always am with the wretched newblood.
“Would you like the burden, Mare Barrow?” Jon replies, lowering himself down so we sit side by side. He smiles sadly. “I didn’t think so.”
I shudder beneath his crimson attention. “You told me I would rise, and rise alone,” I mutter, repeating the words he spoke so long ago, in an abandoned coal town half shrouded by the rain. That was my fate. And I’ve watched it become truer with every passing day. When I lost Shade. When I lost Cal. But also in the steady detachment, the cold hand that seems to worm itself between me and everyone else I love. No matter how hard I try to ignore it, I can’t help but feel different, broken and angry, and therefore alone. With only one person left who truly understands. And he is a monster.
I lost Maven too. The person he pretended to be, the friend I loved and needed when I was so alone and so afraid. I’ve lost so many people.
But I’ve gained many. Farley, Clara. My family is still with me, safe but for Shade. Kilorn, never wavering in his loyalty and friendship. I have the electricons, newbloods like me, who prove I am not alone. Premier Davidson and all he hopes to do. They outnumber everyone I’ve lost.
“I don’t think you were right,” I mumble, half believing the words. Next to me, Jon jolts, his neck cracking as he looks at me sharply. “Or has that path changed too?”
Even though I hate his eyes, I force myself to stare into them. To look for a lie or the truth.
“Did I change it?”
He blinks slowly. “You changed nothing.”
I feel like elbowing him in the throat, or the gut, or the skull. Instead I slump backward, tipping my head to glare at the sky. Jon watches, chuckling a little.
“What?” I snarl, eyeing him.
“Rise,” he murmurs, pointing to the valley thousands of feet below. Then he points to my chest. “And rise alone.”
This time I bat his arm weakly, wishing I could inflict more hurt on the seer. “I know you weren’t talking about climbing a mountain,” I growl. “‘No longer the lightning, but the storm. The storm that will swallow the world entire.’”
He just rolls his shoulders and looks out to the range again, his breath steaming in the cold air. “Who knows what I was talking about.”
“You do.”
“And I’ll keep that weight to myself, thank you very much. No one else needs it.”
I scoff. “You act as if you enjoy lording our fates over us.” Chewing my lip, I weigh my chances again. A hint from him could be infinitely valuable, or damning, throwing me onto a path of his choosing. I simply have to take the chance, and consider what he says with a mountain of salt. “Any more choice words, little nudges, you might condescend to give?”
The corner of his mouth lifts, but his eyes waver, almost sad. “Your friend is better at fishing than you.”
Cold air whistles down my throat as I inhale sharply. “What do you know about Kilorn?” I ask, my voice climbing an octave. Kilorn is no one to Jon, no one to grand movements of kingdoms and fate. He shouldn’t take up an inch of space in Jon’s head, not in comparison to the thousands of dangerous and horrible things he does keep in there. I move to grab his arm, but he shifts neatly from my touch.
His red eyes stare, like twin drops of blood. “He’s the catalyst for all this, isn’t he? For your part in it, at least,” he says. “The poor friend doomed to conscription, with only you to save him.”
Jon’s words are slow, methodic. Deliberate. Giving me time to put together the pieces of this part of the puzzle. I try not to know, try not to accept what is staring me in the face. I want to kill him. Smash his head against the rock. But I can’t move.
“Because he lost his apprenticeship,” I say, trembling. “Because Kilorn’s master died.”
“Because Kilorn’s master fell.” It isn’t a question. Jon knows exactly what happened to Old Cully, the fisherman my best friend used to serve. A simple man, gray before his years, just like the rest of us.
Tears fill my eyes. I’ve been a puppet for too long, even longer than I thought possible. “You pushed him.”
“I push many people, in many different ways.”
“Did you push an innocent man to his death?” I seethe.
Something switches in him, like a lamp
War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 1 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 2 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 3 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 4 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 5 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 6 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 7 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 8 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 9 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 10 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 11 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 12 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 13 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 14 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 15 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 16 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 17 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 18 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 19 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 20 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 21 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 22 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 23 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 24 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 25 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 26 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 27 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 28 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 29 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 30 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 31 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 32 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 33 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 34 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 35 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 36 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 37 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 38 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 39 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 40 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 41 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 42 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 43 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 44 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 45 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 46 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 47 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 48 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 49 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 50 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 51 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 52 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 53 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 54 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 55 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 56 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 57 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 58 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 59 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 60 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 61 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 62 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 63 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 64 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 65 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 66 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 67 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 68 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 69 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 70 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 71 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 72 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 73 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 74 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 75 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 76 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 77 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 78 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 79 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 80 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 81 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 82 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 83 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 84 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 85 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 86 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 87 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 88 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 89 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 90 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 91 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 92 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 93 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 94 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 95 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 96 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 97 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 98 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 99 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 100 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 101 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 102 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 103 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 104 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 105 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 106 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 107 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 108 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 109 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 110 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 111 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 112 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 113 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 114 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 115 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 116 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 117 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 118 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 119 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 120 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 121 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 122 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 123 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 124 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 125 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 126 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 127 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 128 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 129 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 130 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 131 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 132 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 133 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 134 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 135 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 136 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 137 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 138 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 139 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 140 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 141 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 142 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 143 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 144 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 145 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 146 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 147 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 148 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 149 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 150 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 151 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 152 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 153 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 154 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 155 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 156 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 157 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 158 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 159 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 160 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 161 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 162 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 163 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 164 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 165 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 166 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 167 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 168 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 169 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 170 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 171 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 172 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 173 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 174 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 175 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 176 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 177 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 178 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 179 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 180 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 181 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 182 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 183 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 184 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 185 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 186 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 187 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 188 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 189 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 190 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 191 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 192 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 193 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 194 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 195 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 196 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 197 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 198 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 199 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 200 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 201 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 202 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 203 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 204 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 205 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 206 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 207 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 208 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 209 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 210 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 211 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 212 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 213 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 214 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 215 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 216 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 217 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 218 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 219 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 220 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 221 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 222 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 223 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 224 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 225 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 226 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 227 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 228 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 229 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 230 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 231 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 232 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 233 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 234 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 235 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 236 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 237 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 238 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 239 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 240 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 241 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 242 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 243 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 244 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 245 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 246 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 247 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 248 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 249 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 250 War Storm (Red Queen) - Victoria Aveyard - Page 251