Vela Heartwhisper's Arc

Chapter 15 of 25

The silver-skinned figures faded into the dark. Vela stood alone with an empty palm. Her name was safe now, logged as true. But a scream still cut through the ferns behind her. Scarlett fought Severin alone, and Severin no longer wanted the charm. He wanted Lysander. If he took the king's right hand, Vela's only ally at court would be gone. She ran back toward the rocket. Scarlett lay in the ferns, one wing bent under her. Severin was gone. Fresh tracks pressed into the moss, heading toward the castle. "He left me," Scarlett said. "He said he had someone better to catch." Vela's stomach dropped. Severin had turned for Lysander. Vela's three-eyed dogcat bounded from the trees, ears flat. It sniffed the tracks and howled. Vela followed it through the fungal forest, her heart pounding. The dogcat led her to the flat rocks outside the gate. There Lysander crouched, silver hair loose, his heart-marked chestplate catching the moonlight. He had a knife out and a calm face, but his hands were too still. "You shouldn't be here," Vela said. "Neither should you." Lysander didn't look up. "He sent a message. Meet him alone, or he burns the east yard. The king's rocket." He finally met her eyes. "He knows what Benbenek loves." Vela grabbed his arm. "It's a trap for you. He wants to take you, not the yard." "I know." Lysander's voice dropped, quiet and flat. "So I'll go. He follows me instead of the king. That's the trade." "No." Vela pulled him back. "We don't trade you. We take him first." A branch snapped. Severin stepped from the ferns, sword low, glasses flashing. "How touching," he said. "The spy and the fraud." He lunged for Lysander. Vela moved without thinking. She shoved Lysander aside and threw the dogcat's collar-light into Severin's face. The beam blinded him. Lysander struck the sword from his hand. It skittered across the flat rocks and its glow died in the wet moss. Severin scrambled for it. Lysander was faster. He pinned Severin against the rock and pressed the knife to his throat. "You wanted the king's right hand," Lysander said. "You found it." Severin froze. His hand crept toward a vial at his belt. Vela crushed it under her boot before he could grab it. Green smoke hissed and died. Severin had nothing left. The castle warriors arrived with torches, drawn by the dogcat's howling. They bound Severin's wrists and dragged him toward the gate. He twisted once to look at Vela. "You saved him tonight," he spat. "You can't guard him forever." Vela didn't answer. Lysander stood beside her, breathing hard, alive and free. Her ally still held his place at court. She had kept the one person who could help her protect the king. But Severin's words stayed with her. He had failed. Someone would come after him. And the king still didn't know how many enemies wanted his heart.