Page 158 of Of Blood and Banes
“I can’t be related to Darian,” I blurt, trembling like a leaf.
“No, no. Darian isn’t related to you.”
My voice comes out shaky, “And how would you know that? How can he possibly be the heir to the Arterian kingdom if he isn’t?”
“Because Darian isn’t Jurrock’s son, but King Aaric doesn’t know that. And nobodycanknow that.”
“So then how do you know that for certain?”
He crosses his arms over his chest. “Because Jurrock told me as much.”
Then who in the hells is Darian? And what other secrets is the crown hiding?I lower my head into my hands, rubbing my temples like it’ll clear all my racing thoughts and questions.
Why does King Aaric need a celestial event? For what ungodsly reason would he need to harness all that power? Something like that could obliterate everything, perhaps to the extent he wouldn’t even need the Blood Ring…would he?
Yet, in the dying moment of Queen Elara’s memories, King Aaric’s last words echo in my ears like a haunting phantom.“Wait, I still need him!”
I drop my hands from my face, and as the clouds begin to lift with each slowing thought, I’m dragged back to my father’s journal entry on the sun dragon.
He could control the position of the sun, channel solar power into beams of blasting light, manipulate dragonfire, and it was even rumored he could resurrect the dead.
King Aaric needed Vue alive because Vue had the potential ability to resurrect the dead. And if Vue was born of the magic from the Gods themselves?
I straighten to look at Sethan. “…I think I know what the King is up to.”
“Go on?” Sethan tilts his head to the side.
“I think he’s trying to resurrect his wife and daughter. That’s why he needs both rings.”
CHAPTER 50
BETWEEN DEATH AND SILENCE
Sethan orders us to stay in Everden until we’ve received a letter back from Nightfort confirming the translator for Queen Elara’s journal is still in the city. Sethan’s convinced there’s more we need to know, and even though the darkest night isn’t for another three seasons, the looming deadline is enough to stir a swarm of anxiety underneath my skin.
Despite the heaviness still clouding my heart from Marge’s sacrifice, I know what I must do. After dinner, when everyone’s turned in for the night, and Darian seems to be fast asleep, I slip out to the forest.
I stand in the darkness, staring at the tips of the mountain range in the distance as tears slip down my cheeks. Thick flakes of snow fall from the sky, collecting until the earth is dusted in white.
Marge should be here.
As I wipe my face with my hand, the bracelet Melaina gave me all those weeks ago shifts on my wrist, and I pinch the metal and spin it around until the moonlight catches on the engraved words.
You can go through it, or grow through it.
Removing my black leather gloves, I take a deep breath and lower to the ground. Marge’s last words whisper to me in a silent wind.
You have never let me down, Katerina Blackwind.
I brush my fingers across the cold, wet earth and am immediately entangled in the power thrumming below. It’s right there…tempting me. I close my eyes and press both palms flat to the earth. And slip into The White.
“Marge?” I call out, swiveling in every direction and finding nothing. I try my damndest to not let my hope skyrocket, but I recall her conversation about there being a fifty-fifty shot of seeing someone in The White.
It just has to be wanted from both sides.
“Marge?” I call out again, sensing a pulse of warmth from one direction. I follow it, walking blindly into an endless sea of white and not knowing how far I’ve gone. Or if I’ve even gone anywhere at all.
I cup my hands on either side of my mouth and let out, “Marge?”
