“Poppy has Ascended to her godhood—”
“She hasn’t completed the Culling,” Millicent interrupted. “But when she does, my sister will give our mother what she’s wanted since she learned that her son was dead.”
“Revenge?”
“Revenge against everyone.” Millicent leaned in, placing a hand by my knee. Her voice dropped to a whisper. “And she doesn’t want to remake the kingdoms. It’s the realms. She wants to restore them to the way they were before the first Atlantian was created. When mortals were subservient to the gods and the Primals. And that—that will destroy not only the mortal realm but also Iliseeum.”
Shock rippled through me. “And you think Poppy will help her do this?”
“She won’t have a choice. My sister is destined to do just that. She is the Harbinger foretold.”
“Bullshit,” I snarled. “She—”
“Remember what I told you before? Our mother isn’t strong enough to do such a thing. But she created something that was. Penellaphe.”
Cold air poured into my chest. “No.”
“It’s the truth.” Her features pinched, and I saw it for a moment before her eyes lowered. Sorrow. Deep, endless sorrow. “I wish it wasn’t because I know that no matter what I do—what anyone does—the Queen will succeed. Because you will also fail.”
I leaned as far as the chain allowed. “Fail at what?”
Millicent lifted her gaze to mine. “At killing my sister.”
I jerked back against the wall, barely registering the burst of pain along my back.
“Penellaphe will complete her Culling soon.” Millicent rose. “Then, her love for you will become one of the very, very few weaknesses she will have. You will be the only thing that can stop her then. If you don’t, Penellaphe will help end the realms as we know them, causing millions to lose their lives, and subjecting those who survive to something far worse. Either way, my sister can’t survive this. She will die in your arms, or she will drown the realms in blood.”
Chapter 27
Poppy
I paced the bedchamber the following afternoon, the meal one of the less-chatty Handmaidens had brought in devoured only because I couldn’t afford to weaken.
Another white gown had been brought in with the food. Opting to wear what I had the day before, I’d destroyed the gown with a spark of eather. I shouldn’t have used the essence for such a childish thing, but the momentary joy it had brought was hard to regret.
Every so often, I sent the double doors a glare. I hadn’t seen or heard from the Blood Queen since they’d returned me to my chambers the evening before. I’d stayed in this damn room, only because I didn’t want to risk Kieran’s and Reaver’s safety in addition to Casteel’s.
I’d checked in with Kieran through the notam, letting him know that both Casteel and I were okay. He was relieved, but through the connection, I knew he had his doubts about Casteel.
I had doubts, as well.
My touch would’ve only brought him a few hours of relief—if that. Maybe not even that long. All I could do was pray that he’d been given blood and food. That healing those injuries had given him a longer reprieve.
I’d desperately tried to sleep. To reach Casteel. I hadn’t been able to. The room was too quiet and too big. Too lonely and too familiar. Too—
I stopped myself.
None of that would help. What would, was focusing on what came next, which was what I’d been turning over in my mind for hours. Our plan had been to get into the capital and free Casteel and my father. That was still the plan. Except we’d been technically captured, and I didn’t know where my father was being kept if not here.
I would have to force Isbeth to tell me where he was when I came back for him.
I hated that—utterly loathed the idea of leaving Ires behind. But I had to get Casteel out, and soon.
Because he was not well.
I’d healed what injuries I could, but he was teetering on the edge of bloodlust and at risk of losing parts of himself. I couldn’t allow that to happen.
Searching out Kieran’s unique imprint, I found the cedar-rich sensation.
Liessa?
A wry grin tugged at my lips. Don’t call me that.
My Queen, instead?
I sighed. How about neither?
His chuckle tickled its way through me. What’s going on?
We need to get out of here.
There was a pause. What are you thinking?
We need to get to one of the Temples. Casteel has to be held somewhere near there. Underground. I paced by the window. We have the spell. Once we find the entrance to the tunnels, we can use it. It’s what we’d need to do next that I’m not so sure about.