Theo
“It should beginworking immediately,” Pricilla said, her jaw quivering. “Come on, Amaris.”
Theo turned to Pricilla, and Alan had his arms wrapped around her as tears fell from her eyes.
He focused his attention back to Amaris and gave her another breath. He leaned back on his heels, praying to Kedes and Kata to spare her. He asked for nothing else. He wouldn’t cheat death anymore. He’d gladly accept his death when it came, only if the gods would spare her.
Amaris’s chest heaved. He collapsed back on the floor, leaning on his elbows. He tried to release his own breath as he threw his head back, but his chest tightened. A slithering crept behind the stitch in his mind.
“It’s working.” Pricilla stepped over him and settled beside Amaris, grasping her hand.
With Amaris out of immediate danger, Theo bolted from the floor. He grasped his dagger and brandished it over Alan’s neck, slamming him into the wall.
“You did this!” he shouted, his teeth clenching as spit flung from his mouth.
Alan gripped his wrist around the dagger.
As if he could ever withstand my strength.The stitch in his mind parted, unraveling the thread he’d desperately thrown together.
“You told the duke she tried to escape and poisoned her fucking drink!” Theo barked.
Alan’s head tipped back to give him as much space as possible as Theo’s dagger pressed to the lump below his skin. He released his hands, raising them in defeat.
“Theo, put the knife down,” Pricilla said.
“You tried to kill her!” Theo screamed, his breaths coming in short, panicked bursts.
“I knew someone was in the stables,” Alan began, “but I didn’t know it was you two. I wasn’t the one who told the duke. You should be holding that dagger to whomever else was on sentry duty that night.”
“Liar!” Theo shouted.
His hands trembled, and his dagger slipped from his fingers. He tried to massage the aching muscles but could barely move his other hand. He tousled his hair, fighting against the constriction around his chest. He fell to his knees, choking on his breath.
“Theo, what’s wrong?” Pricilla asked.
“Esaias,” he muttered, his hand shaking as he grabbed the collar of his shirt. He couldn’t breathe.
“I think he’s with Onika,” someone said with a muffled voice.
A ringing swarmed in his ears as the room cascaded itself in a red hue. Theo clawed at whatever was constricting around his throat, threatening to suffocate him. He dropped his head to the ground, trying to force a bit of air into his lungs.
“Esaias.” He released a single agonizing breath.
“I’ll find him.”
Theo couldn’t tell who said it, but the tower door slammed shut. His vision grew spotty as his breaths increased. Someone kneeled beside him.A hand bracing against his back caused him to jolt and nearly smack them.
“It’s all right.”
Nothing’s all right!Amaris had almost died and had poison running through her veins. Someone had tried to kill her. His father wanted her dead or sent to Elric—he couldn’t even remember which, and his collar was too damn tight!
He tugged and pulled, trying to rid himself of the strangling garment. A pair of hands pulled off his coat and whatever was strangling him. His hand ripped at his chest, trying to take in a breath. His vision darkened, and his hands grew completely numb.
He gasped. His eyes pinched together, and his body trembled. He forced a breath, holding the air in his lungs. A weight pressed on him, threatening to stop his heart.
This is all my fault.He’d stepped away from her for too long. Anyone could’ve laced her drink.Where was Esaias? Where is he now?Theo wasgoing to kill him for leaving her. He clenched his hands, searching his waist for his sword.Where is it?
“What happened?” a voice asked.
