Every step sent anotherblinding flare of painthrough my leg, every movement grindingbone against bone, raw and splintered.My bodyshook violently, but I refused to stumble, refused togive them the satisfaction of hearing me scream.
Ilocked my jaw, swallowing the bile rising in my throat.They would not see me break.
We wereshoved to our knees, the cool marblebiting into my ruined leg, sending anotherwave of fresh, burning agonythrough my entire body.
Beside me,Shaelith was gasping, her body trembling from the impact.
Darian was silent.But rigid.So rigid his whole body looked carved from stone.Hisjaw locked tight, his handsclenched into fists,his wings twitching violentlyas he glared up at the woman standing before us.
Xyliria.
Heronyx eyes gleamedwithsick amusement, her posture loose, relaxed. Unbothered.We were nothing more than a game.
“One of them has to suffer,”she said, idly twirling a dagger between her fingers before levelling it at Darian. “So choose.”
A muscle in his jaw ticked, hisexpression burning with the samedefiance that had never left him.
“No,” Darian said flatly.
Xyliria sighed, shaking her head, disappointed. “Always so difficult.”
Her fingers twitched?—
Andfire ripped through my blood. I arched backinvoluntarily, araw screamtearing from my throat before Icouldbite it back. It wasevery nerve igniting at once, my blood was boiling under my skin.
The agony overrode everything.
Shaelithchoked beside me, gasping, her bodybowing under the invisible weightof Xyliria’s magic.
Still, Darian didn’t move.
“Choose,” Xyliria commanded again, bored, amused.
Darian lifted his chin, breath ragged, furious. “Fuck you.”
Xyliria tutted, a snap of her wrist sending another pulse of power through us.
Shaelith let out a choked cry, her fingers digging into the stone. I bit down hard on my lip, tasting blood, trying not to scream again.
But Darian—he was shaking now, trembling with restraint, his fists clenched so tight his knuckles turned white.
“You can end it,” Xyliria cooed. “Just say a name.”
Darian snarled, breathing heavily.
And he laughed. Low, dark, humourless.
“Kill me,” he said. “I don’t fucking care. But I won’t be a pawn in your sick little games.”
Xyliria sighed, flicking invisible dust from her fingers.
Then, she turned her head, her smile widening. “Husband.”
I caught the flinch that crossed Ashterion’s face before his shadows struck.
Darian let out a guttural roar, his body slamming to the floor as tendrils of pure darkness wrapped around him, pinning him in place as they sank into flesh and muscle.
Shaelith screamed his name. I lunged toward him, but the guards grabbed me, yanking me back.
