Chapter Fifty-Nine
CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE
Scarlett
The gown was a masterpiece. With a fitted bodice and crimson tiered skirts, it made me feel like the empress Zandri had always intended me to be. Tilting my head to admire the seamstress’s work, I was reminded of the old stories – back when the Sorceress roamed the earth, enchanting and punishing mortals as she desired.
And I would have to be every inch the ruthless Sorceress today, if I had any hope of seeing this through.
‘I finally managed to get you out of black,’ Lillian said appreciatively.
‘And into Ravalian colours,’ I said, with a practised twist to my bottom lip – as if the red and gold bothered me.
‘Well,’ Lillian said with forced lightness, ‘it’s not for long.’ The seamstress motioned towards the vanity mirror with a delicate hand. ‘Take a seat. I’ll fix your hair.’
I followed the instruction, fighting to conceal my impatience. Every second I remained in Lillian’s presence was a risk – albeit a calculated one. Thankfully, I had spent months observing Mira. So long as I took care with my words and expressions, there was no reason for Lillian to become suspicious.
Still, it was hard not to react to the oddness of seeing Mira’s features reflected back at me in the mirror.
The top half of my dark hair was twisted into a bun, the rest straight down my back. Though the attendants had done a decent job, they had left out one crucial detail.
I tensed when Lillian reached for the hair stick, cursing myself when she paused. The seamstress frowned at the object in her hands, which was more like a blade than simple ornamentation. But she slid the hair stick through my bun without further hesitation.
‘Stunning,’ Lillian pronounced. ‘The court would have been envious.’
I nodded but didn’t reply. I crossed over to the window without speaking, relieved to leave my cousin’s reflection behind. It brought up too many memories – uneasy reminders of what could have been.
But it was too late for doubts now. I had already ensured that Aric would be at the wedding – and that Mira wouldn’t. There’s been a change in plans, I’d told her – a lie I’d practised until it sounded natural even to me. The breakout is going ahead sooner than expected; Jadis wants you down at the docks. Aric and Lillian are there already.
Mira hadn’t even questioned it. Somehow, that was the hardest part – how easily she had put her trust in me.
‘You’re doing the right thing,’ Lillian said, in that irritatingly earnest voice of hers. ‘I know it might not feel like it, Mira, but you are. And I’m so proud of you.’
My shoulders stiffened as I gazed in the direction of the city – where colourful crowds would be packing the streets, waiting eagerly to hear the wedding bells toll.
‘We should leave now,’ Lillian continued, ‘before someone comes to check on you. It’s almost time for the ceremony to begin.’
‘I know,’ I said, but I didn’t turn. ‘Go to the carriage and wait with your brother. I’ll be right behind you.’
‘We agreed to leave together.’
‘There’s one last thing I have to do first.’
‘For once , Mira,’ Lillian pleaded, ‘just keep things simple. We don’t have time to—’
A knock sounded at the door. Before either of us could say, ‘Come in,’ it opened.
The prince presented a striking image, his crimson outfit contrasting perfectly with his light hair and solid gold crown. Lillian acknowledged his arrival with a deep curtsy, but he ignored her. His dark blue eyes were fixed on me. For once, they were absent of the petty hatred I associated with my younger brother.
Because this wasn’t my brother.
Lillian shot me a worried glance, but the moment I threaded my arm through Zandri’s, my nerves disappeared. As we made our way through the halls and down the central staircase, I felt the stirrings of triumph. This was what it felt like to be united with my mother – this thrilling sense of certainty. Of power.
And I knew that together, we could do the impossible. We could claim an empire.
The towering doors groaned open, and there they all were: the nobles who had sneered at my face and whispered behind their hands. The throne room was filled with my father’s sycophants, all eager to watch his latest victory unfold.
Instead, they would bear witness to mine.
Amongst the gathered resistance soldiers, I caught a glimpse of Aric – his horrified gaze fixed on me and Lillian. I tensed, wondering if he would do something noble and idiotic – like try to stop the wedding.
But Aric believed that Jadis had trusted him with a monumental responsibility: coordinating the diversion that would allow Darius to be freed from the dungeons. He wouldn’t risk the entire operation, and Mira and Lillian’s lives, by acting impulsively. No – even now, I could see him recalculating, turning to murmur something to the rebels around him.
I would just have to hope that Aric waited to act – long enough for me to do what was necessary.
I watched as Lillian reluctantly took her place on the dais, alongside the other bridesmaids. I hadn’t intended to involve her in any of this, but Lillian’s presence added further legitimacy to my masquerade. Once this was done, no one would have reason to doubt Mira’s treason – and I couldn’t afford even the slightest shred of doubt. Mira had become my enemy the moment I had donned her face, and she would have to be dealt with as ruthlessly as anyone else who posed a threat to my survival.
Trumpets rang out, announcing our approach. Zandri’s grip tightened on my arm, filled with unspoken warnings. Both our lives hung in the balance now.
Still, I found myself smiling as I passed the Maesteri delegation, instantly recognisable in their fine blue-green tunics. I wondered how many of them – if any – would survive the carnage and return home to their prince. The prince I would never have to marry.
All too soon Zandri and I were climbing the dais steps, to where the emperor stood in front of his throne.
‘We are here,’ he began, ‘to witness a joining between my son, Prince Cassius Valerian, and his fiancée, Princess Kasmira Volaris. A marriage that will unite not just man and woman, but also Kalure and Ravalia.’
I knelt in front of the throne and angled my head down. Bowing before my father one last time.
Emperor Kalias was still speaking, but his voice was unimportant. White noise.
I didn’t pay attention until I heard the final word: rise .
I straightened, staring into my father’s cruel face. He had allowed me to keep his name, but he hadn’t done it out of kindness. He had never valued me – not as anything more than a way of controlling Zandri and securing a useful alliance through my future husband. But I had learnt from him all the same. I had always been a better student than his sons.
Kalias reached for my hand, as the ceremony dictated. For a brief, sentimental moment, I allowed the contact, imagining that the touch was one of affection.
Then I took my father’s wrist and twisted .
With a howl of pain, the emperor fell to his knees. In a single, lightning-fast action, I removed the hair stick from my bun—
And stabbed him through the neck.
I had hoped for clarity to enter his eyes. For him to look past Mira’s face and into mine, finally understanding everything I was capable of.
But there was only shock. Only blood gurgling from his lips as he raised a hand to try and stem the tide of blood—
Someone screamed. And then the entire crowd was screaming, panic spreading through the onlookers like a forest fire.
‘The emperor!’ The shout rang out from the guards. ‘Protect the emperor!’
It was too late. I knew that already, even before I tore the thin knife from my father’s carotid artery. Blood splattered across my face as he collapsed against the tiles. An emperor brought down by a hair piece.
It was almost laughable.
The emperor’s personal guard launched themselves forward – only to be met by Warriors loyal to Cassius. Zandri had recruited many of the prince’s supporters for this, and his men were butchering her a path through the gathering. I saw my mother – still disguised as Cassius – lingering to ensure that I followed safely. Her eyes glittered, revelling in the carnage.
I took a step towards Zandri when one of the emperor’s guards broke through our defences.
His approach was too quick, too unexpected – there was no time to reach for a weapon, and I had no death magic left to save me. Ten metres away, Zandri’s lips parted in wordless shock.
‘No!’
Blonde hair whipped across my face as Lillian pushed me to the side. There was an instant of dizzying pain as I hit the tiles. Glancing down, I expected to see blood darkening my bodice, but I was unharmed. Somehow, I was unharmed.
I looked up in time to see the Warrior drive his sword, hilt-deep, into Lillian’s stomach.
Rushing to Lillian’s side, I caught her and almost crumpled under her weight. I lowered her to the ground, frantically pressing my hands against the wound – a useless attempt. Red soaked the front of Lillian’s golden dress, spreading rapidly.
‘Hold on,’ I pleaded. ‘Just hold on.’ I looked desperately around me for Zandri, but I couldn’t see her amongst the chaos.
Lillian coughed blood, shivered, but tried to smile. ‘I love you,’ she whispered. ‘Mira.’
Her eyes fluttered closed.
It was Lillian who had died, but somehow, I was the one who couldn’t breathe.
Guilt was such a messy, unpleasant emotion.
‘She’s gone. There’s nothing you can do for her.’
Tattooed hands tried to tug Lillian free, but I didn’t let her go.
‘Scarlett,’ Severin said again, firmer and more insistent, ‘you can’t stay here. Zandri's forces have cleared a path through the hall, but it won’t hold.’
Those words were enough to make me raise my head. But rather than focusing on the protective ring of steel that had formed around us, my eyes locked with Severin’s. Part of me couldn’t believe he was here. I hadn’t been sure whether I would see him again after our conversation on the battlements, and now . . .
‘I never wanted this to happen.’ My words came out like a plea. A plea for him not to hate me.
Severin didn’t answer immediately. ‘I met Lillian on Aldara. She shone as brightly as a flame.’
The ending he’d spoken of. The one he’d Seen during his time at the Elusive Isles . . .
‘You knew,’ I realised. ‘You knew that Lillian would die to save me—’
‘I warned you there would be deaths.’ His voice was soft but not gentle. ‘Beyond that, I’ve learnt not to try and actively change the things I See. Often, it leads to even worse consequences.’ Severin frowned slightly, and I wondered whether he’d Seen me die, if Lillian hadn’t intervened. He reached for Lillian, scooping her body into his arms – just as the clash of swords drew closer. A glance past him showed me that our Warriors were still holding, the path to the exit still clear. For now. ‘I’ll make sure she receives a decent burial.’
‘No,’ I said, and my voice was sharp. ‘Take her body to the crypt.’
‘Scarlett—’
‘I don’t want to hear your warnings.’ I reached for the knife that had killed the emperor, clutching it with bloody hands. ‘Consider this an order from your future empress.’
Severin nodded, but his face remained serious. ‘Remember, Scarlett,’ he said, before turning to descend the dais steps, Lillian’s body still cradled in his arms. ‘Some fates should not be changed – and all magic has a price.’