Immortal Reign(92)

“You’re not helping,” Magnus snapped.

“Magnus, I know you want to save me,” Cleo said, her eyes filled with tears. “But there’s no way. I’m so close now to losing control of this. If Taran couldn’t resist, I won’t be able to. And I believe what Kyan says. He will burn the city.”

“No, you’re not going to him. We’re going to find another answer.”

“But he’ll destroy the city.”

“I don’t care about the damn city!”

“I do,” she said fiercely.

“Damn it!” Magnus’s anguished gaze met Cleo’s. “Stay here. I need to get Ashur. We need to try summoning Valia again.” He glared at Enzo. “Stay with her.”

He left the room and rushed down the stairs, searching for Ashur. He found the prince talking with Bruno near the kitchen.

“What?” Ashur exclaimed when he saw Magnus’s pained expression.

“Whatever it takes,” Magnus managed to say. “We need that witch’s help. Kyan’s in the City of Gold, holding it hostage until Cleo comes to his side.”

“No,” Ashur said, his voice pained. “We need time.”

“There’s no time.” He looked down at Ashur’s bandaged hands. “We’ll use my blood. Or we’ll find a dozen turtles to sacrifice to that woman. But we must be quick about it.”

“The princess should be with us,” Ashur said, nodding grimly.

“I agree. And Enzo’s here—he delivered the message. He has plenty of blood in him to help. Come with me.”

With Ashur in tow, Magnus took the stairs to the second floor two at a time and burst into the room where he’d left Cleo.

All that was in the room was a hastily scrawled note on a torn piece of parchment left on the cot.

I’m sorry, but I have to do this. I love you.

Magnus crumpled the note in his fist and threw it onto the floor. Ashur picked it up and scanned his eyes over it.

“She went to the city, didn’t she?” he said.

Magnus was already out of the room, headed toward the exit to the inn.

He had to get to her before it was too late.





CHAPTER 29


    AMARA


   KRAESHIA




“Let me see if I understand this,” Felix said when Amara was finished explaining everything to him and Nerissa. “Your granny kidnapped Lyssa from right under Princess Lucia’s nose to use her blood in magic potions, and Mikah, the leader of the revolution, is going to be executed at your Ascension ceremony. And you’re not all right with either of those things.”

How could he sound so calm when Amara had just shared so much she felt exhausted from the confession? “That’s right.”

Felix glanced at Nerissa. “I’m going to go ahead and kill her now.”

“Felix,” Nerissa snapped. “Try to think, would you?”

“I am thinking. She’s a proven liar and manipulator, one who uses others for her own gain and their great misfortune.” His upper lip curled back from his straight white teeth as he studied Amara. Amara’s mind flashed to a time not so long ago when Felix had desired her. Judging by the look in his eye, none of those feelings remained. “And the moment the game is up and she has nowhere to limp off to, she suddenly wants to be a hero? How convenient.”

“I’m no hero,” Amara said, refusing to show him any more fear.

She was through with fear and doubt. She had only certainty within her now—certainty that the baby would be returned to Lucia and that Mikah would not die today.

It surprised her how fiercely she clung to the need for Mikah’s life to continue. He was a rebel, one who would kill her in an instant if he got the opportunity, just like Felix.

But what he’d said in the forgetting room—about her grandmother, about Amara’s deluded idea of achieving a peaceful and benevolent world by force and absolute rule.

He’d been completely right.

A man had been right in telling Amara she was wrong.

It was a deeply annoying realization, but that didn’t make it any less true.

“I know what I’ve done,” Amara said. “I’m not seeking redemption for it—I know that’s impossible. But you’re here, and you’re capable of helping me with these tasks.”

“Tasks? You make it sound so simple.” Nerissa shook her head as she moved through Amara’s expansive chambers, brushing her hand along the back of a green velvet chaise. “You’re suggesting we mount an immediate rescue of two heavily guarded prisoners, but we’re only two people. It was difficult enough getting to this wing of the palace.”

“Not that difficult,” Felix growled.

“You will have my full cooperation.” Yet even Amara had to agree that what she proposed would not be simple. “Still, this is my Ascension day . . . so, yes, it will be tricky. Security is doubled throughout the Spear.”

“Oh, yes, excellent plan,” Felix said. “You sending us off for slaughter so we’re out of the way of your shiny ceremony.”

He would not listen to her, no matter what she said. She knew that. But she couldn’t let it stop her.