Page 132 of Heir of Illusion

“You have no idea how long I’ve dreamed of this moment,” a familiar voice says.

He leans down, his face finally close enough for me to make out his features.

Kaldar.

True fear sinks into me as I catch a glimpse of his murderous expression. He’s going to kill me. As if he’s heard my thoughts, his fingers dig into my bicep as he drags me up the stairs. My shoulder joint cries out in pain from the cruel angle.

“I always knew you were nothing but a traitorous whore,” he gloats as my head bounces off each step. “Just like your mother.”

My leg strikes out awkwardly as I try to kick him, but he dodges the blow with embarrassing ease.

“I knew I’d never beat you in a fair fight,” he continues as the pain eats away at my sanity. “But my skill set is much different from yours. You may be strong, but you’re also reckless. Which is why I was smart enough to lace the dagger.”

My gaze settles on Kaldar as his words penetrate the haze.Poison.

“That’s right, Iverson.” He smiles down at me. “I’m not the fumbling idiot you think I am. I can admit my weaknesses and learn from my mistakes. I knew I’d need to plan ahead after things almost went wrong last time. I didn’t expect Leona to put up such a fight. Who knew she had it in her?”

Everything goes still as his words bounce around my skull. My eyes bulge as I stare up at the man who murdered my friend.

He chuckles. “You should see your face. I keep telling you, pet, the king has trusted me with all manners of things. Even the murder of his queen.”

We reach the top of the stairs, and he grabs my shoulders, pulling me to my feet. My back presses into the side of the arch, my gaze flashing toward the edge. Hot blood drips into my eyes, clouding my vision with a red tint.

“He’ll kill you for this,” I whisper, the words sounding slurred.

His thin lips pull into an ugly smile. “What Baylor doesn’t know won’t hurt him.”

He raises his hands to push me over the edge, but I’m faster.

Calling on the rage building within me, I summon the last of my strength. Reaching around, I pull the dagger from my back as a scream tears from somewhere deep within. Fire burns me from the inside out as I plunge the blade straight into Kaldar’s chest.

His eyes widen as he stares down at the protruding hilt.

“You—” he sputters, blood staining his lips.

The edge of the stone digs into my back as I desperately try to keep my balance. I glance at the edge again as the world continues spinning. It’s in that moment that Clara’s words from years ago drift back to me.

Never pass through a lonely stone archway, love. For that way lies only death with no return.

But it’s too late to heed her advice.

Kaldar begins to tip forward, his body knocking into mine. I try to twist, but the ground disappears from under my feet. Suddenly, we’re both tumbling toward the veil.

Toward death.

Chapter

Thirty-Six

The sun has long since set by the time I return to the palace. I bite my lip against the lingering pain in my abdomen as I hurry past the servants and guards. They’re the only people left walking the halls at this hour, and I do my best avoid bumping into any of them. They’d likely be confused if they got knocked to the ground by someone they couldn’t see.

My fingers tremble as I push open the door to the back stairwell that leads to my floor. I’ve done a plethora of foolish things in my life. Yet, killing the king’s chief adviser and hiding his body inside of a hollowed-out tree probably qualifies as the most idiotic. Despite that, I can’t bring myself to regret my actions. Not after what he did to Leona.

My mind swirls with too many emotions to name as I think about how many times he’d crossed my path in the last year. Every day I was forced to interact with him, all the while having no idea he was the one who murdered the woman I loved like a mother. Baylor may have given the order, but it was Kaldar who carried it out. It was his face that she saw in her final moments.

Whatever comes from my actions today, I’ll never regret ending his life. I only regret not dragging out his death and making it as painful as possible.

Finally, I reach my room and shut the door behind me, latching the lock to be sure no one else can enter before I drop my illusion.

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