Page 154 of A Kingdom This Cursed and Empty

I opened my eyes to find Thol staring steadily at me. “They said this was because of you.”

Lorian let out a low warning growl next to me. But he couldn’t protect me from this.

“They had someone who wielded lightning, and they laughed as they tortured Kreilor, because now the whole kingdom will think you did it as revenge for not helping you.” The rancor had disappeared from Thol’s gaze, and there was nothing left but agony.

Lightning. So the Bloodthirsty Prince would be blamed once again. And so would I.

Demos and Tibris were both silent, likely considering the implications of that—and what it would mean when Vicer attempted to convince the hybrids they could find safety with us.

“You’re a hybrid,” Thol said. “A rebel. That’s why Sabium did this, isn’t it?”

“Sabium did this because he’s a tyrant and a liar, and he knows Prisca is a threat to him,” Tibris said.

“How?” Thol’s voice cracked incredulously. “How is she a threat?”

Of course he wouldn’t know. I opened my mouth, closed it. Opened it again. Lorian took my hand. “She’s the heir to the hybrid kingdom,” he said.

Thol replied, but I couldn’t hear it. All I could hear was the blood pounding in my ears. All I could see were the faces of the people I’d once seen every day.

Herica. Natan. The families. Thechildren.

I’d heard over and over again how Regner involved innocent people in his plans. How he decimated villages whenever necessary.

Ever since I’d left the castle, I’d barely given our village a second thought. I could have protected them. Instead, I’d been safe in the fae kingdom, training for a war I would never be prepared for, while Regner was already making his moves.

I mumbled something to Thol, pulled my hand from Lorian’s, and walked toward the door. It was as if I were floating above myself, watching my body move without me. Lorian spoke, but all I could hear were the screams of those villagers as they died.

I stood in the hall, staring at nothing. Lorian caught my hand and pulled me into another room, sitting me on the edge of the bed.

He crouched in front of me.

“What can I do for you?” His words sounded as if they were echoing from the end of a long tunnel.

I shook my head. No one could do anything. I was thecauseof all this.

Lorian pulled off my slippers and loosened the back of my dress, his fingers exceedingly gentle. Guiding me down to the bed, he curled up behind me and held me close.

“Shh,” he said, and I realized I was making a strange whimpering sound. “I’ve got you, wildcat.”

* * *

I didn’t know what to do for her.

It had been two days. She wouldn’t eat. Neither would Thol. Asinia ate only because Demos somehow convinced her to take a few bites. Cavis kept watch, in case anyone had followed Thol from the village and tracked him as he met up with Prisca’s brothers.

The innkeeper had ensured all other guests stayed downstairs or on the second floor, allowing us to have the third floor to ourselves.

I slipped out of our room, intending to find some food to bring back for Prisca. She was in such a deep sleep, something that might have been panic chewed at my rib cage.

A scuffle sounded on the wooden floor. My gaze met Asinia’s. Her face was still drained of color, her eyes glazed.

“I’ll stay with her,” she said.

I nodded, stepping aside as she cracked open the door.

Tibris and Demos sat downstairs at a table in the tavern, speaking in hushed voices. They nodded at me when I sat next to them.

“We got Prisca’s note, and everything went to plan,” Demos said quietly.

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