Page 222 of The Crown’s Temptation

“You lie,” Dali spat. “Iavis loved me. He still does. We will have⁠—”

She threw open her arms. “I wouldn’t waste the effort. But it is me you expected to save your precious love. Not Teorin.”

Nox turned and glared at him. “He is worthless in many ways but if anyone should kill him it should be me.”

“Defending him?" Dali smirked. "You would be humiliated to know that I do not think you have crossed his mind even once since he arrived in Morrath those weeks ago."

Weeks.

He had been here weeks. Why?

The truth arrived instantly.

Asharin. Something must have happened. He brought her here to save her.

Hurt. Devastation. Humiliation. Anger. All of it moving through her at once as she thought of their years together and how easily he had discarded her.

Then confusion. Teorin was Thren. How the fuck was he even in Morrath?

She almost laughed. More lies, of course. Of course he had not even been what he said he was in the end. Teorin Rathmor was only capable of lies.

She moved her attention to Dali.

"What do you want, Dali? When will it stop?"

Dali smiled. "Revenge. When you and every Yorali-blooded Orsin descendant are dead. That is when it will stop."

Nox lifted her hand, determined to deliver a killing blow.

For Aviaryn.

Before she could, a sharp pain hit her chest. She sank to her knees and looked down.

A knife. Through her chest.

Nox almost laughed. She was a feeder. This was weeks of pain, possibly weeks at Kelsey House like Sevrin. Not death.

"You are dead, Nox. I hope you rot."

Nox coughed. She felt herself fade.

You are simply going to faint, she told herself. The world was closing in slowly.

"It is old magic," Dali said gleefully. "Meant to destroy. Meant to kill even those feeders stupid enough to think they are strong enough to beat me." She paused. "Within minutes it will begin to destroy your insides until there is nothing left."

Minutes.

That meant there was still time.

"You will not have min⁠—"

Nox gave it everything. With the last of her strength she hurled her power at Dali and watched her fall into a heap.

I hope this bitch is dead, she thought.

She could feel warmth seeping beneath her. Blood everywhere. The pain inside was not improving. It was getting worse.

Flareboyn, Nox realized. A terrible way to die, because of the paralysis that came before it. You would be unable to move your arms to save yourself. Unable even to end your own misery.