The Canticum Duology, 2
Their love awakened a legend. Now it may be the only thing that can stop him.
After their Joining unleashed the feared SongSlayer, Ember and Phoenix are torn apart by war, betrayal, and destiny. With the truth of his heritage finally revealed, Phoenix knows one thing with absolute certainty—no matter what lies ahead, he cannot face it without Ember.
But the SongSlayer has plans of his own.
Determined to claim Ember as his Queen and seize ultimate power, he will stop at nothing to make her his. As darkness spreads across the land and enemies close in from every side, Ember and Phoenix must fight their way back to each other before the SongSlayer's grip becomes impossible to break.
With the fate of their world hanging in the balance and betrayal lurking where they least expect it, they are forced to risk everything on one final, desperate battle.
Because some loves are worth dying for.
And if Ember and Phoenix fail, they won't just lose each other—they'll lose everything.
Excerpt:
“I wasn’t sure you were ever going to emerge.” Tyrion sat on a bench overlooking the sea, sitting in the shade of the building so as not to burn his pale skin.
“Shh! Ione thinks I’m taking a walk on the beach,” I said, hurrying over to my big brother.
He grinned at me, his thick, sandy hair hanging over his turquoise eyes. “She’s gone for a bath. So?”
“So, what?”
“It must’ve been rather good if you’ve only just left his room.”
I slumped down beside him. “Yes. It was rather. Although I’m not sure I feel comfortable talking to you about it.”
He snorted, flicking his hair from his eyes. “Don’t suppose he will, either. Not that I want the gory details—I just want to know the two of you are happy—him in particular, especially with what’s coming his way.”
I frowned. “What’s coming his way? What are you talking about?”
Tyrion’s oval face blanched. “He still doesn’t know, does he? I really should have said something before, but I never got the chance to speak to him in private, and I didn’t think it would really matter yet. But now the two of you are Joined it’s going to affect you, too. I should have told you before, Em, I’m sorry. Plus, I wanted to talk to Lysander at the same time, really.”
“Tyri, will you stop rambling and tell me what you’re on about?”
“Tyrion, are you out here?” Ione’s voice came from the inn.
“By the Song! She can’t find me yet. Tell me later,” I said, bolting from the bench and running off down the path to the beach before she could see me. I thought she was in the bath. She couldn’t have been that quick, surely? I sped on down to the beach, only slowing when my feet were crunching on shingle and sand. I paused to get my breath back, looking up and down the beach for Prince Lysander.
Prince.
Phoenix’s tattoo.
The Royal Rose Emblem?
My breath caught in my throat. No. It couldn’t be, could it?
Was that what Tyrion had meant? Although if it was, how had he found out?
Ice ran through my veins. Did the North Port Guild know?
I scanned the beach. Where was Lysander? I needed to speak to him. Now. Just in case. My heart thudded hard in my chest. The prince had told me months ago about the Royal Rose Emblem given to all royal babies, but I’d thought no more about it. Why should I? But suddenly things were beginning to fall uncomfortably into place … or was I just overthinking as usual?
Lysander had told me about his dead baby brother, Mazarin, the scion of the Royal Family of Canticum. Or, his presumed dead baby half brother who should have been king because he was a full-blood son of the King and Queen, unlike Lysander, who was only a half blood.
Walking along the beach in the distance, I caught sight of Lysander. I headed toward him—I didn’t want to run and cause a fuss if I was wrong. But, if I was right, as this niggling sensation in my head that sparred with the LandSong that shouldn’t be there, suggested, then… I felt nauseous at the thought.
Lysander looked up as he saw me and smiled, his light blue eyes sparkling in the light. “Hello, Ember. Out for a morning stroll?”
“That’s right,” I said.
“Quinn’s got one of his migraine headaches, so we won’t be leaving before lunch.”
“That’s fine.” I nodded, and looked at the prince—properly looked. His skin was the same light, sandy beige as Phoenix’s. The shape of his eyes was the same, and although he had brown, wavy hair, lighter than my husband’s, he held his similarly shaped body in almost exactly the same way. I’d never noticed before. Never even thought about it and now … it made my heart stutter. They were brothers?
“He gets them from time to time,” Lysander continued. “I think it’s probably all the constant travel, and changing from the sea voyage to land. Still, he’ll be fine later, I expect.”
“Lysander, can we talk for minute?” I asked.
Lysander paused. “Of course. Anything for my Royal Councilor,” he grinned, but his smile quickly faded as he looked at me. “This is something serious, isn’t it?”
“It could be, but I’m not sure. I think it is.”
He rubbed his forehead. “Come and sit down here,” he said, gesturing to an old log that had been washed up on the sand. “So, what’s this about?” he asked, once we’d sat down.
I stared out at the water, not sure quite where to start. My stomach churned and my hands turned clammy as I tried to decide what to say.
“Ember? You’re worrying me now.” He took hold of my hand.
I took a deep breath and turned to him. “That Royal Rose Emblem you told me about. What does it look like?” My heart lodged in my throat as I spoke.
He raised an eyebrow. “I wasn’t expecting that, but it’s fine. Why not take a look for yourself?” He pulled his shirtsleeve up to reveal the rose tattoo.
I gasped.
“Whatever’s the matter?” he asked. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“I-I think I have—the ghost of your brother.”
“What?”
“Assuming only the Royal Family have those tattoos, then I know where your brother is,” I said, my heart racing, my breathing shallow.
“They are … but are you sure?” Lysander’s eyes were wide with shock and amazement. “Exactly like this one?”
I nodded. “Exactly like that. With a freckle near it that looks like a third leaf.”
He gasped. “Mazarin had a freckle. He’s still alive? Mazarin’s alive?”
“And he’s a DawnSong, yes?”
“Yes, my brother was a DawnSong,” Lysander said quietly. “I saw his purple eyes glowing in the hour after his birth, at dawn.”
Phoenix’s eyes were purple. My heart clenched. This is what Tyrion was talking about. He knew. That document the Guild wanted Phoenix to sign, it must have had something to do with all this—they knew.
“W-where is he?” Lysander asked, gripping my hand painfully, probably without realizing it.
“In his bedroom,” I said. “It’s … it’s Phoenix.”
- Series:
- /series-the-canticum-duology/
