The Sins of Silas (The Otacian Chronicles #2)

by Kylie Snow

“Do not worry about me,” she insisted. “Our paths shall cross when the time is right.” There was a brief pause. “What did Igon tell you before he died?”

I frowned as I recalled his cryptic words. “Yes…he said, ‘Only through fire can the phoenix be reborn from the ashes’…whatever that means.” She groaned in frustration. I nervously drummed my fingertips on my legs. “What is it?” “I don’t get visions like I used to…hardly get them at all anymore. The Queen’s necklace, do you still have it?” I blinked and glanced down, beholding the diamond and sapphire necklace lying against my collarbones. I ran my fingers along the delicate gems, the stones glimmering in the moonlight. “I do…why?” I asked slowly. “That necklace will give you the answers you need…everything…everything will make sense.”

“I cannot bear your kindness. Do not give it to me.”

“I could tell you wore a mask, hiding your true self because you were scared to be her. It was something I related to. But that’s why I enjoyed teasing you…enjoyed pushing your buttons.” I held his unrelenting gaze. “Because I saw her peering through, begging to come out. And I loved every bit of her.” His eyes flickered, and he was the first to look away. Pain knotted in my stomach as reality sunk in. You would've never loved a witch, isn't that right, Quill? …Or is your mask on tight?

In order for a Vampire to successfully turn you, you would need to have your blood drained to damn near empty. The point right before death. Then, a Vampire would feed you their blood, blood that contained an ancient virus. Once that occurred, you would start the change. There was no cure once you got to that point—only death could save you from that fate.

The feelings I felt from Silas were…strange. I didn’t wish to bring that up—especially near his wife.

My lips formed a tight line at the sight of her shy smile. Anger rose in me at this interaction, at this entire situation. “Let us keep our interactions to a minimum,” I muttered, then turned to sit back by the fire. “But sit back down. Do not wander,” I added over my shoulder gently.

carried her to her bedroll. I sat down, bringing Roland’s head to my lap, and began healing once I felt that burning in my palms. Elowen was right; it was almost fully healed. I used my free hand to stroke his cheek and decided I would no longer complain of his incessant flirting or jokes. I would never take any of him for granted again.

This is pissing me off.

I hadn’t gotten Roland's kiss out of my head. To make matters worse, as we were riding on our horse, he’d sneak pecks on my neck when no one was looking. I wasn’t even fighting him anymore, nor was he teasing. We simply wanted one another.

I mean what are we doing here?

“When I left for Ames, I grew sick during my travel. Vomiting, fatigue, I thought I had caught a stomach bug or something.” My hands began to shake, and I quickly clasped them together. “It…It wasn’t until a few weeks into our journey I realized I had fallen pregnant.”

“Quill. His name was Quill.” My eyes then met Roland’s, who, for the first time since knowing him, regarded me with pity. I fucking hated it. “It doesn’t matter though. There is plenty more I have to worry about right now than a man who has surely moved on from me.” I stood up, needing to get the hell out of here. “Excuse me.”

Remembered the night I lost my child. Remembered the night I got my fire.

It wasn’t until morning that I was fully healed. I had fallen asleep at some point. When my eyes finally opened, I turned my head, noticing Torrin was in the room, sleeping soundly on the floor beside me I studied him…this man who cared for me so deeply. And once my eyes lowered, my heart sank. Even though Merrick had used healing magic on him, the wounds were so deep that only Elowen’s magic could’ve healed them fully. I stifled a cry as I beheld Torrin’s left hand, which was now permanently covered in burn scars.

I held Roland’s hand as I stepped off Donut, and he quickly pulled me to his side, the action startling me. The corner of his lip raised as he grazed my ear with his lips. “I can’t wait to get you alone,” he murmured. I shoved him with my hips, a smile creeping over my face. “That is if this goes well. Don’t get your hopes up.” He chuckled, then began to stroll away. His brown hair had grown shaggier the past weeks, and despite the fact we all needed showers, I wanted to run my fingers through it. I hated how attracted I was to the bastard.

“So, what’s your type?” he asked, leaning back in his seat and crossing his arms. His self-satisfied smile was infuriating. Damn him for getting me all hot and bothered. I thought while staring into my second drink. “Tall. Tan. Tattooed. Dark hair.” Silas. Roland. I made an internal decision not to think of who else was my type, whose appearance was different from that of the two Otacian men.

I left with him. We drunkenly stumbled up the steps in the inn, giggling like children as we made our way to his room when we passed Era in the hallway. Her eyes enlarged just as a knowing smile crossed her face. I guess what we were about to do was obvious.

I mean what are we even doing here?

“You can’t actually be surprised that I’m angry.” I let out a shaky breath, my eyes falling shut. The dreamy scent of pine and citrus overwhelmed my senses. If I turned my head even slightly, my lips would graze the inked skin of his neck. “I'm not, Silas…but am I not entitled to feel anger, too?” I whispered. He stayed close for a beat longer, chills spreading across my body at the feel of his breath against my ear. I flinched as his fingertips trailed up my forearm, my chest rising and falling, my eyes squeezing tightly. I wondered if he would keep touching me under this tree…if his hands would find other places. But then he drew away, and I thought I would faint at the lazy smile he gave me—Gods, how I have missed that face. Unlike before, though, his smile didn’t reach his eyes. His smiles never reached his eyes anymore.

“He pleased me even better.” The words tasted foul as they came out, and the flickering of Silas’s expression nearly had me calling my bluff. But his hurt only shone for a moment before he cocked his head to the side. “Then I suppose it’s better for us both that we have moved on,” he said quietly. He turned away, pushing through the hanging willow branches, and Ravaiana, damn me, I wanted to reach for him. But I resisted, even as it ate me alive.

I despised the envy I felt seeing her wear a sapphire blue dress—both of them modeling Otacia's colors. That could've never been my life…I had to remember that. It was inevitable that falling in love with the Otacian Prince would leave me heartbroken. It was inevitable that he would marry a princess…that he would forget me, that he would move on.

ever need to hide down here. No one but the 'royals' know there is an exit passage. They just know of the main area.” I raised a brow. “Yet you told me?” Leroy gave me a half-smile, rotating the amber liquid in his hand. “Your seer told me of you.” My eyes flared, my head pulling back. “What did you say?” “Igon Natarion. He stopped in Forsmont a few months ago, telling me about a woman named Lena Daelyra. How she would be replacing him.” His eyes fell on his drink. “I didn’t realize he’d meant he would be dying.”