Page 17 of Beneath the Flames
I crossed my arms, ignoring him as I stared at the castle.How were we supposed to get there when streams of fire coated the ground in every direction?
“Besides,” he continued after a moment when I didn’t react to his thinly veiled threat.“Where else would a prince live?”
I couldn’t help it—a strangled noise slipped out of my mouth as I gaped at him.
“That’s right, human.I am Prince Rhydian Malathar, the last remaining heir in the Kingdom of Eroth.”
Iwas an idiot for bringing her here.
It was arguably one of the dumbest things I had done in the last century.But what other choice had there been?Maren had seen my magic, and the rules had always been clear.Once a human witnessed my Avalean magic, it became an activator for the curse.That human was then required to stay here until one of two things happened: Either they died or broke the curse.I wasn’t quite sure why that stipulation was written into the curse, but if I ever wanted to truly free myself and save Eroth, I had to follow through.
That was why I had taken her.That was why I was now stuck with her.
If I had been smart, I would have just dumped her in the lava pits and left her to die.Rid my hands of her completely.She would never be what I needed her to be—what I had needed all the others to be.
And perhaps that was what frustrated me most of all.
Maren followed behind me at a distance as I led her past the Scorching Rivers, pushing the lava away with my magic to create a path for us.I hadn’t lied before—the lava wouldn’t hurt me—so long as I had my magic to protect me.Without it, I’d burn just like she would.But she didn’t need to know that.
Besides, Eroth was where I was strongest.This land fueled what was left of my magic.I had nothing to fear here.
For now anyway.
After a mind-numbingly—and miraculously silent after all those questions—long walk to Shadow Ire Castle, the metal gates finally loomed in front of us.The lava pressed against my magic, trying to sneak through to catch a meal.
The Scorching Rivers had always had a mind of their own, at least since the curse had silenced the Beast of Eroth.Once he had controlled them, but the Beast hadn’t been seen in centuries, and the lava grew more predatory by the day, unchecked and uncontrolled.My magic was strong enough to keep it at bay for now, but I dreaded the day when it wouldn’t be any longer.
That day was approaching much quicker than I liked.
On top of trying to solve that little issue, now I had to deal with a human following me around.A human that would not survive in this world without me.Without Fae magic, she was defenseless.Nothing would stop the Rivers from devouring her the first chance they had.
I glanced over my shoulder, finding those gray eyes watching me carefully.We hadn’t spoken since we left the tunnel—since I revealed who I was to her.I didn’t know why I didthateither.Something about this human made me make foolish decisions.I needed to focus, to keep my mouth closed, and stop revealing important things to her.
No, I needed to getridof her.
In answer to my thought, my magic surged into my hands, ready to claim her life.
Panic filled my bones, and I quickly looked away from Maren, redirecting my magic to make the gates swing open, rather than killing the girl.Golden light lit up the night, truly showcasing the devastating decay of the castle before it faded, leaving everything in the shadows of the moons once more.
Get a hold of yourself, Rhydian.Ifyou kill her, then you’ll really have no hope.
Don’t be ridiculous.There’s no hope anyway.
There was no wayshe’dbe the cursebreaker.
I blew a long breath through my nose.Though she was annoying, I didn’t truly think she deserved to die.She had just been in the wrong place at the wrong time.As all the others had been.
But nowIwas suffering for it.
I came to a stop, gesturing to the enormous stone structure in front of me.The place that was mine, though I never wanted it.“Welcome to Shadow Ire Castle.”
Where I lived alone.
Well, besides Nico, but he didn’t count.He was my servant, chained to this castle as much as I was.
“I want to go home,” the girl said, for the thousandth time, her voice so full of sadness that for a split second my stone heart felt an unfamiliar pang.Then it was gone, replaced by annoyance.I allowed myself to toy with the thought of removing her tongue so she couldn’t annoy me anymore.I supposed that was a bit too cruel.Without a tongue, she’d never fulfill the curse requirements.
She’s not going to break the curse, you fool.It’s hopeless.
