Page 71 of The Spark that Ignites
Emmery stared at Vesper, unable to form words. All of this was worse than she imagined.
Finally, Vesper broke the silence. “He took my home, Emmery. Killed my sister. And I was forced to serve under him for nearly a century after Ellynne fell. But I also think he had a hand in what happened in the Skyborne Temple. The waters and snuffing of thekhaosflame. That entire time I served, I rarely saw him. He was alwaysindisposed—whatever that means. Probably busy fucking the Scarlets dancing all over his bloody castle. The blatant disrespect for my family’s values is disgusting.”
She didn’t know what to say but her heart ached as she searched Vesper’s face. His humour ... it was all a cover for the unending pain hidden underneath. He had lost his twin sister. What could that be like? To have someone by your side your entire life and then gone the next. And stolen in such a horrific way.
Emmery’s chest tightened. “So, he did that? Killed all those people?”
A medley of emotions flickered over his face before a brokenness replaced the rage. Voice hoarse, Vesper said, “He’s taken too much from me. I’m sure he learned it from his father, or it runs in the genes. But Thellonius was a different kind of evil. Not only for the injustice to my family but for others who suffered worse fates.”
She couldn't imagine anything worse than what she had seen. All those lives lost, the skeletal remains— “What did Thellonius do?”
“He invaded Asaella. Committed genocide. Iz and I weren't very old at the time. Just children.” Vesper stared at the wall as if watching the scene play out before him. “He took it upon himself to ‘cleanse’ the land of them, and what he thought were barbaric practices. He slaughtered those with the burden of beast and burned their village to the ground then built that monstrous castle. Many of them fled for safety but they ... didn’t make it.” Vesper continued, a sad glint in his eyes, “He was raised there, Emmery. The bastard bore the blessing of flame. He killed his own people and sat on that throne like some sort of ...god.”
Her skin prickled in disgust. Someone would have to house unending evil within themselves to do something so heinous. So despicable. And to be raised by such a monster—it was no wonder his son followed in his footsteps. Not that it excused the King of Thorns actions.
“Vesper, I—” Her words failed, but she managed, “I’m so sorry. I ... don’t know how to express how truly sorry I am.”
Emmery meant it. If anyone knew how it felt to surrender the most integral parts of herself with no hope of retrieving them, it was her. But while it had broken her beyond repair and she still couldn’t speak of it, Vesper had opened his chest and bled out his past, baring the shredded, messy remains. He had let her see and feel all the hurt he carried, and trusted her to hold it, even if it was only for a moment. He had ... trusted her with this. With his story.
“So, this plan for Iz—it’s not only for the prophecy.” She strained the judgement from her voice. “It’s for your kingdom too, right? Continuing with your father’s agenda?”
“I thought if I could, maybe she could fix all of ...this.” He gestured to the window and the decimated kingdom beyond. “I don’t want her coming back to see our home in such a state, but she was always leagues smarter than me. Brilliant really. And if anyone could figure out how to fix this, it’s her. She wassupposed to run this kingdom. Not me. Iz was the one with the ruthless heart and strong morals. The one tough enough to handle it all. My father always said I’m too soft. Too impulsive. You can’t rule with your heart.”
As she studied Vesper, all the hurt he held and hope for a bright future, she couldn’t think of a person better to rule a kingdom than someone who cared so deeply.
He sighed and gazed out the window. “But I can’t fix all this. It’ll take months ... maybe years to rebuild. And we only have until the Fallen Equinox for her spell. Time is running out.”
Emmery scrunched her brows. “I never did ask what that is.”
“It’s a seasonal change we associate with Kahlia. Think of it like a celebration of Fallen magic and weather. It’s in less than thirty days.”
Her heart slogged.Thirty days. That was barely any time.
Emmery chewed her lip, trying to piece it all together. The image of a withered king donning a crown of thorns, sitting atop his throne of lies and deceit, plagued her mind. Did he truly steal magic? Was he the reason she was thrust into this prophecy in the first place? She gritted her teeth. If that was the case, she would ensure he paid for it.
Vesper studied her. “What are you thinking?”
“Nothing just—” She picked at her fingernail. “I’m processing.”
Vesper stood abruptly from the chair. “I need to tend to Marlys.”
Emmery gave him a brief nod, sitting with his grief for a long moment. After he exited the room, she studied the painting of the Merikh’s. There was one key thing missing from the portrait: Vesper’s mother. Emmery worried her lip, examining all the fragments of his shattered life and wondered, even with Izzy back, would his family truly ever be whole again?
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Vesper returned to the library hours later, his hair impossibly messy as if he tried to rip it from his scalp. With the promise of a tour, they stumbled into the entrance hall only to find two people, bags in hands.
Emmery froze. Had they been expecting visitors?
No surprise crossed Vesper’s face, only a grin that crinkled the corners of his eyes.
She had never seen him smile like that.
Caught in some argument, the mountainous man with warm tawny skin and grey-blue eyes like the ocean after a storm, towered over the woman. He fussed with his blond, messy bun as she poked his chest. His brilliant bronze vestige practically glowed and he was strikingly handsome with a distinct regal quality.
The woman frowned at his teasing smile with an intense gaze that made Emmery almost forget she was a head shorter. Dressed in a low-cut bodysuit accentuating her curves, navy hair, black vestige, andcavaeproudly displayed, she didn’t appear to be someone to tolerate nonsense. All until he lifted her off the ground and she giggled. Her frown disappeared as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed their foreheads together. The man’s hands cupped her backside and Emmery’s face burned, clearly intruding on a private moment.
Vesper cleared his throat, and the man spun, releasing the woman so hastily she toppled to the floor. Mumbling an apology,he steadied her with two broad hands though they stared at Vesper with a look bordering pain.
