“Stay out of it. Your father knows what he’s about.”
She twisted sharply, her braid slipping loose, golden strands catching the light.
Her eyes flared as she snapped back, voice low and dangerous.
“Try to stop me, Evander—and see what happens.”
She broke free, leaning over the ridge, heart in her throat as Viktor tore across the field. Every breath, every beat of her pulse was with him—terrified of what her father might do.
Gabriel’s voice cut through the chaos.
“Viktor—look out! He’s coming!”
Storne’s stallion thundered after him, hooves pounding like war drums at his back.
The commander gave no quarter, driving him harder, faster, each strike of the mount’s hooves closer, closer—until Viktor could feel the heat of its breath against his neck.
“Commander, stop!” Gabriel’s shout cracked, furious, desperate.
Amerei’s cry split the ridge. “Father!”
Viktor’s chest tore with fire.
He pushed harder, lungs screaming, legs aflame.
Dust rose in choking clouds, the far edge of the field rushing nearer with every stride.
“Commander!”
His voice broke raw.
Still the stallion bore down.
“Commander!”
No answer. No mercy.
His throat burned, his heart collapsing into dread. Desperation wrenched the word from him, stripped of rank, stripped of fear.
“Storne!”
At last the commander hauled on the reins, the stallion rearing, hooves slashing the air.
But Viktor’s own momentum could not be stopped.
The ground vanished beneath him.
The last thing he heard was Amerei’s scream—raw, breaking through the wind.
Then the world fell away.
Gabriel and Amerei rushed to the cliff’s edge, voices ragged with horror.
“Viktor!” Gabriel roared.
Amerei struck Storne’s chest with both fists, golden hair wild around her tear-streaked face.
“You killed him! You killed him!”
