Page 198 of Severed Heir

When I looked up, his face had gone pale.

“Klaus never wrote about this,” he murmured, the words barely audible. “I don’t know how this ends.”

The breath snagged in my throat. Archer Lynch had memorized every prophecy, every Seeker’s tale Klaus had ever scribed, and he was afraid. Not of war. But of what lay ahead. Because for the first time, the future was unwritten.

Hadrian stepped forward, green eyes narrowed against the wind-stirred dust. Then, with a shallow dip of his head, he greeted me. “Hello, Severyn,” he said. “I imagine you have questions.”

“No,” I said, voice steady as I turned to face him. “Because you can’t force me to be your heir.”

His smile was faint. “You have three days. I expect you in Wrathi—asmy heir. Bring the ruler of Night. I’ve always wanted to strike a deal with the shadows.”

“You’re not my father.”

“But you are my heir.”

And the truth settled like a stone in my chest.

Because I was his blood.

Chapter Thirty-Six

The Malvoria guards dragged the bodies from the scorched land, their boots stirring ash into the air. Cries of mourning rose through the veil of smog, a grief too heavy to silence.

A trial for the king’s title would come.

Archer stood without an heir. Would he fight? I didn’t have time to ask before Reina stepped forward, then faltered, her gaze locking on her eldest son.

I nudged him gently. “You should talk to her.”

“I have nothing to say to her,” he hissed low.

“You may never get another chance,” I said quietly. “Please. You need answers.”

Archer shook his head and stormed toward her. “Why did you leave? Was it worth abandoning your three sons?”

Reina lifted her chin, though she couldn’t meet his eyes. “Demetria was next,” she said. “I made a bargain. A life debt to save your grandfather.”

“You made an alliance with the Forgotten?” Archer’s voice sharpened.

“I severed an unbreakable bond. I didn’t know Ciaran would bond with you after that.” She reached for him, fingers trembling as they touched his cheek. But Archer flinched away.

“You asked them to sever Ciaran’s bond when she was bonded to my grandfather?” His voice cracked. “Why the hell would you do that?”

“The Gemini dragons,” Reina whispered. “When Veravine died, your grandfather began to fade. The bond was killing him. I had no choice but to ask the Forgotten for help. I forced them to break it.”

Archer turned, grabbing my hand. “We have to find Ciaran.”

Reina’s voice shook behind us. “You severed your bond. But it wasn’t Ciaran’s choice. A rider can’t break it. Only the dragon can or someone else with the power.”

“Archer…” My voice caught. “How did you sever your bond?”

Before he could answer, shouting erupted behind us. From the mist, a cluster of Forgotten soldiers emerged, escorting a chained figure through the ash. His steps were uneven.

Klaus.

Cleminore stepped forward, her voice slicing through the tension like a drawn blade. “The resurrected Seeker comes with us. We won’t allow you to torture our champion,” she said to Rok.

Champion? My breath stilled.

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