One thing was for sure. Grimdidhave a secret. And if even the idea of it being revealed produced this much anger, Isla was afraid to know what it was.
Just Oro and Cleo were left.
This was the last trial.
The king had won the duel and the demonstration of power. Cleo had won her own trial and Celeste’s.
They were tied.
Whoever won this one would decide the matches the rulers would break into. The decision was important. Because of the first rule, a ruler could not kill the person they were joined with. The choice would force alliances, guide their search for the meaning of the rest of the prophecy, shape the rest of the Centennial. Perhaps even decide who would be targeted to be killed.
Oro’s gaze was unrelenting as he stared down the Moonling, daring her to reveal her secret. And for a moment, Isla thought she might.
But, thinking better of it, Cleo sent the glass to the ground.
The king had officially won the trials.
His eyes were lifeless as he stared down at his first cup, and said, “I.”
He let it fall to the floor.
The second. “Am.”
For the third, he looked up and caught Isla’s eyes. He frowned a bit, as if disturbed his gaze had shifted her way. But he did not look away as he spoke the third and final word of his greatest secret: “Dying.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
PAIRED
The king was dying. What did that even mean? Chaos erupted at his confession, but he said nothing more before sweeping out of the room. Claiming his win.
It was a secret that affected them all.
Oro’s life-force was directly correlated with the island’s. Did that mean Lightlark was at risk?
He was the strongest of them. An Origin, who was Starling, Skyling, Moonling, and Sunling combined. Ifhewas dying ...
What hope did the rest of them have?
Isla heard a soft knock at her door, far past midnight.Celeste.
The Starling hurried inside, looking as if she had seen a ghost.
“That was close” was all she said.
Isla’s stomach dropped, remembering the words printed in her cup. She imagined Celeste’s were nearly the same.
“I know.” She frowned. “Thank you. You shouldn’t have to protect me like this, but—thank you.”
Celeste waved her thanks away, as if it was nothing. But it wasn’t nothing. The only way Isla could ever repay her friend for the risk she was enduring on her behalf was to find the bondbreaker.
“What do you think it means?” Isla asked.
The Starling seemed to know immediately she meant the king’s confession. She shrugged. “I’m not sure. But it’s reason enough for us to hurry up and find the bondbreaker so we can get off this island.”
She was right. Once they were free of the curses, they could be free of Lightlark. The king’s death wouldn’t affect them or their realms.
But there were even more factors that rushed their already limited timeline. And complicated their plan.
