Heir of Pendel (A Pandoran Novel, #4) by Barbara Kloss

Author:Barbara Kloss [Kloss, Barbara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-04-30T23:00:00+00:00

25

DARIA

I turned the brooch over in my hands and my stomach growled. Actually, to say it growled is a massive understatement. It sounded as if there were a small animal dying inside of it, and it was so loud I was surprised Myez hadn't woken.

After our talk, Myez had slumped onto the floor, not quite snoring, but not breathing silently, either, and he hadn't stirred since. I had the feeling it had been a very long time since he'd slept so soundly. A cleared conscience had that effect on a person.

Which was why I couldn't sleep—at all. Between the rain's constant pattering and Myez's deep breathing, my mind would not shut off. I kept thinking about all the things Myez Rader had said and all the things Lord Cethin had shown me, but most of all I kept thinking about Stefan. Stefan, my paranoid, legalistic brother who never did anything wrong. Stefan, who never had a hair out of place or a protocol out of mind. Stefan with his huge dimples and bright eyes. Stefan with his willingness to help me, to be a friend when the rest of this world had snubbed me. Stefan, who had loved me no matter what anyone had said, who had done everything he could for me, who hadn't used me as a pawn. Stefan, whom I'd verbally assaulted, but loved oh so fiercely, and now he was gone and the worst part of it was I didn't know if he knew how much I loved him. How much I hurt. It should have been me, not him. I was the one Eris wanted, not Stefan. I should have been the one in that room. I should have been the one Eris murdered. Maybe then Stefan would have been spared.

And Alex…

I squeezed the brooch. Where was he? Ever since we'd landed in this valley, it was as if the cord linking me to him had been severed. I reached out to him, but it was like trying to move a phantom limb. He just wasn't there. I couldn't sense him anywhere, and his absence made me feel even more alone. I hoped the fact that I couldn't sense him was a result of this place and not because something bad had happened to him. If anything happened to him…

My next breath trembled. If only I'd accepted the offer when Danton had first made it a month ago. Orindor would have been there to help Valdon and then maybe Eris wouldn't have invaded so easily. If only I'd gotten over myself sooner, maybe Stefan would still be alive. And if only I hadn't entered the games and instead followed the rules my father had set, maybe my father would be alive, too. If, if, if, if….

Ifs were going to beat me up until I died.

Considering the way things are going, that might not be a very long time.

Thanks for that, Conscience. I can always count on you to pin me down when I fall.

But what now? Myez seemed to think my brooch would lead us to dragons, but there were no dragons here.

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