Queen of Thieves

chapter 31

Alice felt a terrible numbness settle over her.

She had only felt this way a handful of times in her life; it was like when you stepped in boiling bath water, and for just a second, the liquid felt like it was freezing. So hot that it was cold. She had practically memorized the prophecy now, knew exactly how it went, and the last line slotted in perfectly:

Child, child of the night

With heart as black as coal

Your little sister calls to you

Each must play their role.

Child, child of the light

With heart so right and true

Kiss your sister with a blade,

Lest all this age will rue.

Two is an unnatural force,

Nature must right its course,

Judgement day is drawing nigh

Child of Light, you must die

She looked around the room. "You all knew about this, didn't you?"

Cirdrissa was scratching at her leg, avoiding Alice's eyes. Lamir's expression was unreadable. Bea looked guilty. Only Des was looking at her, his expression like a thundercloud. "You see?" he said tightly. "This is why you can't go."

Alice pressed the button on her gear, letting the scales of metal climb over her arms and legs, and Des's brows drew together.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm preparing to fight," she said calmly.

"But—" He stared at her. "Didn't you hear what I just said?"

"Yes." She started fastening the buckles on her arms. "I'm going to die tonight." Saying the words felt surreal. "I need to get to Zelda and Zayn before I do."

Des went white. His hands were shaking with carefully restrained fury, and for a moment, Alice thought that he might actually hit her. Lamir clearly had the same thought, because he took a step forward to grip Des's shoulder.

"Des," he said quietly. "Let her go."

He shook free of his hand. "She's not leaving this room."

Alice's lungs felt like they were being squeezed by elastic bands. She couldn't even look at him; last night, she had to strip back years of insecurities and fears to be with him. And he had been lying to her the entire time.

"I'm going," she said.

He jerked forwards, reaching out to seize her arm. "Alice—"

She looked at him coolly. He blinked in confusion, staring down at his hand, as if he couldn't process the fact that she was still standing where she was a moment ago; only now, Alice thought irritably, his fingers were digging into her bicep.

"Yes?"

He frowned. "I thought you were upset with me."

"Of course I'm upset with you," she said flatly. "But I'm hardly going to go charging off into battle without saying goodbye, am I?"

Honestly.

Men were so dense.

He searched her face. There was a new desperation in his eyes, as if he was trying to commit each freckle to memory. "Don't do anything stupid," he murmured. "Or reckless. Or brave."