Page 163 of Autumn Queens & Shadows

“Paid a visit two nights ago to a little winter witch who might or might not have been putting a few little dreams in Iskyla’s head these past few weeks.”

My brother stood up straight, eyes wide and no longer amused. “You involved a ten-year-old in your plans?”

“Lilith is the only one whose craft can penetrate through the Isline magic. I had to make it believable for the queen. A sign here and there. An odd talisman. Talking shadows and trees. I had to make her believe that she was God sent. Give her ego a little power trip to beat the fear of facing Thora one to one in front of both kingdoms, and ultimately lose in front of them, too. The only way this needs to end.”

“Except that she isn’t facing her one to one.”

“One or a thousand, she can do it.”

“What if she can’t?”

I stood. “She can. Don’t doubt her. I don’t like that.”

My brother smirked. “Apologies,” he said, picking some lint from my jacket. “I presume you will be there. To watch, of course.”

“I will. To watch, of course.”

Kilian stepped before me as I was about to step outside of my room. “You can’t take control of yourself by destroying yourself before anyone else can. You can’t take control of yourself by breaking your own heart before anyone else can, brother. Fix this. Try and stay to fix it.”

“I’ve already given away that power, but I think it’s too late. She doesn’t even want a chance to break it anymore. She is holding my heart in her hands, not knowing what to do with it.”

“It doesn’t have to be goodbye.”

“Goodbyes are just goodbyes until you fall in love with the person who gives you one. From her it was a death sentence, Kil. She already gave me my judgement. I am not to be spared.”

My brother looked taken aback. “So, it is like that.”

“It has always been like that, you blind fucker.”

King Edric’s grave was an entire underground tunnel maze made of encased cement coffins holding around five thousand of his finest soldiers who had given their lives to serve their first king even in death. The thick craft pouring out of the entrance was unfamiliar, ancient, and one of the most powerful barriers of magic I’d come across. Deceiving, too, because it was nothing physical. Whoever went in there surely returned with all limbs, but without their mind intact.

Cai plopped on a rock just outside the entrance and leaned back, closing his eyes. “Be done quickly. I want to see the fight. If Rora will even allow them that.”

Thora wouldn’t. That was the issue. By luring Iskyla into suggesting the duel, I’d forced her to face what she didn’t want to face—showing the true extent of her might. She didn’t want that. She’d been determined not to show that side of her ever again.

There was only one way Thora could remain powerful in the Isjordian eye without showing the full extent of her power—without losing herself in the process.

If a powerful king crowned her.

The most powerful king Isjord had before Thora.

Their first king who’d been the one to crown his first successor and banished the other. The only king who had ruled both parts of Isea, over both of its people. The only king who both sides would bow to as one, as they had only once done before. Hundreds of years ago.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Nia asked, throwing a snowball at Cai and wincing at the bitter colour and scent of craft wafting from the gates. “Thora’s control on her magic can almost surpass Snow’s. Doesn’t matter if there will be ten or ten thousand Krigborn coming to face her today, she will wipe their existence out of this realm without moving a single finger.”

“They are Krigborn, they will play dirty, and she is determined not to. Even if she wins, this will go on forever. Today it’s them, who knows who will challenge her tomorrow,” I lied.

“Then we worry about that tomorrow.”

“I can’t worry from afar.”

“You’re not leaving, Mal.”

Throwing her a grin, I backed towards the gates. “I’ve always known you love me just a little.”

She rolled her eyes. “Don’t let your idiot bones be chewed by some mummified corpse. I’d hate to tell that story to your brother.”

Cai chuckled. “I wouldn’t.”