Page 34 of Lethal Souls
Her thick braid flips over her shoulder as she looks back and spots someone trailing the shoreline. A smile graces her lips when she sees its Korah.
“Should I follow, your majesty?” Milandra asks, looking from her queen to the queen’s sister.
“No. Give me just a moment.” Standing, Hassha makes her way to her sister with a broad smile. “Every time you leave this island, I think you won’t come back,” she says as Korah approaches.
“A part of me wishes I hadn’t.” Korah huffs a laugh. “I only went for a fly. Needed some air and to restore my energy after leaving Blackwater.”
“Willow. Is she okay?”
“Yes. But she’ll want Warren’s ashes.”
Hassha looks away, focusing on the ocean that’s now dark blue. “That can be arranged.”
“This will tear her up inside when she feels it again,” Korah says. “If I could just tell her?—”
“Korah, please. We’ve gone over this, and it’s not the wise thing to do right now.”
“But she’s already lost so much, Hassha,” Korah counters. “Other than Caspian, she has no real family left, and prior to this, all she knew was life on Earth. If she knows her true history, maybe she’ll feel like she has a purpose outside of being someone’s mate.”
“It’s too risky,” Hassha declares. “And you and I both know she can’t gain anything from the truth unless you…” She can’t bring herself to say it. She won’t say it.
“Unless I die,” Korah fills in for her.
“Exactly. And you won’t be dying this soon, so it’s useless to tell her. I know you have an attachment to her, and I know dealing with Warren was hard, but it was that or we all would’ve been sacrificed.”
Korah nods with mild reluctance.
“Let her create her own life,” Hassha goes on, taking her sister’s hand. “She’s a smart girl. She’ll find her way out of the misery.”
“And if she doesn’t? If she winds up just like the sad boy she’s with?”
Hassha says nothing, though she’s thought about it. It’d be a shame for the last Cold Tethered couple to eliminate themselves…but it would spare a lot of their headaches.
“Hassha, once she’s gone, so is Caspian,” Korah says. “There is no replicating her or any more of the Cold Tethered children after their deaths. We agreed that when Yuri selected his chosen, this would be it. If Caspian dies before he’s prepared, Yuri will have sacrificed himself for nothing.”
Hassha contemplates that, purposely avoiding her sister’s eyes.
“I really don’t get how Mother did this on Earth. It’s an awful burden being in control of everyone and everything.”
“A burden we must protect,” Korah responds.
“If things get worse, you can tell Willow everything,” Hassha says.
A high-pitched scream splits the air.
Hassha gasps, turning to face the line of trees surrounding the village. Milandra is already running toward the sound.
She glances at Korah before both of them take off to the village.
But what they see is completely unexpected.
TWENTY-ONE
REGALS
Lilith, one of Hassha’s own, has murdered three women.
The handle of a bloody spear is locked in her hands, her eyes blood red, and foam dripping out of her mouth. Her skin has turned gray, black veins crawling up her arms and neck.