Page 66 of Darkest Heart

“Then we move now, before they try to kill her. If they haven’t already.”

My eyes widened. “They’re only holding her to get to you. They won’t kill her.”

“Stupid boy. They’re not after me. If she’s dead, the prophecy can’t come true.”

I stepped closer to him until I was inches from his face. Two guards moved forward, but he held out his hand and they halted. A growl rumbled in my chest. All the suppressed anger surfaced before I could manage it. “Why didn’t you tell us? We should have flown down here weeks ago instead of waiting around! If she’s dead because you withheld information, I’ll fucking kill you. "

Erianna stepped closer to me as Sargon pointed the cane at my chest. The end touched the fabric of my shirt, and death never felt so close. With a slight shove, I’d be a pile of ash. I couldn’t leave her fate in his incompetent hands.

Sargon shook his head slowly, his stony expression darkening. “That’s treason.”

“We’ve done that dance before,” I snapped back. I glanced at Zach, noticing Erianna’s fingers inching toward her dagger. “This prophecy? What is it? Why would they want her dead?”

He hesitated and slowly pulled the cane away from me. The guards leaned closer, but Sargon cleared his throat. “Now is not the time.”

“Why?” I shouted.

Erianna’s hand was on my chest, sensing my move toward his cane. If I could have grabbed it fast enough, then point it at his fucking chest. She stood between us, and inhaled sharply. “Seb, he’s right. There are a lot of listening ears.”

I glanced around at the guards, and understood. If this prophecy was enough to make the aniccipere want to kill her, then it might warrant others to desire the same. Despite our differences, he did seem to care for his daughter. We at least had that in common. “I will do anything to get her back,” I said, putting space between us. “But we need to go right now, and I need you to tell me everything. How long have you known about this prophecy?”

“Since before she was born.”

I exhaled heavily, my shoulders slumping as things clicked into place. I wanted to bet Ravena leaving Sanmorte wasn’t just because of her fear of her possibly being turned into a vampire one day, or because Sargon was a paranoid dick.

“We need to talk. Alone.”

Olivia didn’t know about it either. She’d have told me. Unless it was something really bad.My heart ached over the thought of her keeping any burdens to herself, feeling like she couldn’t share it.

“No.” His wings erupted from his back and kicked off from the ground before I could tell him the direction to go. They’d see us coming from a mile away. Now that I knew he wasn’t what they were really after, Sargon was no longer my leverage.

Because that had been my plan.

If we couldn’t get Olivia out unharmed, I’d trade him for her. It’s another reason I waited for him, and it had all been for nothing.

I didn’t need to say a word. Erianna was in Zach’s arms, and we took flight at the same time. Toward the last town. The final place she could be. I only prayed it wasn’t too late.

TWENTY-TWO

Olivia

The boy took off running into the night as Hamza dragged me outside. I didn’t fight back, because as long as he was focused on me, the boy had a chance of getting away. Although deep down, I knew he didn’t stand much of a chance, not with the aniccipere out there. But at least he wouldn’t be killed instantly, and if I could get away from Hamza, or destroy him, then I could find the boy. Maybe in time. I had to save at least one person. Something good had to come out of all of this.

It just had to.

He threw me on the grass, but I quickly got back to my feet. “Does Salenia know you failed? That I’m alive?”

“No. I sent news that you were dead, but it doesn’t matter. I won’t fail this time.”

Tear out his heart.

The voice came back to me. It was Vaneria.

Will it kill him? Or send him back?I asked in my head. Silence. Great. It was a one-way communication.I had a lot of questions for the gods.

Hamza didn’t move, but I could sense Astor watching from the porch. “Where are the aniccipere?” I questioned, before he could make his move. “Seeing as we’re just chatting, anyway.”

I half expected him not to answer, but his lips curled into a sadistic smirk. “Your husband and father were spotted near here. My creatures have gone to kill them. Once you’re all gone, Salenia can take over.”

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