“You’ll never?—”
My arrow slices through the air. Soaring impossible lengths, until it lands in the back of a guard, dropping him to his knees.
“Call them off now, Roman.” My heart races as I head for the door but it’s kicked open before I reach it. A guard is there at the threshold.
“Your Majesty,” he says, peering around me. “We—” He pauses when his eyes snag on Galen on the bed.
“You were just who I was coming to find, Stefan,” Roman says. “Call off the rest of the men. This is over.”
“You killed him,” Stefan says, dismissing Roman’s orders. “Or was it you?” He turns his attention to me, and before I can grab an arrow, he pulls his sword and lunges. I jump back but fumble, falling to the ground.
“Drop your weapon!” Roman steps forward. “That was a direct?—”
Stefan turns his attention from me, swinging toward Roman.
“You really think I’ll listen to you,” Stefan says, lunging again. Roman dodges, his eyes wide. “You would be nothing if not for him and this is how you repay him.” He swings his sword, nicking Roman’s arm.
Jumping to my feet, I forgo my bow and instead reach for the dagger. Stefan has Roman cornered. His sword is angled forRoman’s heart, and as he pushes it down, I reach him, slicing through his uniform, right between his ribs.
Gasping, he spins toward me, eyes aflame but face blanched.
I yank my blade out of his side and am ready to end his life when he tackles me, sending me backward. My dagger falls to the ground, and I scramble to reach it but Stefan pulls me back. He screams, clutching his side but he somehow finds his sword, the cool metal pressing against my neck.
I reach for my knife again, but Stefan’s blade pushes against my sternum.
“Enough of this!” Roman shouts.
Stefan raises his sword, aiming for my heart, but when he lunges to plunge it into me, Roman jumps between us, taking the brunt of the hit.
His body falls on mine, the blade protruding from his chest.
“No.”
I’m trapped under him as Stefan pulls the blade free. Blood pools from Roman’s chest as I roll him off of me.
The guard laughs, clutching his side. “You’d swearfealtyto that?” He snarls in Roman’s direction, whose face is pale, his body crumpled on the floor. “Always been spineless, even with Galen by his side.”
He raises his sword again, but I don’t give him another moment to speak before I sling my dagger forward, landing it directly in his eye. He screams, dropping his sword, grappling for the dagger. His movements are too stunned, and I finish him off with a swift puncture to his throat.
I scramble back to Roman’s side. His entire abdomen is soaked in blood, his eyes fighting to stay open. “Let me help you.” I reach for the amulet in my pocket. “I can fix this.”
His hand wraps around mine. “Don’t,” he says. His breaths are labored, his green eyes hardly open. “Let me do one goodthing. Amidst all of the terrible—” He closes his eyes, a tear slipping down his cheek. “Let me do one good thing.”
He pats my hand, so I remove it from my pocket, leaving the amulet inside.
“No more taking what isn’t mine.” He shakes his head, more tears streaming down his face. I cup the back of his head, trying to angle him better so he can breathe.
“I’m sorry I didn’t know you,” I say and for whatever reason I mean it.
The wolves howl from outside and my body goes rigid.
Elora.
“I was never great company anyway.” Roman smiles again, but this time it’s weak and broken. “Go.”
“I won’t leave you here.” I shake my head. “Not like this.”
He pushes my hand away, more blood rushing from the wound in his stomach.
