“You will never see your son again.”
I stabbed the blade into his stomach, twisting the weapon as I drove it in deeper.
Kyros stumbled back, pulling the dagger out of his stomach and dropping it to the floor, his expression shocked. Pressing a hand onto the gushing wound, he gazed at me with disbelief and then rage.
My heartbeat roared in my ear.
Kill him now.
Do it quickly!
He yelled, and then his eyes widened with fear. Glancing at the blood running down his stomach to his leg, he bellowed again and yet his body did not transform. “Why can’t I transform? What is this? Dark Magic? They were right about you.”
He backed away. I scrambled off the bed.
“You’re the witch,” he whispered, looking at me in horror. “The one haunting my dreams. You were the one they’ve warned me about. My death bringer was always you…”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said, glancing around the room. I needed to end it now. Would that wound kill him? No, the Lich King said it would only negate his transformation.
Just then the bedroom door opened.
Stephani lunged for me. I quickly pulled out my moonblade and slashed, but she dodged the blow and punched me in the face, sending me flying backwards.
White spots speckled my vision as pain radiated out from my cheek.
“Traitor!” she screamed, scrambling over me, grabbing my hair and landing on my back. “You attacked the king. You will be hanged for this.”
“He killed my daughters. He deserves more than death.” I rolled over and spit in her face.
She shrieked and clawed at my clothes, trying to reach me as I rushed toward the door. I twisted at the last minute, angling the moonblade, ready to end her life. She vaulted forward, grabbing my arm that held the weapon and bit into my wrist.
I screamed as searing pain ripped through my arm and I fell to the ground, dropping my weapon. Stephanie spat a wad of blood out of her mouth and snatched up my moonblade and rose it over her head.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment,” she snarled.
I held out my hands, lurching away from her on the ground.
“With the queen out of the way, the king will need a new queen, new heirs, ones better suited to overseeing your unruly kind. The age of the dragonborn will return.” She launched for me.
I rolled to the side and the blade hit my shoulder. I cried as it pierced flesh. Calling my power forth, dark shadows swirled around Stephani, enclosing her in darkness and I kicked her in the chest, shoving her off.
“Your time has come,” she said, swatting wildly. “My plans are finally fulfilled.”
“Has that always been your plan?” I asked through gritted teeth, crawling across the floor, holding my shoulder. “To get rid of me and my daughters so you can sit on the throne?”
Stephani laughed. “The worldisa better place with them gone, isn’t it? And now that you will be gone, the king and I will have our happily ever after.”
Quickly, getting to my feet, I dashed away from her. She spun and jumped,
launching herself in my direction. White spots speckled my vision and I swayed, losing my footing and the vision broke.
Her dark eyes widened with a wicked glee as she emerged from the dissipating cloud. With the moonblade aiming for me, I held up my hands to block the incoming blow and something stepped between us.
Kyros.
The curved blade embedded directly into his heart.
“No! What are you doing?” Stephanie stepped back, horror on her face.
