Lora stared into Karwyn’s eyes, the color so much like her own. She realised that, for the longest time, she’d refused to recognise him as family. The wordcousinhad always been poison on her tongue. He was nothing more than a monster—how could he possibly be her cousin? But now, she couldn’t deny their connection any longer; she felt no need to.
Electricity coursed through her, encouraging her to let loose, to finally,finally, give in and surrender to her fae side, letting her power shine. Holding Karwyn’s gaze, who was unmistakably her own flesh and blood—her cousin, the king, the only other half-fae she knew of, her worst enemy—Lora let her fire take over.
Chapter45
Eyden
As soon as the fire message reached Farren, Eyden grabbed his hand and threw them into the wind. He focused on Lora, on the beacon she was carrying around her wrist, and sure enough, when his feet hit the ground, Eyden could feel her presence like a spotlight on his heart.
The room they found themselves in was filled with smoke, ashes coating the floor. He heard shouting. Farren was doubled over, not used to drifting.
Stepping further into the fog, blurred figures appeared in front of him. Lora’s blonde hair blew in the wind thrown at her. Fire was streaming out of her. Everything around her was burned and blackened. Karwyn was standing with his hands outstretched, smothering her flames as best as he could. They seemed evenly matched.
Where was the fucking contract? Lora was supposed to give the signal once she’d managed to force Karwyn to show it to her. With smoke everywhere, Eyden couldn’t spot it.
He saw Lora lower her hands, her arms shaking. Using his window of opportunity, Eyden launched himself at Karwyn. The king’s arms fell to his sides as he tried to keep upright, but Eyden connected with him hard, sending them to the ash-ridden ground.
Taking him by surprise, Eyden easily got the upper hand, forcing Karwyn underneath him and delivering a punch to his cheek. Blood dripped from the king’s mouth. Eyden had never had a chance to apply his revenge, to let outallof his fucking anger.
In his mind, he saw his father’s face—and punched Karwyn across his jaw.
For the people who had died at the first human camp, he punched Karwyn again.
For Ilario, heartbroken after Damir was taken, Eyden broke Karwyn’s nose.
For Lora’s pained eyes—doomed,she’d said—he’d doom the king in return.
Eyden raised his fist again. Karwyn wasn’t moving anymore. His face was bleeding badly, bruises all over. Eyden felt compelled to keep going, to inflict as much pain on him as he had inflicted on the people he cared most about. He deserved every punch, every bruise, every fucking drop of blood.
A hand wrapped around Eyden’s fist, halting him. Warmth spread through him. He tilted his head up and met Lora’s panicked eyes.
“Don’t. You can’t kill him,” she said. Eyden dropped his arm, his knuckles blood red. It was like coming out of a trance.What was he thinking? If he killed Karwyn, Lora would pay the price.
“Where’s the contract?” he asked, the mission back on his mind even as the need for revenge still echoed through him.
Lora’s gaze left his as she searched the room. “It must be here somewhere.” Farren came closer, also looking for the paper.
The double doors flew open. Three guards stormed in. Eyden recognised one of them—Layken. They took one look at the destroyed room and Karwyn on the ground and drew their almandine swords.
“Get the contract,” Eyden whispered, loud enough for Lora to hear. He was counting on them not attacking Lora. With one glance at Farren, they launched themselves into the fight. Farren clutched a crystal in his hand, and Eyden slid a knife out of his sleeve.
He threw it at the nearest guard, who yelped in pain. Farren used the distraction to advance on him, pressing his crystal to the wounded guard’s skin and forcing him into a deep sleep.
Eyden gripped the dagger underneath his waistband and barely avoided Layken’s sword as he stepped back. He registered Farren fighting the other guard, but his attention was on Layken. Eyden sidestepped each of his attacks smoothly. It almost seemed too easy, like they were merely practising and not actually striking.
Farren was struggling in his peripheral vision, so Eyden picked up his movements, letting his dagger clank against Layken’s sword while his other hand let his second knife fly into the other guard’s chest—right into his heart.
The move cost Eyden a split second of attention, letting Layken win the upper hand as his sword almost stabbed him. Leaning out of the way, the sword grazed Eyden’s shoulder instead of his chest. Eyden felt the sting, blood drenching his sweater, but it was hardly lethal.
Eyden landed a slash across Layken’s sword arm. His grip didn’t loosen, but Eyden saw him flinch in pain. His arm grew unsteady as his sword pushed against Eyden’s dagger. The sword was bigger, but Eyden forced all his strength into his grip on his almandine dagger.
And then he pulled back, confusing Layken as he gave the guard the upper hand. Eyden used his surprise, his free hand catching the small knife Farren threw his way. Layken’s eyes widened as Eyden plunged the knife into his lower stomach. The guard dropped his sword. After a kick to his stomach, Layken landed on the ground.
Eyden raised his dagger above him, looking into the guard’s lazuli blue eyes. Layken clutched his stomach wound, breathing hard. Hesitation pulled at him as Eyden moved his dagger closer to Layken’s chest. Layken’s eyes seemed to flicker, the blue of his irises dimming. Was the smoke playing tricks on him? Moving his blood-stained arm, Layken pushed his hair from his face, smearing blood across his forehead. There was something—maybe a bruise—right above his brow, but now blood covered it. Eyden didn’t remember hitting him in the face.
Farren appeared next to him, putting the sleeping crystal to Layken’s head and pulling Eyden back into action.
“I have it!” Lora shouted from across the room. Through the fog and ashes, Eyden’s gaze landed on Lora, a rolled-up paper in her raised hand. A grin stretched across his face as he got up.
