If we didn’t die from poison, we’d burn to death in a matter of moments.
Costa slid the vial back into his pocket.
Then, he moved.
Before I could react, he lunged, shoving me hard against the wall, his forearm brushing against my windpipe.
“Where. Is. Your. Wife?” he hissed, his face inches from mine.
I gritted my teeth, summoning every ounce of strength I had, and shoved back against his arm, forcing him off me by mere inches. “I’ll never tell you, asshole,” I snarled. “You’re the one who’s going to die. We will burn your entire hive of hornets to the ground.”
With a burst of strength, I threw him backward.
He staggered, crashing into one of his men. The henchman reached to steady him, but Costa shoved him away, whirling back toward me with fury burning in his eyes.
“Who are you working with?” he demanded. “Malik? Someone else? Who is it?!”
I let out a humorless laugh. “Are you that stupid?” I taunted. “You think I’m going to tell you?” I held his gaze, unflinching. “I’d rather die with honor than submit to you.”
Costa sneered. “That’s a big mistake, my friend.”
I smiled coldly. “Do you think we’re friends? Not even close.”
In one fluid motion, I slid my dagger from its sheath, its blade catching the dim glow of lantern light. I held it firmly before me.
“Alina couldn’t destroy you,” I said, voice like steel. “But Olivia will. Mark my words, Raul Costa—you’re a dead man.”
Costa’s expression twisted.
“That’s enough!” he roared.
His arm shot into the air.
“GET THEM!”
Costa’s men rushed toward me.
I grabbed Balthazar, yanking him in front of me like a human shield.
The heat rolling off him was unbearable, like standing in the mouth of an inferno. My fingers dug into his flesh, refusing to let go.
With a guttural snarl, I plunged my dagger deep into his back.
Balthazar bellowed in rage, his scream a sound of pure, unbridled fury. His body convulsed, and before I could react, he twisted with supernatural strength and hurled me across the room.
I flew through the air.
The world spun.
Fear swallowed me whole.
I hit the ground hard, rolling on impact before jackknifing to my feet. My heartbeat thundered in my ears, but I pushed the pain aside.
Marcellious was already poised to fight, but the odds were stacked against us—Costa’s poison and Balthazar’s fire made for an impossible battle.
Still, I was a soldier.
And good soldiers never backed down.
