: Chapter 57

I’m frozen in place. Too much has happened.

Little Nora lies in the leaves, motionless. Sinna is clutched in the arms of a soldier. A tiny stream of blood runs down her neck, and she squeals. My chest clenches. There are blades in my hands, but his dagger is too close to her throat. A dozen arrows and crossbows are pointed at us.

On the ground, Lia Mara is gasping. “Please,” she says. “Please.”

“No more magic,” the soldier says. I recognize him. Ander, from one of the regiments stationed at the palace. I’ve recognized a lot of them.

Many in the palace conspire against the king.

Yes, Nakiis, I see that now.

“Drop your weapons,” Ander says.

“Mama,” whimpers Sinna.

“Let the princess go,” I say.

He must squeeze Sinna, because she squeals. More blood drips down her neck.

“Tycho,” gasps Lia Mara. “Tycho, do as he says.”

I don’t want to. If they’ve taken the royal family, they’ve taken Syhl Shallow.

If the king had his full power right now, all of these women and men would be eviscerated where they stand. I’m not as fast as Grey when it comes to magic, but I feel the stars in my blood, waiting for a command.

Ander narrows his eyes. “Now, Tycho.”

“I’ve fought at your side,” I say to him. “You’ve fought at the king’s side.”

“He turned his magic against our people,” he says. “There’s a reason Emberfall’s king slaughtered them all.”

Sinna whimpers.

“Sinna hasn’t done anything wrong,” I say. Somewhere behind me, I hear Callyn speaking tearfully to Nora. “You’ve already killed one child. The Truthbringers always claim to want the best for the queen. Her daughter—”

“Our queen married a magesmith,” says Ander.

“Da,” Sinna screams. Another stream of blood appears beside the first. “Da, help me.”

“He’s coming,” Lia Mara gasps. “Sinna, he’s coming.”

But he’s not coming. He’s not here.

These were impossible odds before we even got here. I knew. The king knew.

I think of the power Nakiis helped me pull out of the air. I think of the magic the rings allowed me to do.

I feel those stars spin in my blood, ready for action. I’m not practiced with large-scale magic. I’m not practiced with much more than healing.

But maybe that’s all I need.

“Put her down,” I say to him. “This is between you and the king. He came, just as you asked. Let Sinna and the queen go.”

“We’re not letting anyone go,” he says. “We’re ending the line of magic right here.” He jerks Sinna’s head back, and she cries out.

I drop my weapons and leap for him, magic flaring in my hands.

I don’t know if I’m going to be quick enough. Strong enough. Skilled enough. But I grab hold of his wrist just before he can use that blade. I send my magic right into his skin. Taking apart instead of putting together. The bones of his wrist begin to snap, just as a crossbow fires. Ander shouts, and I try to grab hold of Sinna. Instead, I feel the bite of the arrow. My magic dies. Sinna screams.

Again, I’m going to fail.

But then an inhuman screech splits the air.

Followed by a dozen others.