Elyssa couldn’t hear Ilario’s response, but he seemed reluctant to let the guard go. Turning in a half circle, she kept track of all the goddamn guards around them. Then her eyes met a pair of blood-red ones, and she sucked in a startled breath.
Tarnan.Somehow, he had become their number one enemy. Somehow, he had turned out to be the Dark King’s heir. He had a target on his back, and Elyssa itched to aim true.
“We need to move faster,” she yelled, her head swinging back to Eyden so fast she almost pulled a muscle. Eyden looked over her head, panic in his eyes. When Eyden panicked, they were truly screwed.
Lora bent to help Ilario pull the barely alive guard up, but then a loud voice even Elyssa could hear roared through the room. “Stop!”
Everyone in their close radius froze for a split second. Then the humans realised they didn’t have to follow the blind command. With some of the fae guards frozen, they made quick work of them. Elyssa didn’t hesitate, using her chance to knock down as many fae as possible with her arrows. In the corner of her eye, she saw Lora shake Eyden, while Amira’s blurry gaze was locked on Tarnan.
He had moved closer. There was no way to avoid a confrontation. As she felt the coldness of her brass knuckles against her skin, part of her didn’t want to.
When Tarnan halted before them, the fae around them seemed to come back to their senses. Eyden shook his arm, ready to strike again with his sword. The humans had taken their chance to move towards the exit.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Tarnan said. The royal healer was next to him, a blood stain on his shirt, pain lacing his features. Tarnan looked behind Elyssa. “It’s time to go now, Amira.”
Stepping forward, Elyssa’s fingers clenched around her brass knuckles. “You’re not fucking taking her anywhere.” She could feel movement behind her—probably Eyden moving closer to her, always her protector.
Tarnan tilted his head at her. “It’s a shame, really. I quite liked you, for a human.”
Elyssa narrowed her eyes at him.
Appearing next to her, Lora stumbled slightly, her eyes fierce yet exhausted. “I won’t get you that agreement, so what’s your point here? If you were going to kill us, you would’ve already.”
Elyssa had to hand it to her, Lora didn’t beat around the bush.
“It’s not my goal to kill pointlessly,” Tarnan replied, gaze fixed on Lora.
“What did Cirny do to deserve her fate?” Amira asked, drawing closer on unsteady feet, her voice thin. Elyssa had the urge to step in her path, but there was no point. Amira made her own choices and took her own risks.
Tarnan didn’t seem all that bothered by Amira’s question. He was always so calm. It had seemed reassuring before; now it was just cold. “I had to put my power to the ultimate test.”
Amira recoiled at his admission.
Clapping his hands together, Tarnan nonchalantly said, “Well, as I said, Amira and I should be going now. Lora, I’m looking forward to seeing you at the contest.”
“Contest?” Lora asked before Elyssa could make a snappy comment. “I’m not in the bloody contest.”
“I thought you would catch on quicker,” the king replied calmly. “Someone has to take Karwyn’s place. I could take you all out now—you were right about that, and don’t forget it—but I’m an honest man. I will take the crown that was stolen from my father and I will haveearnedit. No one will be able to deny my destiny.”
Lora seemed in shock, her hand curled around the hilt of her dagger.
“First of all, you can’t force her to do anything,” Elyssa said, her fist clenching. She didn’t know how Lora was apparently immune to his compulsion since she wasn’t fully human, but it only mattered that she was. “And even if it does come to that, Lora will be whooping your ass, so—”
A hand on her arm tugged her back. Her eyes travelled to where Amira’s hand held hers. She could feel Amira’s hand shaking, from her injury, fear, or possibly both. Elyssa squeezed her hand once before letting go.
Tarnan sighed. “This is tiring. Let me rephrase: I have no intention of killing all of you. I’m not my father. I will do things by the book. I need one Adelway in the contest. And even the useless advisor might live depending on if he behaves. I suppose I owe you a thanks for speeding up the ritual.” Rhay glared at him from further back.
“That doesn’t mean I won’t kill everyone else in my way,” Tarnan said, huffing in disappointment. “Guards”—he snapped his fingers—“takethemout.” He gestured to Eyden, Ilario, Varsha and Damir.
Abandoning their fight, the closest guards headed their way. The humans who hadn’t fled yet made a run for the door. Tarnan’s gaze cut to Elyssa again. “The only reasonyou’renot dead already is because I know Amira will have a hard time understanding the necessity of your death.”
Elyssa braced herself, a throwing star slipping out of her sleeve. He couldn’t compel her. He couldn’t stop her.Bring it on.
“That’s the most honest thing you’ve said all night,” Elyssa replied dryly. She didn’t give Tarnan a chance to reply before the throwing star landed in his shoulder. He grunted, his perfectly stoic mask slipping as disgust seeped through. “Next one goes in your heart—if you have one.” Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the rest of the group bracing themselves for an attack from the guards.
Calmly, Tarnan pulled the weapon from his flesh. “Need I remind you that my life is tied to Amira’s?”
Goddamn.The blood contract. In a cruel twist of fate, Amira had saved herself from Karwyn only to be thrown to the wolves at Tarnan’s feet. Amira’s amethyst eyes that had shone so bright tonight as she’d embraced her power, were now nothing but doom as the princess seemed to come to the same realisation.
