Chapter 7 · The King's Last Choice

"My father picked this out of the blood pool beneath the throne."

Mira dropped the broken blade into my palm. The metal was jagged halfway down, as if something had chewed through it. Three towers over a crescent moon still marked the hilt.

I knew that crest. I'd seen it in dreams that never felt like mine.

"Where's the rest?" I asked.

"Still in the king's chest, I'd guess." Mira leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. "Unless someone pulled it out before they burned the bodies."

Carson's hand closed around my shoulder.

I flinched and shook him off. "Don't."

"We're leaving."

"No." I turned on Mira. "You said your father was there. At the palace. Tell me what he saw."

Her eyes narrowed. "So you can decide which lie to tell next?"

"So I know what the hell I'm supposed to do with this." I lifted my wrist. The control ring glowed faint blue against my skin. "You want proof I won't run? Fine. But I need the real story. Not whatever Carson's been feeding me."

Carson's jaw flexed. "I haven't lied to you."

"You haven't told me shit either." I faced him.