Prologue

PROLOGUE

Cassandra

" I -I can't do it," I say, dropping the crown and dagger onto the floor, staying still as they bounce on the wood before settling. The sounds of dragons roaring, swords smashing against each other, and screams can be heard outside. Yet, the room is eerily silent in a way. Queen Riah keeps her eyes locked with mine, not blinking, not moving. She is like a doll, no fear showing in her eyes as I face her with a dagger. Not even when it is clear that I came here to kill her. Her lips mumble something, but it's nothing that I can make out as actual words. I watch her lean down and picking up the crown, a glow floating up her arms.

"You must let me die. You have to save the future, you have to save the sea, Cassandra," she insists. It's the most I've ever heard her speak. Maybe the crown is giving her some power that she is able to use to speak to me normally. To be able to get past the damage that has been done to her by a man she once loved and trusted.

"You're their mother, and I love them. I can't do this to them," I say, taking a deep breath. While I need to be strong, to be emotionless, I'm not. I can't do this, and it will cost me everything.

"You love my sons. They are your chosen," she says, and looks down at the crown for a long while. I don't answer her, she knows the answer, anyway.

"They are fighting the king now, with my other chosen and my army. They don't know I'm here, or what I came to do," I explain to her, hating that I had to make this decision without them. And I still couldn't do it.

"They wouldn't stop you. It's time that I died, and you will be able to send my evil chosen after me. I will make sure he pays in death. His soul will burn with the god of souls in hell," she exclaims, and I believe her completely. I can see the determination in her eyes. She looks up, her eyes so much like Ryland's as she smiles when her mouth parts in shock. She coughs, blood trickling out of her mouth, and I look down to see the end of a long dagger jutting through her stomach.

"Finally, I get to be with my chosen," she murmurs as the dagger is pulled out. "Not that they ever really left me," she whispers as the light in her eyes fades, and her soul leaves her body. She falls suddenly, and I catch her, holding her to me as I look up and see who has killed the queen.

"You . . . . How could it be you?"