Monsters & Rebels (A Legacy of Monsters Book 2) by Stephanie Dunham
Author:Stephanie Dunham [Dunham, Stephanie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-10-17T00:00:00+00:00
Chapter
Sixteen
Something was missing. Eyes still closed, Kierra mentally checked her body. Every limb was intact, so why did it feel like someone had ripped away a vital part of her?
Her muscles throbbed, and a low metallic simmer clung to the airâthe taste of magic. She groaned, pushing herself up with a slow, steady movement that sent her black curls tumbling over her shoulders.
The dizziness sheâd anticipated didnât come.
Fendrel leaned against the wall, fingering his dagger as he studied the clean blade with the greatest interest.
Where was Baldric? Heâd come, hadnât he? She tested the edges of her memory, waiting for what was obviously missing to return. She remembered . . . pain, incredible pain.
And . . . what else?
Fendrelâs attention remained fixed on his weapon.
âBaldric?â she croaked.
âDead. Well,â he caught himself. âAs good as dead.â
Dead. She mouthed the word. Baldricâs scheming face rushed to the forefront of her memory. Sheâd helped Fendrel break free. Terrible exhaustion to the point of paralysis, her laying helpless on the floor . . . it all returned in a clear picture.
âI thought youâd be happy,â she said.
The dagger dissolved in his hands. âWhy would I be happy?â The question was biting.
Kierra straightened, curving a loose strand of hair behind her ear. âYou hated him.â
âDoes that mean I must rejoice in his demise?â
âYou won.â Her brow creased in confusion.
He hissed. âYou say that as if it dictates happiness.â
âDoesnât it?â For so long, sheâd craved that exact thing. She wanted to succeed over her motherâover Dimas. Fendrel had hated Baldric. His displeasure didnât make sense in the least. âI donât understand.â
âOf course, you donât. How could you? Do you really think so little of me that I would take pleasure in destroying a life, even if they deserved it?â Disgust twisted his smooth features as if the thought tortured him.
âSay it.â Kierra crossed the circle, smudging the chalk. âYouâre holding back. Just say what youâre thinking.â
Fendrel rounded on her and for the first time she noticed how much taller than her he was.
âI saved your life, yet you will throw me away the first chance you get if Iâm perceived as a nuisance. I could make every sacrifice for you, but you will stubbornly cling to some lesson you mistakenly drew from Diedra. She taught you not to trust, therefore you trust no one.â
The unfairness of his assessment stung, but only because it struck home.
âDo you think I like being this way?â she said, running her hands through her hair in an attempt to calm herself. âDo you think I like looking in the mirror and seeing her? I loathe that woman above everyone, yet I am cursed to see her all the days of my life. If that was all she left me with, then it would be a mercy, but I was not so lucky. She has ruined me and I am left with the pieces. I am who she made me to be, and I hate that.â
âThen choose something different!â Fendrelâs scream reverberated off the walls.
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