“Are you really this stupid?” My head tilts, watching his hands yank out two more daggers from his sheath around his waist. “I suppose you are.”
Koen sprints up to us, hopping off his horse, and runs.
“You can’t!” Koen’s eyes widen, catching sight of the two of us ready to kill one another. “They want you dead. If you kill a chosen, they will kill you.”
“And if I don’t kill him, he will kill me.” My eyes lock to Koens.
“She shouldn’t be here! This is a disgrace to the ways of Azure!” Dryden lunges forward, slicing his dagger in the air as Koen blocks him, allowing the dagger to pierce his shoulder. The rage that is coursing through my veins makes me forget the pain radiating from the dagger in my back.
Koen doesn’t flinch. He doesn’t make a sound.
His nostrils just flare as the veins on his neck bulge. His jaw ticks.
He’s pissed.
With his other hand, Koen grabs Dyrden’s neck, gripping it so tightly his skin flushes to red within seconds. Veins bulge from both Koen’s hand and Dryden’s face.
Dryden does everything in his power to remove Koen’s tight grip, but it’s useless. He begins to claw at Koen’s suit, hitting him repeatedly to let go.
But Koen isn’t phased. He squeezes tighter, pulling Dryden’s body closer to his as he watches his eyes flutter back.
“That is the last mistake you will ever make.” Koen’s voice drops to a deep growl, nose inches away from Dryden's. “My woman.My rules.I won’t follow the chosen ways when it comes to protecting her. They can kill me for this, because it’ll be worth it to watch your life drain away any second.”
I should want this. Yet, I don’t.
“Koen, stop.” I shut my eyes, almost regretting the decision to tell him this.
Koen glances over towards me, the dagger still in his shoulder as blood trickles down his onyx suit. I can feel the open wound from my cheek burn with the wind that kicks up the sand, blood trickling down towards my chin.
“We need every warrior we can get for what is to come.” I inhale deeply, eyes locking onto Dryden’s. “If you dare try to come after me again, I will burn you myself. Do you understand?”
Dryden’s nostrils flare for a split moment before he relaxes and gives us a nod.
“Good,” I breathe out, catching sight of the other chosen galloping towards us as Koen releases Dryden. He falls to the ground, holding his neck as he coughs for air. I notice the horses of the air, their wings shaking, almost as if they are dusting the sand from their coats as they trot towards us. Those who ride the Lasyius are not allowed to fly, they must stay on land during the race.
Kaine and Theon stride towards me, their hair catching in the wind that begins to stir up the rusty sand.
“Why am I not surprised to see you here with Koen?” Theon teases, hanging over his horse towards me as he circles around us. “Damn, what happened to your face?”
My brows pull inward, glaring at him. “I’m over you.” My back arches, feeling the dagger in my skin at an impossible location for me to yank out myself.
Theon lets out a soft chuckle before he hops off. His horse's white wings stretch wide before pulling them back closely towards its body.
“Want me to rip it out?” Theon casually walks up behind me.
“Please, it’s driving me crazy.”
“On the count of three.” He steadies himself, legs widening, and I nod.
He lets out a deep breath, hands wrapping around the dagger. “One… Tw—”
And he yanks it out before finishing.
I hiss, pulling my lips tightly in a firm line, turning to watch him wipe off my blood against his pants before handing it to me.
“The Queen will know we stopped.” Kaine lands on the ground, tossing his hair out of his face. “We should be continuing.”
“What is she going to do?” Death snarls, crossing his arms across his masculine chest. “Kill off the chosen? She needs us.”
