FAE KING OBERYN POV
The fake witch's shadow poison hit me like a truck.
I crashed through the ritual room wall, my wings torn and bleeding. The stone collapsed around me as I rolled to a stop. Pain shot through every part of my body.
"Oberyn!" Aria screamed from inside the room.
I could hear the Shadow Lord laughing. His voice bounced off the walls like nails on a chalkboard.
"The mighty Fae King," he mocked. "Look how far you've fallen."
I tried to push myself up, but my arms wouldn't work. The poison was spreading fast. I could feel it burning through my blood like fire.
This wasn't how I wanted to die.
For three thousand years, I'd ruled the Fae world. I'd seen countries rise and fall. I'd watched humans discover fire, create the wheel, and build cities that touched the sky.
But I'd never felt pain like this.
The worst part wasn't the drug. It was knowing I'd failed everyone who counted on me.
