The obsidian sails of the Black Leviathan billowed high, catching the wind as it carried us farther and farther away from the cursed land of Verelen.
Cassian all but collapsed into me the moment he saw me, throwing his arms around my shoulders just like he had when he once risked sneaking into my chambers at the Verelen palace, only to make sure I wasn't hurt.
In my fourth lifetime, I had accused him of plotting to assassinate the royal family. I believed he was conspiring with Dylan to overthrow me, just like the main storyline had outlined. I dismissed all of his explanations as weak excuses and lies.
But the truth was, every secret meeting between Cassian and Dylan had been to plan how to eliminate the corrupt officials within the court, those who were genuinely trying to kill me.
The memories lost with each rebirth had made me forget that I no longer played a side character in Aurora's tale. I was Davina now. The real protagonist.
"You're injured… again."
