Ripley’s voice purred in her ear. “This feels familiar, Night Terror.”
She didn’t acknowledge him, eyes fixed on Gerrart’s terrifying grin and the dagger he now had in his hands. Night Carver.
Brela spat at him. “I will rip you apart and feed you to a celvusa.”
He responded with a kick to her stomach. Air left her lungs as she doubled over and vomited. Ripley yanked her head back up, the dagger returning to her throat.
Her fingers curled, desperately searching for some sliver of power that she might still have. It only led to another scream as pain ripped through her collarbone. Blood poured freely, leaving another trail of burning as it dripped down her skin.
“Now, now,” the third voice hummed. “Your magic won’t be any good for a long while. My swords are laced with hellthorn.”
A man in a pristine crimson and gold uniform stepped in front of her, wiping her blood off the short sword in his hand. The other remained sheathed at his belt.
Brela had to blink away the fog as she focused on the Anfroidian. Familiar… she’d seen him before. She knew that face.
Lord Remont.
Four hells, he had been with Boelyn and Cason in the forest. He’d been the brains behind her first capture.
And the fucking King of Severina had betrayed her.
I’m sure you deserve everything that’s coming with your newfound freedom.
That bastard. Thatbastard.
“I’ll kill all of you,” she hissed, then spat at Remont.
Gold flickered and shielded him before her bloodied spit could soil his uniform. He just smiled.
“Nice of you to step inafterthe worst of the fight, Remont,” Gerrart growled.
“My king and I paidyoufor her capture, did we not? You got your dagger back, and Ripley will be rewarded handsomely.”
Myking… no. It was all a setup.
Ovir’s words trickled in.I heard that an Anfroidian Lord close to the King had been involved.
No, no,no.
He hadn’t meant the Severinian King.
Remont’s grin was wicked as he used his blade to shift her shirt, revealing the bloodied shard. “King Raff is quite interested in this thing.”
Ripley held her back, preventing her from shoving her body forward into the blade. She bared her teeth instead. “You’ll never get anything from me.”
He leaned down, smart enough to stay far enough away while still keeping his blade poised over her heart, just out of reach for impalement. “Everyone breaks eventually, even the Veil Scholar.” The tip of his sword pierced as she slipped forward, sending burning fire across her skin. He chuckled and yanked it back. “Nice try. No one is coming for you. Not your precious guild. Not the weak prince. Definitely not your friends.” He stood and wiped her blood off his blade again. “Where you’re going, no one will follow.”
A single tear rolled down her cheek. He was right, of course. She’d just lost her protection from Ovir. Her friends wouldn’t be able to follow her to Anfroy, if they even learned where she’d been taken. This wasn’t like following the prince’s convoy. Traveling to Anfroy was certain death for them.
The prince… he’d never know either. He was clever, but his father was always one step ahead. And even if Serill discovered what had happened, he’d never come for her. Hecouldn’tcome for her.
She’d already lost her dragon.
She was alone.
Always alone in the end.
Brela didn’t flinch as Remont’s fist connected with her face. Blackness swept in, and she didn’t care. There was no point in fighting any longer.
