The wind roared against his wings like thunder, and every beat and thrust brought him closer and closer to the woman who called his name like her life depended on it. As he reached Adalia, he speared towards the ground, pulling himself up just as he landed. The impact of his landing sent ripples of power through the earth.
He stood tall, his voice a primal growl as he confronted Jes. “How dare you touch what is mine.”
Matthias didn’t own Adalia, but he knew she belonged to him just as much as he belonged to her.
“Sweet boy . . . if I can’t have you . . . no one can,” Jes sneered as she pulled Adalia closer against her chest, her pale hand covering Adalia’s muffled cries.
“Let her go,” the prince snarled as he moved towards them.
Before he could take his vengeance, a searing agony struck him from behind. He stumbled, a cry of pain torn from his mouth as his world spun and shifted. Blood instantly stained his lips as he sank to his knees, the ground a cold and unforgiving support . . . Adalia screamed again, thrashing against her opponent.
Snake hissed. “I see you live . . . how is it so? I thought your little trip to the cave would keep you quiet forever. I was sorely mistaken. Nevermind, I’m still going to take what I want—and what I want is that delicious snack of flesh right there.”
The sickening voice touched his ringing ears as the blade twisted in his back. Matthias heard bones crack as the world around him spun. He gasped for breath as his heart struggled to function.
The blade receded as Snake laughed aloud. The image of Adalia’s widened eyes as she fought against Jes would forever be etched into his mind.
This isn’t how he wanted to remember her, though. This isn’t how she would remember him.
From deep inside his soul, Matthias gathered every ounce of strength he had left and climbed to his feet. Violent pain gripped the muscles in his chest.
Turning, he faced the advisor he despised.
Snake surged forward, gravel flinging in all directions. His wings flared wide, matching the fury in his eyes and the wild cry on his lips.
The prince would not go down defeated.
With lightning speed, Matthias pulled a blade from his hip and threw his arm wide in an arc. It aimed true.
Gurgling sounds bubbled forth from Snake’s lips. He was choking on his own spit. Blood seeping from the slit across his throat.
The advisor clutched his hands to his neck, red liquid leaking through his fingers as he dropped to his knees.
“I told you not to touch her,” Matthias murmured.
Snake looked at him, his eyes dimming before he slumped to the side. Dead.
Whipping his head around to face his next victim. Matthias’s vision blurred as Jes shoved Adalia forward. She took one look at him before fleeing the scene.
With ears still ringing and warmth trickling from the hole in his chest, Matthias stumbled forward, reaching for Adalia. Blood coated his tongue as he struggled to move.
“I’m sorry,” he breathed, the words a testament to the depth of his regret. In that moment, he bore the weight of his choices, and the burden of his love for her was one he would gratefully bear.
She was safe now.
Dropping to his knees—his arms resting at his side, wings grazing the ground. Matthias gently smiled at the woman who had shown him love and then closed his eyes.
Amidst the turmoil of battle, her scream rang out, a haunting melody that wrapped around his senses. It was the last thing he heard as his strength faded, his body no longer able to defy the wounds that had been inflicted upon it. With a final, futile surge of determination, he fell forwards, the earth rising to meet him as the darkness swept in.
Chapter Thirty-Three
The taste of death
Adalia wasn’t sure if the scream echoing in her ears was hers or an animal’s. On her knees, she tangled her fingers in Matthias’s hair, pulling him tighter to her. “Matthias, please . . . stay with me. Matthias! Don’t you dare die on me,” she sobbed, her voice catching in her throat.
The world around her became frozen—her heartbeat the only sound.
Noise from an arrow sailing past her drew Adalia’s head around as she watched it ascend and pierce its victim.
