Page 163 of The Blood Rites

His jaw ticks. For once, he looks like he doesn’t know what to do with me. “I want—”

He sighs.

“—you to survive.”

I want to believe that’s possible.

Vaelis cuts in. “How will that work?” he says, monotone. “Luceris’ survival is not part of the plan. Neither is mine. Nor Nyxen’s. The only outcome we planned for is your victory.”

He looks to Kael for confirmation, but Kael seems reluctant to give it.

Vaelis’ eyes are blank as he recites. “The plan is simple. Eliminate the Fireborn. Eliminate the Lightborn.”

Kael’s eyes widen, but he doesn’t speak.

I chuckle a little. “Like I’m an obstacle.”

Nyxen finally speaks, voice low. “You’re not an obstacle. You’re a liability.”

That hurts. Not the words.

Him.

The man who asked me to stay at Kael’s side.

“The very fact you have survived this far only jeopardises the Prince’s life.”

For a second, I wonder if anyone has ever told me the truth.

Kael glares at Nyxen, rage clouding his eyes, but he doesn’t refute it.

I look at Vaelis. He is clearly the calculation behind all this. “How do we do this, then?” I ask.

He cocks his head, as if surprised I’m not resisting. “Fireborn first. Atheron first if possible, but Serraith will likely sacrifice himself. That’s his role.” He ticks the names off on his fingers, like they mean nothing. “Once they’re dead, you’ll be next.”

“No,” Kael says.

Not loud. Not angry.

Absolute.

Vaelis continues anyway. “Then Nyxen and I will resolve the matter between ourselves, as has been agreed, and Kael will be left to claim his Crown.”

“And if I refuse?” I ask, quiet.

Vaelis smiles, thin and empty. “The Mother Shard will not allow the cycle to go unfinished. All must die, barring one. That much is absolute.”

Nyxen nods, the smallest gesture, and the itch under my skin flares. Like the Mother Shard is agreeing too.

Kael looks at me, and his dark eyes are pleading, but he doesn’t say anything. His fingers clench and unclench, as though he is one loose thread away from unravelling.

For a long moment, no one moves. I think about Marissa. Then I nod. “Fine. Works for me.”

Kael makes a strangled sound, but I don’t look at him.

“No grand rebuttal?” Nyxen asks.

“Only a condition.” My voice sounds dead even to me. “I get to kill Atheron.”