Artorix sneers, closing the distance between us. “So eager to leave your own party, Miss Ryans?”
Just as he reaches me, I grab my dagger, stabbing him in his stomach.
Ignoring Cassandra’s memories that insist I should ensure I’ve finished the job, I run to Rosie, trying to pull her up. “Rosie, come on, we have to go.”
Artorix screams, but the sound is filled with rage, not pain. I turn to see him standing a few feet away, the deep gash in his stomach knitting itself together.
Oh fuck.
This is not good.
“You will pay for that, mortal filth!” he yells, lifting his blade before running for me.
Letting go of Rosie’s still-lifeless body, I meet him halfway, hoping to put some distance between him and Rosie.
He stabs at me wildly, and I dance around his strikes, making sure to never let him touch me.
Think Vivian, think!
I can’t kill him. He’s clearly some kind of immortal or a creature with very accelerated healing. While I’m not positive he won’t bleed out if I cut him enough times, doing so would risk letting him touch me, and I can’t do that.
Dodging him yet again, I make a decision. If I can’t kill Artorix, I need someone who can. Rather than continuing to try and guard Rosie, I start angling my steps, backing up just a little further every time he strikes at me. I slash out every now and again, cutting his arms just enough to make him scream while I painstakingly slowly lead him back to the party.
If Sin could notice I’m gone, that would be great.
Artorix lunges for me again, and I stab into his side before jumping away. He screams, the sound carrying. I don’t dare yell for help, out of fear he’ll repossess Rosie and use her as a hostage. I need to keep him angry and out of control so his focus is on killing me.
I stab him repeatedly, but Artorix doesn’t stop. He takes each hit of my blade, his body healing within seconds. My legs cramp from dodging his attacks, and I’m ready to never wear heels again.
I’m getting weaker, and Artorix knows it. He grins, his teeth smeared in blood, as he steps closer to me again. “You can’t win this. You’re nothing but a lowly mortal. You cannot kill me.”
I jump from the swipe of his blade, and my eyes catch something rapidly approaching behind him. I grin as I make another jab for his kidneys. “I don’t need to kill you. I just needed to draw you out.”
I take another step back, sheathing my dagger.
Artorix pauses, his confusion replaced by horror as he realizes I’m smiling at someone behind him.
Sin’s tattoos glow a bright red, his eyes wholly replaced by the same light. He doesn’t hesitate to grab Artorix by the throat and lifts him off the ground without effort. The action takes all of a heartbeat, but he doesn’t take his eyes off me.
“Did he hurt you?” he growls.
I shake my head, offering Sin a reassuring smile. “He tried to kill me, but he kind of sucked at it.”
Sin’s answering roar shakes the earth beneath us before his attention turns to the man who is rapidly turning a new shade of purple. Artorix flails in Sin’sgrip, still suspended in midair as he claws at Sin’s hands. Sin doesn’t flinch, and his anger radiates off him in waves. I step around him, a strange stab of pride hitting me when I realize I was successful. The forest opens just beyond Sin, and the entire party is there, all turned with rapt attention on us.
I managed to lure him back.
I’m counting that as a win.
Sin is at my side a second later, and his voice echoes out over the crowd as he continues to hold Artorix up by his throat, “You dared to attack what is mine. Let it be known what happens to those who touch her.”
Artorix struggles even harder at Sin’s words, but his efforts are in vain. The moment Sin stops speaking, Artorix dissolves into nothingness, as if he had never existed at all.
The crowd goes deathly silent, and Sin reaches for me, pulling me to his side. His mouth comes down on top of my head, and I feel him take a shuddering inhale before he kisses my temple and straightens out again.
“The party is over. Go home and tell your people. You’re either with us or against us. Choose wisely because war is coming,” Sin calls out before we apparate away from the party.
We land back in one of the sitting rooms in Morgana’s castle, and I immediately panic at the thought that Rosie is still crumpled in the forest.
