Chapter 66

Arkyn confronts imprisoned Kyzari and her aunt Veya, revealing he knows Kyzari's father is Kaan Vaegor and plans to use her as a host for the diadem meant for his Fire Lark. He searches their cells, finds Kyzari's hidden diary, and brutally beats the defiant princess into unconsciousness, then departs with a cryptic ultimatum to Veya about keeping Kyzari alive.

Arkyn enters the dungeon tunnel where Kyzari is imprisoned and orders her cell opened. Veya is dragged in by his guards, bloodied and exhausted from three days without sleep, her magical runes disabled. Both women are chained—Kyzari's tether is short enough to prevent her from reaching her aunt. Arkyn observes that Kyzari knows her mother lives but deduces she may not know her father is Kaan Vaegor, viewing this as cosmic irony enabling his revenge. He commands the guards to search the cells, announcing that whoever holds a diary will be beaten. The guards tear apart the cells and find the diary hidden beneath Kyzari's waste bucket. Arkyn tells Kyzari that hope leads only to pain. He then addresses Veya, revealing that he plans to place the diadem on his Fire Lark instead of keeping Kyzari alive, now that Veya has given him clarity. He notes his Fire Lark has grown competent with magic and that an extra shackle will prove useful. Veya desperately pleads for him to beat her instead, but Arkyn ignores her and turns his attention to Kyzari, whose defiant glare reminds him of his Fire Lark. When Kyzari spits on him, Arkyn strikes her temple with violent force, then continues beating her savagely while picturing his dead mother and his hatred for Kaan. He only stops when her heartbeat is barely perceptible. The guards drag her bloodied body back into her cell, leaving a crimson trail. Before departing, Arkyn tells the weeping Veya that she must keep Kyzari alive until the diadem can be handed to his Fire Lark, or she will doom the world to ruin.