Page 117 of Cloak of Night
“And you believe this is right and what is good for Kichona.”
“Without a doubt.”
“Then you understand how I feel,” Prince Gin said.
Empress Aki let out a mournful sigh, and Sora, Daemon, and Hana all looked away. They knew what the conclusion was. There was no compromise that could guarantee Kichona would be safe. Prince Gin had to die.
A wave of sadness washed over Sora, not because she thought he didn’t deserve the sentence, but because she knew how much it would pain the empress to give it. Sora couldn’t imagine being the one to end Hana’s life.
“Lower me to the ground,” Prince Gin said to Daemon.
Gravity regained its hold on the Dragon Prince, and it pulled him to the floor. For good measure, Daemon applied extra gravity to prevent Prince Gin from trying to run. But it was unnecessary, because he stayed where he landed.
“Do it, Aki,” Prince Gin said. “Tell one of your warriors to kill me now.”
“I won’t make them commit regicide,” she said, her voice trembling. “I’ll do it myself.” The empress unsheathed a blade from her own belt.
She approached him slowly, as if hoping, with each step, that everything could be undone. Her grip around her knife tightened.
But when she was right next to her brother, she threw her arms around him, embracing him tightly instead of stabbing him.
“You used to be my best friend. What happened to you?” Her body shook with the tears she tried to keep bottled up inside.
Sora glanced at Empress Aki’s knife. Prince Gin could snatch it from her. Sora was just about to do something about it when green smoke filled the balcony outside.
A bearded giant stepped out from the cloud.
Chapter Sixty-Three
Sora’s mind raced as she watched Zomuri approach.
The god smirked at her. “You broke into my vault and stole from me. I thank you for providing me with such entertainment. However, I have allowed you to remain free for long enough. You must be punished for your transgressions.”
“I...” Sora had nothing to say. She’d known this would catch up to her. How could you steal from a god and expect to get away with it?
Daemon growled and moved in front of her, blue electricity blazing, baring his teeth at the god.
Zomuri chuckled. “As if a mere demigod has a chance against me. But I’ll deal with you children later. First...” He looked down upon Prince Gin and Empress Aki. “You summoned me and promised me the heart of a monarch.”
“Yes, my lord,” Prince Gin said eagerly, as if realizing he still had a chance to live. “Tsarina Austine of Thoma is waiting for you in my throne room.”
“Deception!” Zomuri’s spittle landed on the prince’sface. “There is no one there.”
“No... ,” the Dragon Prince said at the same time Sora heaved a sigh of relief. If the tsarina was gone, Sora hoped that meant Fairy had succeeded in saving her.
“I do not like being summoned for no reason,” Zomuri said to Prince Gin. “You owe me a royal heart, and I want it now.”
“Take my sister’s,” Prince Gin said.
“What?” Empress Aki jumped back.
“You should have killed me when you had the chance,” he said.
Zomuri snatched Aki off the floor.
“Spirit, help me!” she cried.
The god’s long sharp fingernail traced her chest, drawing a circle to scoop out her heart.
