a line along his brother’s throat and dripping to the ground.
Tiernan’s chest heaved from his quick breaths. He parted his lips and hissed, spittle flying from his mouth. “I hate you.”
Nicholai blinked. Rage clouded his mind. His hand gripped the dagger so hard his hand shook.
“You were always father’s favorite.” Tiernan pulled his arm from under his back, the dropped dagger in his palm.
He slashed Nicholai’s forearm, the deep cut sending a sharp pain into his hand. His favorite weapon fell from his grasp, slid over Tiernan’s shoulder, and clattered on the stone floor.
Nicholai grabbed his brother’s wrist, and the two fought for the fated dagger. Wrestling like dogs, they came close to the edge of the crevasse.
Tiernan rolled one too many times, coming to a stop with his legs dangling over the edge. He stilled then his body relaxed against Nicholai.
With heavy breaths, Nicholai looked at his brother. The tip of the dagger protruded from Tiernan’s chest.
What have I done?
His brother’s body began decomposing, his fingers and arms turning to sand. The gilded dagger lay nearby, and Nicholai kicked the offending weapon over the side.
The edge of the crevasse brought back the memory of his love. A fear so great squeezed his chest, making it difficult to breath.
“Leonna.” Nicholai kneeled and peered over the cliff. Where was she? Blackness enveloped the space like the vastness of the universe without any stars.
The sound of quick footsteps approaching made him turn.
Macion raised his hands. “I want to help. I’m not here to fight you—Prince.”
Nicholai turned to face the blackness. His greatest fear manifested itself in his gut. He’d lost Leonna, his love. He was responsible for her death. A wave of dizziness engulfed him. He couldn’t move. Memories of Rand and his demise at the hands of the Gossum flooded his mind.
Nicholai’s heavy breaths were the only sound in the still air.
Macion placed his hand on Nicholai’s shoulder. “Step away from the edge. It’s not safe.”
Nicholai’s body was as immovable as stone. A heavy weight descended on his shoulders, pinning him there like nothing else could. His marking for courage faded. The thin line burned as the circle disappeared under his skin. He truly was a failure.
Chapter Eighteen
Nicholai couldn’t breathe. His mind fogged. Kneeling at the edge of the crevasse, he stared into the empty space. Leonna—she’s gone.
“Nick, move back, away from the edge.” Macion placed his hand under Nicholai’s arm and pulled. “Let me help you.”
Riveted to the floor as if he were made of stone, Nicholai remained frozen. Leonna—she’s gone.
“I’m going to get help. Be right back.” Macion’s footsteps receded.
The quiet enveloped Nicholai. He didn’t know how long he knelt there on the edge, his only focus on the loss of his love. I never told her how much she meant to me. Regret dug a hole in his heart, picking at the organ until anguish was all he felt. He closed his eyes and accepted the pain. Leonna—she’s gone.
The Keep rumbled. Tiny bits of rock and dirt rained down on Nicholai’s head.
A soft whimper pierced through the fog in his brain. He tensed and opened his eyes.
The low moan grew louder.
Adrenaline surged through his veins. He jumped to his feet and peered over the edge. Blackness greeted him, along with the slight scent of honey. “Leonna!”
A small avalanche fell from inside the crevasse. Rocks pinged against the walls, but there was no indication they ever hit bottom.
“Ow. Ow.”
“Leonna. Don’t move.”
“Ni…Nicholai? Where am—”
Her panicked cry echoed from the chasm. “Nicholai, the ledge, it’s giving way.”
Fear clawed at his soul. A coldness he’d never experienced before chilled him. His feet wouldn’t move. She’d die unless he helped her.
The few sunstones lining the walls brightened to a radiant glow. Her eyes reflected the light, and the
Tiernan’s chest heaved from his quick breaths. He parted his lips and hissed, spittle flying from his mouth. “I hate you.”
Nicholai blinked. Rage clouded his mind. His hand gripped the dagger so hard his hand shook.
“You were always father’s favorite.” Tiernan pulled his arm from under his back, the dropped dagger in his palm.
He slashed Nicholai’s forearm, the deep cut sending a sharp pain into his hand. His favorite weapon fell from his grasp, slid over Tiernan’s shoulder, and clattered on the stone floor.
Nicholai grabbed his brother’s wrist, and the two fought for the fated dagger. Wrestling like dogs, they came close to the edge of the crevasse.
Tiernan rolled one too many times, coming to a stop with his legs dangling over the edge. He stilled then his body relaxed against Nicholai.
With heavy breaths, Nicholai looked at his brother. The tip of the dagger protruded from Tiernan’s chest.
What have I done?
His brother’s body began decomposing, his fingers and arms turning to sand. The gilded dagger lay nearby, and Nicholai kicked the offending weapon over the side.
The edge of the crevasse brought back the memory of his love. A fear so great squeezed his chest, making it difficult to breath.
“Leonna.” Nicholai kneeled and peered over the cliff. Where was she? Blackness enveloped the space like the vastness of the universe without any stars.
The sound of quick footsteps approaching made him turn.
Macion raised his hands. “I want to help. I’m not here to fight you—Prince.”
Nicholai turned to face the blackness. His greatest fear manifested itself in his gut. He’d lost Leonna, his love. He was responsible for her death. A wave of dizziness engulfed him. He couldn’t move. Memories of Rand and his demise at the hands of the Gossum flooded his mind.
Nicholai’s heavy breaths were the only sound in the still air.
Macion placed his hand on Nicholai’s shoulder. “Step away from the edge. It’s not safe.”
Nicholai’s body was as immovable as stone. A heavy weight descended on his shoulders, pinning him there like nothing else could. His marking for courage faded. The thin line burned as the circle disappeared under his skin. He truly was a failure.
Chapter Eighteen
Nicholai couldn’t breathe. His mind fogged. Kneeling at the edge of the crevasse, he stared into the empty space. Leonna—she’s gone.
“Nick, move back, away from the edge.” Macion placed his hand under Nicholai’s arm and pulled. “Let me help you.”
Riveted to the floor as if he were made of stone, Nicholai remained frozen. Leonna—she’s gone.
“I’m going to get help. Be right back.” Macion’s footsteps receded.
The quiet enveloped Nicholai. He didn’t know how long he knelt there on the edge, his only focus on the loss of his love. I never told her how much she meant to me. Regret dug a hole in his heart, picking at the organ until anguish was all he felt. He closed his eyes and accepted the pain. Leonna—she’s gone.
The Keep rumbled. Tiny bits of rock and dirt rained down on Nicholai’s head.
A soft whimper pierced through the fog in his brain. He tensed and opened his eyes.
The low moan grew louder.
Adrenaline surged through his veins. He jumped to his feet and peered over the edge. Blackness greeted him, along with the slight scent of honey. “Leonna!”
A small avalanche fell from inside the crevasse. Rocks pinged against the walls, but there was no indication they ever hit bottom.
“Ow. Ow.”
“Leonna. Don’t move.”
“Ni…Nicholai? Where am—”
Her panicked cry echoed from the chasm. “Nicholai, the ledge, it’s giving way.”
Fear clawed at his soul. A coldness he’d never experienced before chilled him. His feet wouldn’t move. She’d die unless he helped her.
The few sunstones lining the walls brightened to a radiant glow. Her eyes reflected the light, and the
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