Then the earth trembled. It was subtle, but I felt it.
The crowd gasped, and the wooden beams vibrated.
Snow that had piled atop the gazebo floated and drifted to the ground.
Then people moved out of the way, revealing Fallon, who was walking up, eyes wide and milky white, irises rolled to the back of her head.
A series of vowels and consonants rolled off her tongue, whispering a chain of words that didn’t make sense. She raised her arms, her palms setting off an iridescent white light in front of her.
With the dagger still pressed to Adora’s throat, Kane narrowed his eyes at Fallon, unsure what was happening. And when Fallon twisted her wrists, the blade’s sharp steel froze, turning to ice, from silver to white, cracking then shattering to pieces.
Kane dropped the bladeless handle.
I sprang to my feet and rushed up the stairs.
Although I was unable to feel my limbs, I knew that she was in my arms. She was shaking and clinging to me and pressing her face against my chest as though to bury herself and never come back out.
“It’s over,” I said and instantly checked her injuries. When I peeled her shirt from her skin to look where Kane had cut into her back, another wave of rage overcame me. My gaze lifted, and Kane was stepping back toward the bench. He sat in surrender, dropping his head into his hands.
I tore myself from Adora, not stopping until I had his throat in my fist and my fist in his face. Repeatedly, I punched, my knuckles connecting to Kane’s face, splitting the skin over his cheekbone whilst blood sprayed my cheek. I was outside myself, unable to pull away.
“Stop! He’s going to kill him!” someone screamed, but I didn’t.
I was then wrenched off him. It took all four Heathens.
Angry tears fell from my eyes as I pointed at Kane, whose face was busted open. “I want to rip your throat apart,” I roared through a clenched jaw. “But death gives you more peace than you deserve.”
I shoved Julian off me and turned to Adora.
She was sitting on the step.
I pushed a palm down my face and swiped up her bag, her jacket.
Adora looked up at me, teeth chattering.
Then she slowly rose to her feet, wincing in pain as she stood.
I lowered my head, pushing my mouth into her ear. “I refuse to carry you. You will walk away from this.” I snaked my arm around her waist to whisper the rest. “You’re going to walk away on your own two feet with dignity and your spine still intact.” She nodded, and I kissed the side of her head.
The crowd parted as we passed.
I glanced back at Cyrus.
He didn’t move a muscle.
He didn’t say a word.
He only stood there.
He only stood there.
I would never have just stood there.
I faced forward again, looking down Main Street and tucking her close to my side.
“You got on your knees,” she whispered.
“I did. No need to make a spectacle of it.”
