The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King (Crowns of Nyaxia, #2)

by Carissa Broadbent

He laughed humorlessly. “I told you that you should have let me stay dead.” “And what about that? Would that have been worth it?” Another question I immediately knew I shouldn’t have asked. Another wound, another stab of pain. “To die, rather than killing you?” he said quietly. “Yes. That would have been worth it. Even I had to draw a line somewhere. And you’re the line, Oraya.”

But then again, that was our entire relationship. He’d raised me to look at the bars of my cage and call them trees.

“I’d spend a lifetime at the tip of your blade, and it would have been worth it.”

“You have nothing but me,” I said. “And yet, you’d let me go?” “I have nothing but you,” he murmured. “So I am letting you go.”

They will never respect you unless they fear you, little serpent, Vincent whispered in my ear. Show them something to be afraid of.

“Oraya!” Raihn’s scream cleaved through the air, even through the sounds of a kingdom falling. I forced my eyes open to see smears of blurring color. He was diving down after me, wings spread, covered in blood, a single hand reaching out for me. Something about this image looked so familiar, and then it clicked—the painting of the Rishan man falling, one hand outstretched. I’d always thought he was reaching for the gods. He was reaching for me. Everything went black.

It takes me a minute to recognize the sensation in my chest. Pride.

Afraid of you and what you could do to me. Afraid of the world that could kill you so easily. Afraid of myself, gifted with another fragile heart that I know I cannot keep. But, my little serpent, it is the most wonderful fear. Every minute with you is, even if I already regret all the mistakes I know I will make.