Page 133 of A Kingdom This Cursed and Empty

“Vynthar.”

I couldn’t deal with this. “You want to come with us? Fine. But no eating anyone.”

He gave me a patient look, as if the very idea was ridiculous and he hadn’t been threatening to kill me just hours ago.

Turning, I shook my head and headed back toward our ship. Lorian stayed behind, murmuring something to the Drakoryx. Asinia fell into step with me.

“Pris.”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Pris.” Her voice cracked. “It’sme.”

My throat burned, and I sucked in a breath that felt like shards of glass shredding my lungs. “I met the elders. They showed me the day Lyrinore was attacked. My grandmother is the reason the Cursed City is what it is, and the reason Regner’s ships sank whenever he attempted to return to Lyrinore. She gave her life to protect the hybrids.”

Asinia winced. “Wow.”

“She killed the enemy, but also thousands of innocent people in that city. The elders won’t help, Asinia. Not until I’mthe queen they know I can be. They wouldn’t tell me anything about who we have over there, if we have weapons, anyone who can fight. All of this was for nothing. Rythos lost his friend fornothing.”

Asinia’s face turned cold. “Not nothing. If the elders live in Lyrinore, others do too. So if they won’t help, we’ll find a way to go around them and find help from elsewhere. Fuck their declarations.”

I attempted a smile, and she wrapped her arms around me. “No one gets to choose if you’re worthy of that crown except you.”

“Thanks, Asinia.”

“Rythos…”

“I know. I’ll find him now.” My chest ached. He’d finally reconnected with Fendrel, and he’d died in vain. Because of me.

Rythos was sitting where Fendrel had died, clutching one of his friend’s hands in both of his. I stepped up next to him, my chest tight. I hadn’t known Fendrel well, but I’d liked what I’d seen.

Rythos turned and pressed his head against my thigh. My throat tightened until I could barely breathe. I’d half expected him to be unable to look at me.

I stroked his hair. “I’m sorry.”

“Thank you.”

Guilt engulfed me as I stared down at the man who’d been so eager to come with us. Who’d just wanted to spend time with his friend.

“I know you’re not thinking this is your fault,” Rythos said.

I could barely talk around the lump in my throat, so I just let out a noncommittal sound. He raised his head. “This was Regner.Regner. And we’re going to make him pay for it.”

“Yes. Yes, we are.”

“I need to take him home,” Rythos said.

“I know.”

“You’ll take him with Galon and Marth,” Lorian said.

Rythos nodded, glancing up at Lorian. They shared a look I couldn’t read.

I took a step backward, my pulse stuttering. “I need a minute.”

Lorian nodded, his green eyes flickering with concern. Turning, I strode down toward the waves lapping at the shore.

My heart ached as if I were bleeding out.

---