Chapter 21 · The Throne Knows My Name

The throne said my name again, and every bone in my body tried to run without me.

"Mara Vale."

The voice came from the thing built out of bones, black roots, and old silver nails. It sounded like my mother. Not close enough to be a memory. Close enough to make my stomach turn.

Ronan grabbed my wrist. "Don't listen to it."

"Bit late for that."

Black fire crawled under my skin. It ran from my palm to my shoulder, hot and sharp, like somebody had shoved a live wire into my veins. My silver eyes reflected in the throne's polished bone. They didn't look like mine anymore.

Behind us, Nia coughed.

I twisted around. She was on one knee beside the sealed black gate, one hand pressed to her side. Blood had dried across her fingers. Ronan had shoved her behind him when Drake came through, but she was still pale enough to scare me.

"Nia, stay down."

"I'm trying," she rasped. "You keep doing insane things. It's hard to concentrate."

"Good. Keep complaining. Means you're alive."

Drake laughed from the other side of the chamber.

He had one hand wrapped around the black crown.