“Don’t believe him.”
My chest tightens, the voice behind me, one I know all too well.
Roman’s eyes widen as he glances just past me, he grapples to take hold of my cloak, but I turn so quickly that he loses balance and falls.
Galen stands before us, his blonde hair grown out slightly from when I saw him last, his blue eyes lined with red. “Sorin, don’t believe a word he says.”
He takes a step forward, flinching when Roman shuffles behind me. As if he’sscaredof him.
“Come with me, Sorin.” Galen holds out his hand and my stomach twists. “Please. Help me end this mess that he's started.” His voice wavers and everything I thought I knew morphs into doubt.
Maybe this wasn’t his doing, after all. Maybe it’s Roman I cannot trust. If he saw Elora, perhaps she let him live for that very reason.
“Galen,” Roman cries from behind me.
I glance to where he’s at on the ground. My instinct is to turn to him. Help him and then find Elora, but I’m rooted in place. Caught between a person who I’ve known and loved my entire life and a brother who I barely recognize, yet feel such a strong responsibility for.
“Sorin,” Galen says, drawing my attention back. “I promise you, this isn’t what you think.Noneof this is what you think.”
His hand is still raised between us, a promise, a beacon. But the longer it’s held there, the longer I stand with my hands at my sides. Something contorts on his face, his composure chipping away.
“You would believe him over me? Your oldest friend?” He drops his hand, eyes falling to Roman who is still behind me.
Roman mutters something, but my body is still stuck. Paralyzed between two worlds.
“If this is about her,” Galen snaps, “whatever Elora told you is alie.”
The words slither through the air between us, wiping away the doubt I felt earlier. It’s all I needed to hear to know the truth.
The truth lies in the scars around her wrists. In her painful recounts of all the waysGalenhurt her.
“This ends right now, Galen.” My voice shakes, but I’m not embarrassed by it. Something pungent filters through the air,filling my nose. Glancing beyond Galen, down the hill, I see smoke has engulfed the forest.
Elora.
“You hurt her.” I reach behind me for an arrow. “You hurt Loxley.”
Galen stiffens, his eyes watching my hands as I nock an arrow.
“You’ve always been so naive,” he says. “Believing whatever is told. Never questioning or finding answers for yourself.” He takes a step forward, and I pull the arrow taut. “Think for yourself for the first time in your life. Make your own conclusions.”
My fingers betray me as they tremble against my bow. Before I have a chance to decide, Galen lunges at me. He grapples for my bow, his fingers bruising against mine. I manage to shove him off of me as my bow falls to the ground. I don’t have a moment to right myself before he’s back, his fist connecting with my jaw. I grunt, shoving him off of me again. Blood seeps from my nose where he got the first hit.
“This is it, then.” I wipe the blood on the back of my hand. I don’t wait a moment longer before I spring forward and tackle him to the ground. He groans as our bodies collide with the earth. His fingers claw at my arms as I wrap my hand around his throat.
“Sorin,” he says through labored breaths. His eyes meet mine, wide with panic. All our memories push down around me. Our childhood. Our friendship. The many years we trusted each other. Loved each other.
“Sorin,” he says again, this time much more breathless. A plea and the sound of his panic weakens my grip. He claws at my hand before his eyes shut and his body goes slack.
My chest heaves, nausea roiling in my stomach. I bring myself to my feet before grabbing my bow. I turn to help Romanfrom the ground where he cradles his arm, his eyes bouncing between me and Galen. I try not to think of him lying lifeless on the ground. Try not to focus on the sound of his voice as I stripped him of his last breaths. I wipe my hands on my pants, before reaching out my hand to Roman.
“It’s over,” I say. “If Tallulah is still at the keep, she can help heal you. She can?—”
Roman scrambles to his feet, his eyes going wide.“Wait! Don’t?—”
A sharp pain pierces through my back and chest, snuffing the air inside my lungs. Glancing down, I drop down to my knees.
Roman’s hands slide from my cloak as he buries his face behind them, a broken cry leaving his lips.
