“Of course,” he said in a quiet voice. “I think you’ve earned our loyalty by now, my lady.”
I tried to smile. “Start organising transportation to the blackthorns. They’re in desperate need of water.” I yawned. “I’m wrecked, Rafe. Organise a party for everyone, but Rumble and I need to rest.”
“Oh, before I forget,” he said, “a package came for you from the Green Court. It’s in your room.”
“Grim must have discovered something. Thanks, Rafe. I’m glad you’re here. It looks like everything went smoothly while I was gone.”
He bowed. “Surprisingly so. I believe Levin has news for you, too, but we can talk more tomorrow.”
I left him and went upstairs to have a quick soak in the bath. My tension left me in the water, and the reality of the situation finally sank in. We had accomplished so much, but there was so much more to do.
I headed back to my room. It felt empty without Scarlet and our entourage. On the bed lay a long, thin package with an envelope sealed with green wax. I opened the envelope first. It was just a short note.
In case I don’t get another chance.
B.
Puzzled, I opened the box. Inside was a slim silver bracelet set with green and black stones. In the centre was one large scarlet ruby. All of the colours of my world. I ran my finger across the bracelet, my eyes filling with tears. That was a goodbye if ever I saw one.
I replaced my frayed fabric bracelet with Brendan’s gift. He understood me more than most did. And he had the sword of victory—he would be okay, no matter what happened. Drake had the stone, while I possessed a spear that looked like a prop from a vampire film. I checked the locked box under my bed. The spear was still there.
Some spear. I lifted it and squeezed my hand around it. The wider end was encircled by a band of brass while the pointy end was covered in black webbing. When I let go, a black handprint appeared on the wood and disappeared just as quickly. Maybe I should have taken the spear with me on our mission. Maybe then my heart wouldn’t be so dark.
Two pieces of jewellery were in the box with the spear. I hadn’t been able to bear wearing them. I couldn’t be a queen while I wore Darragh’s old medals and the locket my mother had given me. I opened the locket and gazed at the old picture of my brother and me. If he could only see me now. All my good intentions had been twisted into something dark and nasty.
I put on the necklaces and locked the spear away to keep it safe. How was I going to explain to Setanta that his mother was banished? The woman who had helped put me on the throne had thought nothing of murdering children to keep her son’s prize. Maybe she had been following my lead. I felt ill. If I had been a better queen, none of those things would have happened. My mind was clearer than it had been in months. Things had to change. I had to make them change.
Sighing, I picked my cloak up from where I had dropped it. My best times in the faery realm had always been when I was on a journey. And the last journey had been interesting. I smiled as I remembered MacKenzie’s ridiculous proposal. And Yvette’s—the library. I had half forgotten the scrap of paper I'd found there.
I read it again, a few random words about a golden mirror with a trapped reflection—something that had misled Sadler and me and led us straight into a chaotic path. And I knew what I had to do to change that.
I left my bedroom and found a sledgehammer in one of the areas that was being repaired. I headed back up to the old treasure room in the tower. The mirror was there.
“You’re the one that’s poison,” I whispered.
The reflection immediately shifted. It showed me a sinking boat, a drowning king, a bed full of blood, and—
I closed my eyes before it could show me any more death—before I grew foolish enough to be led astray again. I didn’t need a manipulative mirror to tell me my future. I made my own future.
I hefted the sledgehammer as music from the party began, and I smashed the glass to pieces. With each strike, the mirror screamed in the voices of my friends, but I had no mercy. The mirror was darkness, and it had to die.
A god was next on my list.
Thank you for reading Blight. The final instalment in the Chaos series is due for release in October 2015.
For more information, check out Claire Farrell’s blog or email the author. Sign up to the newsletter to be notified of new releases and receive occasional coupon codes for free copies, or like the Facebook page for more regular updates.
Sacrifice
A king’s life hangs in the balance.
A kingdom is almost lost.
Time is running out as truths are revealed.
And a sacrifice lies at the end of every path.
Books by Claire Farrell:
Chaos Series:
One Night with the Fae (Free Companion Prequel)
Soul (Chaos #1) – Free
Fade (Chaos #2)
Queen (Chaos #3)
Usurper (Chaos #4)
Ava Delaney Series (Completed):
Thirst (Ava Delaney #1) – Free
Taunt (Ava Delaney #2)
Tempt (Ava Delaney #3)
Taken (Ava Delaney #4)
Taste (Ava Delaney #5)
Traitor (Ava Delaney #6)
Awakening (Ava Delaney Volume I – Books 1-3)
Uprising (Ava Delaney Volume II – Books 4-6)
Lost Souls Series:
Tainted (Ava Delaney: Lost Souls #1)
VBI Series:
Demon Dog (VBI #1)
Cursed Series (Completed):
Verity (Cursed #1) – Free
Clarity (Cursed #2)
Adversity (Cursed #2.5 – Free
Purity (Cursed #3)
Cursed Omnibus (Entire Cursed Series)
Stake You Series (Completed):
Stake You (Stake You #1) – Free
Make You (Stake You #2)
Break You (Stake You #3)
Short Story Collections:
Sixty Seconds
A Little Girl in my Room
Other:
Death is a Gift (A standalone banshee novel)
Zombie Moon Rising (A Peter Brannigan Novella)
Ghost Moon Rising (A Peter Brannigan Novella)
Upcoming Releases:
Tethers (Ava Delaney: Lost Souls #2)
Sacrifice (Chaos #6)
Claire Farrell, Blight
(Series: Chaos # 5)
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