Fireblood (Frostblood Saga #2)(96)
The rocks that blocked the tunnel entrance were blown into a cloud of choking dust. When the debris settled, not one, but two figures emerged, their mouths covered by their sleeves.
“Ruby?” one called. Kai. He had hair like a summer sunset. He came closer, waving at the dust that clouded his vision. He froze in shock as he caught sight of Eurus, a being made of glowing light. “What—”
The other figure who followed was tall and dark, his eyes the green of wet leaves. Prince Eiko. He had brought the Fireblood and the Frostblood to destroy my throne.
“There are two of you,” our god Eurus said, his skin too bright to look at. “And I only need one. Who shall be my vessel?”
Neither spoke.
“You, then,” said Eurus, pointing at the bright-haired Fireblood prince—Kai—and I felt a strange bolt of something unpleasant. Some unwelcome human feeling. Fear for another’s safety. It was my host who made us feel this unpleasant thing. We didn’t want him to hurt Prince Kai with the hair of glowing coals and the eyes of golden brown.
Eurus moved toward the mortal.
“Wait!” The sound had come from my own mortal throat. The part of me that was still Ruby had surprised me, taking control. “Take the other one.” I spoke without wanting to, without thinking, and then trembled in fear of the god’s wrath.
But Eurus was merciful for once in an age, and he changed direction and slid into the other body, the tall man. Prince Eiko’s green eyes turned white for a moment as the light entered his thin body, then returned to normal.
Eurus-Eiko turned to the sunset-haired man. His expression spoke his intentions clearly. Our god had no use for Kai and so he would get rid of him.
We struggled with ourselves, the Daughter of Darkness trying to assert her consciousness.
“Kai!” Ruby’s will once again took control of our voice. “Go! Run!”
Kai shook his head, his gaze flinty as it latched on to Prince Eiko—Eurus. “You are no longer Prince Eiko. Are you?”
“Eiko is gone,” said Eurus.
“Then I don’t have to worry about hurting him,” said Kai. The bend of his knees, his wide-legged stance and posture all screamed his intention to fight.
“Kai, no!” I called out.
Fear had brought me partially back to myself, but the Minax struggled for dominance, bathing my mind in a cocktail of sweet numbness and a sense of futility. What does any of it matter? the thoughts said. Everything is fine.
I forced myself to focus on Kai and Arcus, on memories of my mother and grandmother, finding the parts of myself that feared and cared and hurt. I rejected the floating joy the Minax offered and grabbed at thoughts of affection, empathy—even grief. Every second was a power struggle between myself and the Minax. I phased in and out of awareness as a separate entity.
I was pulled from my self-absorption as fire flew from Eurus’s fists, or rather it was Prince Eiko’s fire coming from fists he no longer controlled. The attack caught Kai off guard, throwing him backward. He slid across the floor for several feet before coming to a stop. I took a step toward him, relieved when I saw his chest rise and fall.
“Leave him,” said Eurus. “He is of no consequence.”
I jerked to a halt. Arcus had moved beside me. Eurus’s gaze sharpened on him. If he meant to do to him what he’d done to Kai…
Fear broke through the remaining mist in my mind.
I’m Ruby, I thought, beating away the velvety layers of numbness wrapped around me, wresting my identity from the mind of the Minax. I’m in control.
I must have spoken aloud, because Eiko—Eurus—smiled condescendingly. “You are no longer merely a simple Fireblood girl. You are something more now. And though you will not live long enough to see the final triumph that comes from your sacrifice, your life will be given for a greater purpose. You will serve as host for the Minax as we travel to the Gate of Light. And when my Minax destroy the sentinels, I will break the bars that keep the Gate closed, so the rest of my living shadows will pour from where Cirrus trapped them in the Obscurum. So, you see? You’re not dying in vain. You’ll be remembered by the gods.”
“As the one who helped you unleash the Minax on the world?” I asked, more fully myself for the moment. “That’s not how I want to be remembered.”
His green eyes narrowed, but his smile widened. “Somehow you’ve retained more than a little of yourself, haven’t you? Remarkable. The Minax chose a strong host.”
The Minax inside me grew excited, murmuring something about a true vessel and Daughter of Darkness, and though I was careful not to form the words with my lips, I sensed that Eurus could hear its voice anyway.
He lifted a brow. “Are you certain, pet?”
The Minax eagerly answered yes, and then the heart-shaped scar near my left ear burned. I clapped my fingers over it, but Eurus stepped closer, grasped my wrist, and drew my hand firmly away. His eyes met mine, and even in the dim light, they looked brighter green than ever. “There is only one person on this earth my Minax would mark this way.” His eyes seemed to glow.
“You are my daughter.”
TWENTY-SEVEN
I HEARD ARCUS’S SHARP INHALATION. If it hadn’t been for the Minax half in control of my limbs, I’d have staggered. The moment was an echo of the queen’s revelation that I was her niece, but far less welcome. And my mind was still hazed with the Minax’s thoughts—chaotic and disordered, always striving to regain control. I wanted to refute Eurus’s claim, but I couldn’t even manage to open my mouth.