Crown of Cinders (Imdalind Series Book 7) Read Online Free Page B

was needed of me.
    His apology grew deeper.
    Unwanted panic rose up in my chest, bitter as bile. I gritted my teeth as I turned from him, staring into the darkness as Ryland had done before, the same chill of my past running over me.
    Haunting me.
    I knew it was an overreaction. I had faced Edmund head to head. I had prepared myself to kill him.
    And I would.
    But feeling his magic inside of me … “I’d rather gouge my eyes out than feel his magic again,” I said aloud, the grumble of irritation strong.
    You know his magic better than anyone, můj kamarád. Even me. You can see what I might have missed.
    “That seems kind of excessive.” Wyn leaned against the wall I was staring at in an attempt to break my death stare. “Your eyes are far too beautiful for gouging. Take it from someone who has a gouging injury, they hurt. I wouldn’t recommend it. Besides, I have no idea if this gouging is justified because you are doing it again.”
    “Doing what?” I snapped, trying to ignore the shivers of my magic that were vibrating inside me, the hunger to destroy the man in question clear.
    At least the residual panic at the thought of feeling his magic was leaving. I hated when those past scars made themselves known.
    “Secret mind swapping. Again. Pass the Kool-Aid, why don’t you? Then at least everyone can join in.”
    When I pulled my focus away from the nothing, her small, smug face came into view, her eyebrows lifted in playful prodding.
    “He wants me to see if I can find Edmund’s magic inside of her.” I filled in the gaps with a snap, still too frustrated to give into her oddities.
    “Well, then.” All the joy was sucked out of Wyn’s voice now, the playfulness gone again. “Gouge away. Although, I wouldn’t suggest using a Soul’s Blade. Those things sting.” She waved her hand absently before moving away, her short, auburn hair bouncing in the shadows.
    At least Wyn understood how horrifying a proposition Ilyan had put in front of me.
    I know you can do this. Ilyan’s hand was soft against my back as he came up behind me, the weight of his palm strong.
    I know I can, too. It doesn’t mean I want to. As I leaned into him, he turned us back toward the others, the three of them standing in the shadows with differing looks of confusion and anger covering their faces.
    “I cannot feel anything within the void, but that does not mean it is empty. We have all seen Edmund do worse,” Ilyan announced, pulling me closer to him. “I need Joclyn and Ryland to meet with the children to see what information they can glean, what Joclyn can find.”
    “Pass the eye-gouger,” Ryland grumbled, the same darkness taking over his eyes again. “Not that I have anything against this plan, but do you really think it’s wise, Ilyan? You know what Edmund’s magic does to me.”
    “To both of us,” I added with a grumble.
    “And the plot thickens,” Wyn said with a smile, throwing her arm around Ryland and pushing the very shocked Risha out of the way. “I think I need to be there, too, Ilyan. You know, for moral support.”
    “As far as I see it, Wynifred, you are still on probation, so don’t push your luck.” Ilyan’s voice was a snap, but Wyn didn’t seem to mind.
    She waved him off, her eyes smiling as she turned toward Risha, who was obviously not amused with her antics.
    “I rescue the king from a deadly corpse army, and this is my thanks? I might be as despised as Sain made Joclyn out to be. No offense.”
    “None taken,” I said.
    “Wynifred,” Risha began, her voice hard as she attempted to hold the same power Ilyan held over my somewhat out of control best friend.
    Wyn looked at her as though she were a weird teacher’s pet.
    “It’s time you listened to your leader.”
    “Why? Is he going to assimilate me or something? Because I am pretty sure he knows that won’t work.”
    It was all but impossible to hold back a snicker, especially with Ilyan’s hidden laugh echoing inside my