the concern. I’ve already healed the wounds.

His jaw clenches as he lets out a deep sigh. “Ariella…” My heart skips at the way my name forms around his lips, but I ignore the fluttering and walk.

“Don’t.” I brush past him, turning left toward my room. I need to clean up and think before I leave. “I’m not in the mood for a lecture.”

He follows, of course, and despite what I said, I inwardly smile that he knows I shouldn’t be left alone right now. “What happened?”

“I killed someone who needed killing. Nothing new.”

His hand catches my arm, spinning me to face him. The contact sends an unwanted spark through my body—one that almost burns.

“Talk to me,” he pleads in a soft tone. “What’s really going on?”

For a moment, I’m tempted. To let all of these disgusting feelings out and just allow myself five minutes to not be okay and seek solace in his arms.

But I don’t.

“Just stressed, as usual,” I say instead, watching his face. “Why?”

His expression darkens as his head shakes. “What did you figure out? Did Marek help?” I appreciate his change in topic, even if I do not wish to talk about Marek.

“No, but I did see something.” I tug him with me so that we’re out of the main part of the castle. “This device Jaxon had—it held essence inside, but it had these vein-like grooves that allowed the essence to flow naturally when it wasn’t being used. But open the device, and the essence spills out.” Saying it out loud only solidifies my assumption. “It’s like it’s…” I struggle to explain my whirling thoughts, but the prince understands.

“Bleeding,” he finishes, his silver eyes meeting mine.

I nod several times. “Yes.”

His forehead creases before something lights in his eyes. “You think that’s what my father’s been doing.”

I nod again.

I can see the connections running through his head. It’s oddly nice to have someone so in-sync with me. “By theAngel…he’s actually stealing essence—it's not some metaphor.That’show the balance is off, because of the essence spilling from the veins of others while he attempts to take it for himself.”

“Exactly. Which means we’ve no idea just how strong he is or what he’s doing with all the essence.”

“But why children? What makes them different?”

I’ve pondered this question since the moment I saw Jaxon’s device. Are children better conduits? Perhaps their small bodies are ideal for storing or exchanging essence? That doesn’t make sense, though. Their bodies are weak, and they have far less experience with essence than those twice their age, so it must be something else.

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