Page 25 of Oracle of Ruin

Derrín looks the Nevan man up and down, before turning back and mumbling to himself, “Inadequate.”

All the air seems to deflate from Torin’s chest in one fell motion as shock registers on his face.

Across the room, Blaine startles us all by laughing.

Amír backs away from him slowly as he wipes an eye.

“This guy,” Blaine chuckles to himself. “I like this guy.”

“Don’t take it personal.” Kya pats Torin’s arm sympathetically. “He doesn’t like girls either.”

“I don’t like people,” Derrín corroborates, not bothering to pick his gaze up from the mechanical device he’s fiddling with.

Torin blushes to his ears and I clear my throat.

“What’s going on with that thing?” I nod towards his invention.

Derrín perks up and lifts the creation into the light.

Kya leans forward and gently takes it from his hands. “And what does it do?”

“It’s a communication device. Rowan and I have been testing it to see how far the distance range is for it to work. I managed to finish it before all this happened. I’m hoping with a few tweaks, it can reach anywhere within Krycolis. I just need to find a way to amplify its power.”

“You could ask Vera when we get her back,” Torin supplies. “Ifwe get her back.”

“So whatisour next plan? Mavis still has Vera, Torin is still with the rebels, and the Kijova are driving us further out. Someday, we will run out of land to run,” Amír continues.

I furrow my brows. “What are you implying?”

“You know damn well what I’m implying,” the gunslinger snaps. “That we stop acting like sitting ducks and do something about this. Mobilize somehow and take these fuckers down.”

It only lasts a split second, but I can see the shift in Torin’s gaze. He shoots me an apologetic look before turning back to my second. “That is what I’ve proposed to the rebels as well. They’ve agreed to work with the Nightwalkers to do such.” He sucks in a sharp breath. “But only if Rowan agrees to be their leader and king.”

Amír’s gaze is serpentine. Her flaming hair frizzes and halos her face, her own living flame. With cold precision, she directs each word my way. “Interesting how you chose to leave that part out.” She runs her tongue over her teeth as if tasting her rage. Not many possess the ability to make me uncomfortable, but it is a talent Amír has always possessed.

With one look, I shift in discomfort. “It wasn’t important because I’m not going to do it. I’m not that type of leader.”

“Bullshit. You’re more than capable. You’ve led us for years.”

I bristle and pick at an invisible piece of lint on my cloak. “This is different. I never wanted to be king. I don’t have the training.”

Amír lolls her head back and laughs, a dry, scratching sound that drags its nails down the wall. “Just say you are scared of becoming your father and get on with it.”

“Amír!” Kya’s shrill voice slices through the tension. Her face is a mask of shock and disgust at the gunslinger’s implications. However, Amír’s accusations aren’t unfounded.

My hybrid nature allows me great advantages—the stealth, the strength, the cunning.

My blood boils in loathing.

It is not by my own merits that I have achieved anything, but the reaction of my mother’s blood commingling with my father’s within my veins. No matter the hours I work, the sweat I sweat, and blood I bleed, nothing I do will ever be a credit to myself. Deep down, I will always know it comes back to him.

The man who murders mindlessly, who stole not only my future, but Vera’s and my mother’s. He wholly stole the light from her.

Amír traces my gaze to my arms, to the first set of scars to lace my body—the ones I gave myself trying to claw my veins from my wrists when I was fourteen and learned what I was. And the truth of whohewas.

“We can discuss this another time,” my second concedes. “Right now, our priority is locating and retrieving Vera. Tomorrow, Kya and Blaine will take on our first quadrant, Derrín and I will take the third. Rowan, you will go with Torin and meet this rebel leader. I’m not saying you agree, just go feel it out.”

“Absolutely not. Torin and I will take the fourth. I will see this leader once Vera is found.”

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