The deathly cold that filled my veins is replaced with an insatiable heat, and a roar in my ears sounds so loud it drowns out all else.
‘He gave me the wine,’ I seethe. ‘That bastard gave me the wine.’ Iturn back to Kyor. ‘Holden. He got me the drink, but I gave my glass to Llin. Oh Gods. I gave Llin my glass, and she drank it instead of me.’ I can barely breathe.
Benny is sobbing on the ground as he tries to comfort Caroline. Jonas stands above them, looking lost. And hundreds of guests stare at us.
But there’s only one I’m looking for.
‘Where the fuck is Holden?’ I snarl.
‘Rose?’ It’s Jonas who speaks. ‘What is it? What’s wrong?’
‘Holden. Where the fuck is that prick?’ My gaze rakes across the room. There’s no sign of him.
‘He was here a moment ago,’ Jonas says. ‘He asked me if I’d seen you.’
I bet he did, the son of a bitch. I run for the door.
‘Rose!’ Jonas calls after me. ‘Rose, think about what you’re going to do here!’
‘Fuck that,’ Kyor replies for me. ‘She doesn’t need to think. She needs todo.’
I feel them both, shadows racing behind me as I tear out onto the grounds and spot Holden in the distance, moving quickly, ready to slip through the gate into one of the other arcs. If he gets through there, I’ll lose him, because the rules of the Retterheld forbid me to leave our arc unless it’s to attend a trial. Maybe that’s what he wants, though – for me to be disqualified. Blood rushes in my veins and I push myself to breaking point to reach him before he escapes, but he’s too far ahead.
But then, when he’s only a foot away from the gate, a bolt of lightning blasts the wood and the entire thing goes up in flames. Holden leaps back, and when he turns to see us bearing down on him, he freezes.
I turn to Kyor.
‘He’s all yours,’ he tells me with a nod.
I draw to a stop facing Holden, my breathing heavy. I expected him to run away from us or prepare to fight, but instead he just stands there, his jaw locked and his muscles twitching unnaturally, as if some static force is holding him firmly in place. Kyor has him. Fuck, what terrifying powers that man has. Good thing I’m no longer afraid of him. No longer afraid of anything. He and Zelle have trained me for this moment, and I won’t let either of them down.
My heart pounds against my ribs as I take a step towards the aged commander. My footsteps are steady and my resolve unwavering. I have no weapons on me, but Holden’s ceremonial sword is still there, sheathedat his side. When I reach him, I place my hand on the hilt and withdraw the sword. His lip spasms as if desperate to curl up in a snarl.
‘You murdered her.’ My voice is low, a thunderous rumble that barely even sounds like me. ‘You murdered Llinos.’
‘That’s on you, not me,’ he spits, forcing the words out through his gritted teeth. ‘You’re a Gods-forsaken cockroach, slum rat. If you had only known your place?—’
‘Her place?’ Kyor’s voice is a growl beside me as sparks of pure energy surge between his fingers. I have never seen him like this before. So powerful. So dangerous. ‘Her place, Holden, is wherever the fuck she decides it is.’
I appreciate the support, but this moment is mine, not Kyor’s. ‘You said he was all mine, remember?’
His eyes meet mine, and he nods, his hands dropping as I raise the pilfered sword.
‘Rose, stop!’ Jonas’s voice cuts through the silence. ‘Don’t do this! You are not a killer. You don’t want to do this.’
I want to laugh. Even now Jonas underestimates me. Or maybe that’s not it. Maybe he just doesn’t know who I am. I can’t help but scoff as I look him in the eye.
‘I’m the one who stabbed the jötunn, Jonas. I killed Oke. I’m not the little girl you remember, and it’s time you realised that.’ I turn to Kyor. ‘Release him.’
He doesn’t argue, doesn’t try to change my mind; he just does as I bid. In a flash, Holden is free, and the old man wastes no time as he lunges towards me. He knows, just like I do, that only one of us will come out of this alive. And he may have superior strength and experience, but I have a wealth of fuckingrage.
He barrels into me like a bull, all fury and bulk. The force of the impact causes the hilt of the sword to slide from my grip. I allow it to drop and the momentum to carry us both to the ground. His fists are like iron, one smashing into my jaw, the other into my ribs, but the pain helps me focus. And I know I’ll give it back twice as hard and more.
With the power of my whole body I swing my fist into him and my knuckles crack against his cheekbone. The taste of blood fills my mouth, but whether it’s his or mine, I don’t care. We’ll both be bloody messes at the end of it, but I’ll be the one who walks away.
Recovered from the strike, Holden tries to pin me, but I’m lighter andfaster. Just like Zelle taught me, I twist and kick, driving my knee into his gut until he grunts like the beast he is.
‘You’re slow, old man,’ I snarl, ramming my forehead into his nose. The crunch is exquisite.
