Page 142 of A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash
Alina flinched as if he had struck her. ‘No, I was not.’
Ash closed his eyes, guilt sinking its claws into his chest. ‘I’m s-sorry.’ He wanted to ask about Mal—about whether anyone else knew what she had done, what she had become. But the words lodged in his throat. He couldn’t say it aloud. Instead, another memory clawed at him, something that had been gnawing at the edges of his thoughts. ‘Alina, do you know Ka-Kage Blackburn andWren Wynter?’
‘Not really.’
‘There was someone with them. But it does not make sense.’
‘Who?’
‘I probably imagined it.’ He shook his head, frustrated. ‘Never mind. But I co-could have sworn there was a witch with them.’
Alina’s nose scrunched. ‘That’s ridiculous, Ash. Why would Kage Blackburn and Wren Wynter travel with a witch? She was probably attacking them and in the chaos you misread the situation.’
Ash’s jaw remained tight, his mind refusing to let it go. The witch had not foughtagainstthem. She had foughtwiththem.
And he was almost certain there had been three valkyrians.
Three.
Each carrying someone.
So if it wasn’t the witch…whowas the third person?
‘Ash, you need to rest. You’ve been asleep for three days. You must regain your strength.’
Suddenly—it hit him.
His breath caught in his throat.
He knew why he had recognised that witch.
Not because he had seen her before.
No, it was something else—something in her features, in the way her white hair gleamed like moonlight, in the golden hue of her bronze skin.
It was because she looked just like—
‘Adara.’ The name spilt from his lips, his body going rigid.
Alina turned sharply, eyes narrowing. ‘What?’
Ash met her gaze, his skin paling.
‘She looked just like A-Adara.’ It dawned on them at the same time. Alina’s breath hitched,horror seeping into her expression. Ash swallowed hard, voice nothing more than a whisper. ‘As if they were—sisters.’
I have recently learnt quite a bit about valkyrians. Their princess is not in fact royalty, as it does not exist in their kingdom. They choose the warrior that shall become their queen and after some years, a new heir is chosen by the others to become the queen’s successor. They claim it is the only way to make sure that corruption does not make it to power and that every single valkyrian can feel heard.
The Council is similar because they were chosen and voted in by witches and warlocks. However, throughout the years I have witnessed how corrupted it has become. Successors are chosen by existing members, which leads to family being selected, sons and daughters instead of perhaps, more qualified choices. And yes, you have to go through training and the Council has to agree, but it still feels wrong. I will be on the Council because my mother is a member on it. Not because the witches and warlocks from my kingdom chose me. I have worked hard, but who is to say another wouldn’t work harder?
I am determined to become part of the Council.
So I can destroy it from within.
Tabitha Wysteria
‘I thought I might find you here.’ Haven’s voice drifted through the swaying grasses, quiet but unwavering.
Mal did not turn immediately. She remained kneeling in the shadow of her lonely tree, hands trembling, dirt pressed into her palms from where she had buried yet another offering. Three days. Three days spent kneeling before the gods, pleading. Threedays spent whispering Nyx’s name into the soil as if the earth might take pity on her grief and return what had been stolen.
