Xyliria crouched before me. “I want you to kill one of them,” she said, her tone light, almost teasing.
My breath stopped. The blood in my veins froze. I couldn’t suppress the tremor of cold terror that ran through me.
Her smile widened. “Oh, come now. You’ve done this before.”
The room tilted, my heart pounded so violently it hurt.
No.
No, no, no.
I couldn’t do this.
I had chosen before. I had done her bidding before. But not this. Not them.
Xyliria’s lips parted in a mockingly sympathetic pout. “Don’t look so stricken, darling. You know how this works. If you refuse, I will kill them both. And then I’ll start working my way through the rest of your little friends. I’ll let you watch as I carve them open one by one.”
I gritted my teeth, my grip on the dagger so tight my fingers ached.
Varyth snarled. “You won’t do this.”
Linc remained silent, but his eyes said the same.
Xyliria chuckled, straightening. “Let’s test that theory, shall we?”
She lifted her hand, and Linc screamed.
His body arched violently as magic seared through his veins.
I lunged forward, but guards wrenched me back, forcing me to watch as he convulsed.
“STOP IT!” I cried, thrashing, but Xyliria only smiled.
Then she turned to Varyth. “Anything to say, High Lord? Perhaps an impassioned plea?”
Varyth bared his teeth. “Go to hell.”
“Fine, then.” Xyliria tutted.
Another surge of magic struck Linc. His roar of agony broke me.
The sound that tore from Fenric’s throat was inhuman—a wounded animal’s cry that shattered something fundamental inside me. He lurched forward against the guards restraining him, his face twisted in anguish as he watched Linc writhe.
“Please,” Fenric gasped, the word cracking like broken glass. “Please, I’ll take his place. Hurt me instead.”
Xyliria’s eyes lit up with predatory delight. “Oh, how precious.” She tilted her head, drinking in his desperation.
Another wave of magic slammed into Linc, and his scream died in his throat, replaced by a horrible, rattling gasp.
She was going to kill them both. She was going to make me watch.
Xyliria took a step back, her arms folding as she waited.
“I won’t.” But I looked at the dagger in my hand, the polished steel gleaming in the dim torchlight.
Xyliria’s lips pursed. “Are you sure?” She lifted a hand, and magic stirring again?—
“Wait!” The shout ripped from my throat.
