I recalled the statement I’d made to the authorities yesterday.I will face her, knowing I’ll find justice and peace. Maymy fate be an example to all those who might challenge the rule of the elves.
And as I’d hoped, the words had been prophetic ofmyvictory. The crowd seemed to realize the same thing. They couldn’t stop cheering, if anything it got louder. Then a chant started. My name: “Izzy!” over and over.
And though the crowd was near to deafening, I heard my name shouted by a different voice over the tumult.
I turned. Koar rushed toward me. In the tunnel behind him, leading to the marshalling area off the arena floor, Saldrea’s minions were being subdued by titans.
Titans?
Hadn’t the titans been protecting the false princess and her crew?
I’d missed something.
Hell, I’d probably missed a lot of things.
That’s when I remembered the strange disconnection from Vyns’ spirit.
“Fuck,” I whispered. Was he okay?
Koar practically threw himself at me, sliding on his knees through the sand and dust of the arena floor to wrap his arms around me.
This was new.
“I was an idiot to turn you down. I’m all in, if you’ll have me,” he whispered, his voice breaking with the emotion flowing through him. Was he crying? “I’m so sorry you had to go through that! I’m here now. What do you need?”
Wow… ah… okay…
I mean, yay for having a big, strong man wrap incredibly thick arms around me and profess his feelings, but it was a lot to process.
“Vyns,” I murmured. “Is Vyns okay?”
“Is who…?” Koar released his bear hug to sit back and look at me with a questioning expression, one brow raised. Then he gave a strange choking laugh. “You’re a bloody mess, but you’re worried aboutVynsright now?”
Yup. It seemed so.
Vyns is okay, Rook spoke into my mind. He must have heard my concerned thoughts.He’s passed out, but he’s still breathing, still alive.
Oh, thank God! And thank you.I gave a long mental sigh.
I’m on the same level as a god, huh? I’ll take it.
And… we still need to talk, don’t we?I asked. He’d said as much — had it been only yesterday? — but we’d never had the chance. And when he’d linked to my thoughts to clear my head of all the fear and doubt and apprehension… he’d also said he loved me. That was… huge!
Yup.He sounded terrified. I took that as a good sign. I hoped he would finally explain why he’d ghosted me. I was still a little upset about that. Though the fact that he’d come through for me when it counted went a long way toward erasing that debt. It was a pattern with him: putting himself in my bad books, then dragging himself back out.
“I’ll check on Vyns,” Koar said, starting to leave. The big man had no clue I’d just talked to Rook.
I grabbed his iron-hard arm and pulled him back.
“No, stay. Vyns is okay.”
Koar looked confused, but he settled back down, arms around me once again, holding me close, while I held Myel close to my chest.
“You’ll pay for this!” Saldrea spat. “I’ll—” She tried to rise, but her body shook violently. Nasty wounds opened up on her face and arms. She really needed to control those violent thoughts, or she was going to kill herself.
“What…?” Koar asked as he watched the false princess roll around screaming.
“I put a binding on her, so she’ll suffer any harm she wishes on others.”
