ChapterFifty-Four
When I first met Praxis all those weeks ago, I didn’t know I would grow to care for him so much. Then, he was just the Bloodstone barbarian I healed because Hector believed I could. As time passed, I saw Praxis’ goodness. His compassion. His hurt.
He didn’t deserve to lose Briley, nor did he deserve to lose his life because of me. That’s the third time someone has tried to murder me. It was three times too many.
After the first attack, I thought someone wanted to prevent the Bloodstone from using me to get their magic back. It was the reason Malachi was sent here.
Maybe the person who wants me dead has no idea the Bloodstone no longer need me to go to the cave of reflection.
It’s possible.
Anything is possible.
I let out a sharp breath and sink closer to Hector sleeping next to me.
“What is it?” Hector asks, his voice groggy with sleep.
Over the last few days, he has silently grieved for his cousin. Hector doesn’t have to cry or say the words. They are written into the plains of his face. His agony. His sorrow. His anger.
“Sol?”
I shake my head, the words lost against my tongue.
The mattress dips in as Hector shifts next to me. “I have increased the guards in the streets of Karra.”
“Three people have tried to harm me. Three!” I ball my left hand into a tight fist. “I thought we were safe so far in the Bloodstone mountains.”
“Nowhere is safe. Safety is just an illusion.” Anger lashes from Hector’s words. Though, it’s not directed at me. It’s directed at everything that has happened. Everything he has lost. Like Praxis, his grandfather, and his uncle.
“We caught the person who killed Praxis,” Hector says after a moment.
I gasp and draw back enough to meet his solemn expression. “You did? Why didn’t you say anything sooner?”
“I’m telling you now.”
“Surely, you got the truth out of him?” I ball the fabric of my nightdress between my fingers, needing it to be true.
“We did, and we now know why you were being attacked.” Anger seeps from Hector’s words.
“Why?”
“There is a mark on your life.”
The bed creaks as I gasp and sit up in the bed.
Torchlight skims Hector’s taut features as he clenches and unclenches his fist. “I should have known sooner. I should have…”
I try to compose myself, to ask Hector to explain further, but my voice catches in my throat because I know the truth. It’s as plain as if Hector stands up and shouts the words.
Father told me to hide my serpent mark. Malachi told me it would kill me.
Now, a Kyanite has placed a mark on my life.
I shiver and wrap my arms around my body. Hating that it has come to this. Hating that there are Kyanites who dislike my mark enough to want me dead.
It’s the only thing that makes any sense.
All I ever wanted was to live my life in peace and to be a healer. Of course, that was my dream before Mother died. A lot of things changed after that.
