“Nobody will refuse you time to prepare your soul,” Rylo said. His voice held an emotion that Avery couldn’t pinpoint. The flicker in his cold, metallic golden eyes didn’t give away the same emotion in his voice.
Avery thought about her past life. Her simple, mundane life in America. She’d tried so hard to add adventure into her life— always seeking that next adrenaline rush. Never would that former Avery have considered killing someone if it meant her survival.
When she came to Aeritis she lost so much of her innocence. This world and these fae were harsh—filled with sharp edges that cut if she got too close. Despite the harshness of this place, it was also painfully beautiful and included the most painfully beautiful man that she’d ever met. There was something so strong between herself and Savine that she couldn’t even put it into words. And fuck all these fae who took her from him. She wouldn’t let herself or her friends be victims.
She was so damn tired of being the victim. Avery always had seen herself as fearless in her former life. She was called “brave” by her friends for working in harsh conditions. Avery had pushed her body and tested her limits in freezing temperatures while working on themountain. She’d dug through rock and roots to create new trails, working through the smoke-filled Montana summers. She would not let her fear stop her now from creating a good life here in Aeritis with the man that she chose.
None of the Nepheli talked with her or even made eye contact as they seemed to wait for Rylo’s command. Even Rue and Susan didn’t say a word. They leaned against each other, back to back, on the other side of the cave. The iron shackles ate into Rue’s bloodied wrists. Apparently, keeping Rue bound didn’t count as harming her.
“It is time,” Rylo said. His voice was sweet as nectar as he offered his hand to help Avery from the ground. Avery ignored him and stood on her own. Her bare feet felt the sharp edges of the rocks under her. This place, these people, and all these sharp edges continued to cut apart pieces of her.
Avery nodded to him. Even if she was resigned to taking Weston’s life, she still didn’t trust her voice to sound in control.
“I heard you have been training with Rue here. She is no doubt a fierce warrior to be chosen to guard such a treasure as you. But I wonder if she has taught you how to kill a fae with a powerful essence? I think this will make an excellent training exercise for you, Avery.”
All around them, fae were getting up from the ground. Standing ready to see the human kill one of their kind. Avery shivered at the looks on their faces. Beautiful, shimmering faces wore hard lines and expressions. It seemed not all agreed with Rylo’s decision to kill Weston.
Avery noticed the coldness that Rylo’s people regarded him with. They were so different from how Savine treated his close circle. Despite commanding respect, he welcomed his council to speak their minds. She’d seen Jay and Raikin speak up against Savine’s ideas.She’d certainly seen Kyla and Garnel speak up when Savine was making a mistake. And yet, there was no one who spoke out of turn here.
“You will execute Weston by stabbing him in the heart. The weapon will be a dagger. The dagger requires you to be in closer range. I would love to see a bit of blood on those sweet human hands,” Rylo said as he walked Avery over to a pile of weapons on the ground.
Avery picked up the dagger. At least she’d worked a bit with Rue on using a dagger. Hopefully, she could make this as quick and painless as possible.
“You look good with a dagger in your hand, Avery,” Rylo said. The way he threw her name around made her skin crawl. Hearing it roll off his poisonously sweet tongue gave her goosebumps. This man was either a monster or crazy. Or maybe just monstrously crazy. She was finally getting a taste of what Aeritis was like away from Savine’s protection and the warmth and kindness of the Bayberry Folk.
“Bring the prisoner forward!” Rylo bellowed. A Nepheli female with soft gray wings and soft gray eyes brought Weston to the center of the cave.
Weston looked stoic. The Nepheli had stripped him of his leather armor and he was exposed from the waist up. His essence moved like fur in the wind, and yet he kept his face fixed on the front of the cave. He did not speak and did not look at Avery.
“Kneel, prisoner. You are a bit too tall for our executioner,” Rylo said as Weston kneeled. Now Avery would be better able to angle the blade into Weston’s chest.
“Do you have any last words?” Rylo asked.
“I do not die a prisoner, but a guard to my rightful king, and what he holds dear. I die knowing I have protected those who could not protect themselves and kept my duty to my king and nation,” Westonstated.
He still refused to look at Avery or Rylo. His face was unreadable as he looked into the dusky evening light. Avery shook a little, knowing what he thought of her and what he was willing to do to save her and her friends.
“We will never forget you, Weston, and your sacrifice,” Rue said.
Susan’s stifled cries filled the silence in the cavern, echoing off the walls. “Thank you for giving your life for ours, Weston. It is an honor to know you,” Susan said through muffled tears.
Avery lifted the blade with her right hand. Her hand shook slightly, and she took a steadying breath to calm the shaking. If she had to do this, she would try to make it as quick as possible.
Before she could sink the blade into Weston, Rylo spoke up. “Now, since this is not only an execution, but your first execution, let me give you some advice. You must stab the blade past the ribs and into the heart. It requires quite a powerful blow. Otherwise, the blade will bounce off the rib cage.” He pressed his long fingers into a spot on Weston’s bare chest. “Aim here. Push hard and keep pushing until you feel the blade sink between the ribs. Do you need a countdown? I have found that useful in the past,” Rylo said.
His casual manner when talking about murdering a person unnerved Avery, but she tried to ignore it. She was doing this to keep Rue and Susan alive and unharmed for another day.
Weston turned to Avery. The look on his face nearly undid her. All the stoic calm was gone and replaced with an ashen version of her guard. “Avery, I was there the day Savine found you. Even if I didn’t recognize it then, you were meant for greatness from the moment you arrived here. Don’t give up on Savine. He-he is a good man and should know love. Remember me when you enter Orofine.”
Tears threatened to blur Avery’s vision. “Thank you, Weston, for looking out for me when I needed it the most. I will never forget your kindness.”
Avery didn’t hesitate to let anyone else speak. She wanted her words to carry Weston into his afterlife. She put all her weight and strength into the blow and struck Weston directly where Rylo had pointed. She pushed hard and felt the blade slide past Weston’s rib cage and strike his heart. Hot, sticky blood covered her right hand. The sight of it made her want to crumple into a pile on the cold, sharp stone floor.
Weston let out a shallow gasp, but otherwise remained still and silent. Avery pulled the blade from his chest and stepped away. He continued to stare out into the evening sky as the blood pooled across his chest, running down his body. That strong fae warrior’s body crumpled like a wounded animal to the ground. “Very good, Avery. Your aim was impressive. I was not sure you’d have it in you,” Rylo said as he turned away from Weston’s still body. “Now someone clean this up! I do not want to see blood stains the next time we need this cave. We fly out in an hour. Prepare yourselves.”
Rylo walked forward and touched Avery’s arm. She flinched at his touch. It disgusted her to feel his skin touch hers. “Avery, I believe you will travel easier if you are unconscious.”
Avery pulled away from his touch and gave him a seething look. Her mind was still spinning from killing an innocent person. And now this? Losing consciousness against her will again?
