He didn't answer.
"I take it you're planning to be stubborn about this," Travis guessed. "You never could do anything the easy way."
"And here I was under the impression you thought that was charming," I said dryly.
He bared his teeth. "That was when it benefited me. You were so easy to fool, you know. It was child's play."
My teeth clenched.
Liam's hand brushing against mine calmed me.
I glanced up at him, grateful. One of his eyes slid closed in a wink. It was unexpected enough that I almost smiled. Instead, I dipped my chin in understanding.
I was the decoy.
Projecting confidence, I stepped in front of the other two and held up the crown. The captain was nothing if not laser focused.
"This what you want? You betrayed everyone for a hunk of metal?"
Power pulsed from the crown.
His past and future unspooled before me like a highlight's reel.
The possibilities that lay ahead, the small boulders in his history that had changed and warped him.
Once, he'd been the most loyal of the king's inner court. Disappointment and bitterness had led him to his current course. He'd believed he was right all those years ago when he imprisoned my grandfather. The years since hadn't been kind. He'd had his heart broken over and over again, until his hatred had curdled and he’d wrapped it around himself like a blanket to ward off the cold.
If he got this crown, our futures would be filled with nothing but blood and death. He sat on a throne of bones, his armor stained red. All paths led to war for him.
"Aileen, I don't want to hurt you. Don't make me." There was pleading in his expression as he lifted his hand again.
I shook my head. "You don't have to do this. There's a way back."
I saw his decision, felt his resolve, and knew I'd lost him again.
"This was set before I met you," he said in apology.
Damn. He really was going to do it.
"I understand." I showed him the crown. It drew his gaze like a magnet. "You want it. Come and get it."
I hurled it into the air. His eyes followed.
Liam and Nathan charged forward. Travis whipped up his hands, a web of magic pulsing.
I yanked, using my ability to call it toward me.
He cursed as his magic sputtered.
Then Liam was on him, fangs sinking into his throat. Nathan caught Travis's arm as he tried to lift his sword to stab him.
"Shit." I started forward. "Wait, Liam. That's a really bad idea."
I grabbed at his shoulders, trying to move him.
The lines of fate changed. In them, I read Liam's death.
Frantic I started yanking at him. Fuck. He was stronger than me.
