“Mellinor,” her voice broke as she said the spirit’s name. She looked at him, her eyes so full of hatred Eli couldn’t help but hate himself along with her. “My spirit is dead, and it’s all your fault!”
Eli cringed as her voice hit him and bumped into the wall behind him. She had him cornered. There was nowhere to run.
“Everything is your fault,” she said, her voice breathy and raw. “You could have stopped this at any time, couldn’t you? Mellinor wouldn’t have had to fight, wouldn’t have had to die if you weren’t hiding in here like a filthy, selfish coward who won’t lift a finger to—”
Eli moved in a flash. He dropped, reaching out with both hands. The first grabbed her head to hold it still; the second covered her mouth, stopping her voice.
“That’s enough,” he said.
Miranda tore away from him and lashed out with her fist. Her swing caught him by surprise, and he didn’t have time to move before her punch landed in his ribs, her sharp rings digging into his skin. He let her go, falling back with a grunt as he clutched his side. Miranda stood over him, panting as she raised her fist again.
“That’s not nearly enough,” she said. “I can’t believe you’re Master Banage’s son. You have all the power in the world, but you’re too selfish to use it for anything other than taking what other people have worked for. You know nothing of duty. You don’t even know what it means to be a responsible wiz—”
“Shut up!” Eli shouted. The anger in his voice shocked them both. Eli stared at her a moment and then dropped his head to his hands. “Powers, Miranda, do you think I wanted this? I never wanted to be a star. Look at the Empress. Does that look like the kind of power it does the world any good to have?” Eli shook his head. “I hate it. I hate the way the world turns over and shows its belly to that woman. I hate the way everyone has to dance on her string, even the Immortal Empress. I’ve spent my whole adult life trying to get away from her, to make my own way on my own power. To make my life worth something, even if it’s just a bounty.”
“You think your bounty makes you worth something?”
Eli sucked in a tight breath. He couldn’t see her face from where he was sitting, but he didn’t have to. He could feel her disgust bearing down on him like a weight.
“It’s nothing,” Miranda said. “Less than nothing. All that matters is action, Eli Monpress. If you’re sitting on your power, if you let Mellinor die just to keep your self-worth. If you’re going to let the Empress put her boot on every spirit on this continent all to save your pride, then you are even worse than I thought you were.”
He heard the floor creak as she turned away.
“You’re not worth a drop of Mellinor’s water,” she said, her voice thick with hatred and loss. “But what more could I expect from a thief and a con artist and a selfish, irresponsible—”
The list went on and on, and Eli sat on the floor and took it. He couldn’t even argue with her anymore. She was right. He could have stopped this. He could have saved her spirit, saved Josef’s men, saved Karon, saved everything, but he hadn’t. He’d sat there and let it happen all because he couldn’t stand to go back. Couldn’t stand to let that woman win.
But I have won, love.
Eli sucked in a breath. He shouldn’t have been surprised, he thought bitterly. Of course she would be here. She was always here.
I told you I’d win in the end, Benehime said. He could feel her now, kneeling beside him just on the other side of the veil that separated the spirit’s world from her white nothing. After all your valiant efforts, this is your reward, known forever far and wide as the man who doomed a continent to keep his pride. She made a tsking sound. You’ve let everyone down—your father, Josef, Nico, even Miranda, who never expected you to be anything more than a thief. But I’m different. I will always treasure you, darling star. I love you more than anything else in this sad, tiny world.
The skin of his ear began to tingle as Benehime’s lips pressed against it through the veil. Look at the wizard girl. Her loss is already suffered, but hers can be the last. You can still save things. All you have to do is stop being stubborn. Give in, embrace your position as the favorite again, and you can be the hero. Her voice fell to a shivering whisper. Come home to me, Eliton, and everything will be put right. I swear it.
And just like that, Eli gave up.
He stood in one smooth motion, and Miranda stumbled back, surprised out of her tirade.
“What do you think you’re doing?” she shouted, glaring at him with red-rimmed eyes.