Zyphira.
Emmery’s mind became a racing, spinning wheel toppling out of control as her heart banged against her ribcage, both dull and sharp. First, the sting of Zyphira’s abandonment hit, her heartbreak likely evident on her face, because she’d trusted the Oracle and she’d left. Forsaken her like everyone else. But maybe she’d been here all along, unable to come to her aid.
How was that possible? Zyphira existedinsidethe Divide. Or maybe the Oracle’s body had rested elsewhere. Emmery supposed it had to. But why was she here? And, most importantly, how? While Emmery’s thoughts sank deeper and deeper, she wondered if Shade might be in the same place. That he, too, was trapped and his soul wandered the Divide in search of her.
Their stares collided across the room, hers unwavering and brave and Emmery’s a twisted mix of crumbling confidence and crippling fear. Her eyes seemed to say,this is all part of the path, though Emmery couldn’t think of a single way it could be. Her restraints bit into her jerking body as she lunged from the chair towards the Oracle, the only person who had ever offered her answers and guidance. And now she was being taken away.
“Let her go!” Emmery bellowed. She may as well have been an ant waving its fists in anger as her words went unacknowledged.
Zyphira shook her head at Emmery and that same look flashed through her mind. The wild red curls breaking free of the braids she’d made, the weights tied to her limbs, those wide whiskey eyes so full of a medley of unfathomable bravery and acceptance of death—
It was the same look Maela had before she was cast into the water.
Emmery’s heart rose in her throat, her chest aching for all the Oracle had done for her. Had she sacrificed herself to see Emmery? To reveal herself from where she had hidden in the Divide one last time?
Zyphira sneered at Thellonius. Ropes bound her arms and legs behind her back though she stared down the evil man and his glinting crown. The dark gleam in Thellonius’s eyes made Emmery fear she might vomit up what little remained in her stomach.
“For your crimes against the Goddess of the Eternal Sky. For conspiring against the true ruler,” he said, savouring the words, “you have been sentenced to death. May the afterlife withhold mercy on your blackened soul and cast out your worm-eaten heart.”
She met his dark stare and lifted her chin as if she could touch the stars. “You may take my life, but you will never have my dreams. You shall find the deepest pits of darkness at your end, Thellonius.”
Emmery wanted to scream. To do something. To fuckingmove.
Thellonius drew his sword from his belt, a wicked jagged thing with toothy, serrated edges, as if its best use was sawing off the heads of innocents. Emmery thrashed at her holds, but it wasn’t time.
Not yet.
She couldn’t take them all now, especially with Briar and Callias still tucked away somewhere. She attempted several deep breaths even asher racing heart threatened to explode.
Though she knew it was selfish, she glanced at the door, wishing Dez would burst in with his daring stare and unfettered confidence. That he would save her. Save all of them. Because as much as she knew he wasn’t, she had convinced herself he was invincible. That he could do anything. But there was a reason she kept him away. She wouldn’t let him in Thellonius’s sight.
As Dez’s father stalked toward Zyphira, revelling in the Oracle’s frigid glare, Emmery couldn’t help herself. The words crawled up her throat and claimed every ounce of her self-control, because she was so damn helpless, and she’d promised herself she never would be again.
“No,” she growled, finding her voice. “No. No, no, no! Stop—STOP!”
Zyphira caught her gaze one last time. Held it as the blade kissed her throat.
“THELLONIUS!” Vesper’s rage filled voice called out beside her. Emmery stared at his wide, wild eyes unlike any she’d ever heard.
Thellonius sighed and turned to him.
Vesper met his stare, maybe to distract him, to try and stop this, to waste time because it was almost sundown. She wasn’t sure.
But Thellonius stalked over, expertly spinning his blade in his hand as if with each turn he invented a new way to carve into Vesper’s skin. Thellonius stopped in front of him and cocked his head.
“You’re afuckingcoward,” Vesper snarled. He spat on the ground, and there was—oh gods, a distinct red tinge tinted his saliva, like he bled internally. “I hope you burn in the deepest pit of the Hollow. I hope Deimos feasts on your fears and makes fucking macramé with your tendons. Cages with your bones. And if Deimos doesn’t do it, I fucking will.”
The threat didn’t faze him. And, to Emmery’s surprise, he threw his head back and laughed. Fuckinglaughed, like a deranged psychopath.
Then he kicked Vesper square in the face and sent him toppling backward in the chair. His head smacked against the hard floor with a crack.
Emmery’s breath stuttered, and she choked out his name, wanting to reach for him. But a creature hauled Vesper up before Thellonius had reached Zyphira again.
There was no stopping this.
Thellonius replaced his blade at the Oracle’s neck.
Emmery’s lungs seized, but she refused to look away, refused to give him the satisfaction, or leave Zyphira alone as she faced this.I’m with you,she wanted to call out but her voice failed.