“I almost hope that sheescapes and survives,” Carlo murmured, his focus over James’s shoulder where Ahnna was surely carving through the waves. “To have to live the rest of her days knowing that she sacrificed the love of her life…” The Beast sighed happily. “It pleases me so greatly to have discovered this aspect of your character, James. To know that you are capable of passion in the bedroomandsuch viciousness on the battlefield makes me love you more.”
“You do understand that your affection is unrequited?”
Carlo ran a finger along his blade. “Is it? You’re here, aren’t you? You two could have raced out into the waves together full well knowing that I would not follow, and yet you remained. Because the chance to kill me is worth dying for, and what is that if not a sort of love?”
James considered pointing out that killing Carlo so that Ahnna had the chance to escape was why he’d stayed, but the truth was, Carlo was not wrong. Killing him was worth dying for.
The tide slithered up the shore, whispering against the sand before retreating as though it feared the Beast as much as he did the midnight water. Moonlight gleamed off steel as James circled Carlo, boots digging into the damp ground. They’d fought so many times before, but this fight felt different.
Carlo grinned, teeth flashing white in the dark. His shirt was rippedand blackened, hanging off his shoulders and exposing the raw, charred flesh of his back. If he felt it, he didn’t show it. In fact, he looked almost…amused.
“You’re smiling,” James said, flicking his sword in a lazy arc. “Should I be concerned?”
Carlo tilted his head, eyes glinting. “Are you?”
James lunged—a quick, testing thrust toward Carlo’s ribs. Carlo twisted to avoid it, and the movement must have hurt, because a strangled noise slipped from his throat. But instead of pulling away, the Beast laughed.
James hesitated for half a breath too long.
Carlo struck like lightning. Their swords clashed, sparks flying as metal screamed. James barely yanked his head back in time to avoid a brutal slice aimed at his throat. He kicked sand at Carlo’s face, forcing him to fall back, but it didn’t wipe the wild grin off his face.
“Why do you enjoy this so much?” James asked, leveling his sword.
Carlo twirled his own blade, rolling his shoulders as if stretching, though James knew every motion had to be agony. “Why shouldn’t I? Life is fleeting—it’s best to relish every moment.”
James snorted. “You look like a side of pig that was left too long on the grill.”
Carlo hummed as if considering this. Then, suddenly, he launched himself forward. His strikes came fast and erratic—wild, almost reckless, but each blow was deadly precise. James barely kept up, blocking and dodging as he backpedaled through the sand.
The Beast laughed again, eyes bright with an inhuman brilliance. “You’re holding back, James. Don’t insult me.”
James exhaled sharply. “I’m not holding back.”
“Yes, you are.” Carlo parried another strike, then leaned in close, voice dropping to a whisper. “I wonder…Do you not wish to kill me?”
James shoved him away, their swords clashing in a shower of sparks. “I just don’t want to end it too swiftly.”
Carlo’s head tilted again. “Why? Would you rather spend the time with me than chase after your lady love?”
He lunged, forcing James back step by step, their boots kicking up sand. The burn was slowing Carlo, but not enough. He was fighting like a man who didn’t care if he won, lost, or died. That made him dangerous.
James needed to end this.
They dueled back and forth, but the moment Carlo stepped wrong, James struck. A swift twist of the blade, a calculated sweep of the leg. Carlo’s footing gave out, and he hit the sand hard.
James’s sword punched through flesh. The Beast fell back, and James went with him, and his weight forced the blade deep into the rocky beach, pinioning Carlo to the ground. Instead of screaming, Carlo wrapped an arm around him and laughed. “It was well fought, nemesis.”
James jerked out of his grip but left the sword in place, and as he staggered upright, a wave rolled up and immersed Carlo to his ears. His face drained of color, and Carlo tried to get an arm beneath himself to push up. To use his body to drag the sword out of the ground so that he could escape the next wave.
James took hold of the hilt and rested his weight on the sword. “The tide is coming in, Carlo.”
A wave washed in, this time going over his face. As it retreated, it took with it a crimson cloud. Carlo spluttered and cried out in fear.
James lifted his head, searching the waters for Ahnna. They were cast in pinks and oranges from the dawn light, but he saw no motion.Please be all right,he silently prayed.Please make it home.
Carlo’s terrified splutters as another wave rolled in drew his attention back to the man at his feet. “You’re right,” James said to him. “The method of death does matter. Watching you slowly drown is exactly how I would have dreamed of your death, if I dreamed of such things.”
Another wave rolled over Carlo, deeper this time, but as the froth cleared, it took with it the fear in the Beast’s eye. Except no…thatwasn’t quite right. The fear was still there, but it was mixed with pleasure.
