Her eyes narrowed before they widened. “The servant girl.”
Yes, that was how she’d seen me. As Benn’s servant.
“The girl from a village in the northlands,” I corrected, striking out my barrier again, tethering it around Natevik’s brother, and lifting his limp body. He came easily and he would return to the horde. Where he belonged. I laid him next to the others, as Wrune’s warriors gathered close. “And theMorakkariof Rath Rowin.”
“You have the gift,” came her growling, astonished, angered voice. “You belong withus! Don’t you see that? Instead, you whore yourself to aVorakkar!”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Tess rise and begin to walk towards theSetava Terun. What was shedoing?
Wrune was already moving, his sword leveled in front of him. I recognized the look in his eyes. It told me that whatever happened, he would finish what he’d come here to do.
“He’s my husband,” I said. “And I would choose him again, if given the choice.”
TheSetava Terunstepped down from the dais, her eyes locked on me.
“Sullied,” she bit out. “It is too late for you.”
“And why would I join you?” I whispered, though I knew she heard me. Next, a hissing sound rose from thesarkiasand I felt the tension of the energy in the throne room snapping tight. “You only take. You only destroy.”
Another wave was coming. I could sense it.
That was when I saw what was in Tess’ grip. A dull dagger. One I recognized.
“Cease,Vorakkar,” theSetavaTerunordered Wrune when she saw he was coming too close. “You think my coven will let you touch me?”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw thedarukkarsbegin to follow their king’s lead. The soft padding of their boots on the stone floor was like a whisper. Swords were raised. They formed a tight pack, approaching the line ofsarkias. I rippled my boundary just to be sure it was still strong, though I tasted blood as I did.
The Dakkari female wasn’t even looking at Tess. To her, a human was nothing. Forgotten. As expendable as air. And yet, my oldest friend crept along the far wall, keeping to the shadows until she had gotten behind the witch.
But it was my husband that had her full attention. I heard his grip tighten on the worn hilt of his sword.
“You are nothing without your coven,” Wrune’s voice rang out, clear and strong. “You have no power. Onlyshedoes. The cuts all over body tell me that you have used her mercilessly. A tool for you, a desperate grasping for power, and nothing more.”
TheSetava Terun’s lips curled into a snarl.
“Are you not the same as me?” she asked him.
She flipped her fingers in a quick motion and I watched thesarkia—the one Wrune had spoken about—run a long cut down her arm. The hush seemed to settle in the room.
And then she unleashed her power, striking at Wrune and the approachingdarukkarsthat never faltered in their steps.
I gritted my teeth, nearly crying out in torment, as I felt the lash of her power. It hit my barriers, blue sparks flying into the air at their meeting point, sizzling and burning and cuttingintome.
And yet, I held them strong.
Wrune’s grin was dark as he regarded the unease that flitted over theSetava Terun’sface. Again, I felt that crash of energy. Thesarkiaunleashed her power again, hitting my barriers a second time. And then a third time. I heard her breath heaving. Though, so was my own.
Tess was approaching from behind. Closer and closer. When I saw her eyes, I saw the glimmer of her tears. When she raised the dagger, I saw that it already had blood on it.Redblood.
TheSetava Terunfinally heard her. She turned and Wrune sped, jumping over the Ghertun bodies that lay between them.
It all happened so fast. Tess’ hand flashed out. I felt my barrier pierced from the inside as the dagger slid forth. The wet squelch of it as it thrust into the very center of theSetava Terun’schest echoed in the throne room.
A break in the barrier.
I felt another wave of power from thesarkiaunleash at that precise moment and it flashed out at Tess.
She was unprotected.
