“Someone’s been keeping a secret,” Haldir snarled.
“Hal, you’re angry at me.” Evander took a few steps toward them. “Leave her out of it.”
A sneer cracked Haldir’s face, and he cocked the shotfire’s hammer. Valenna flinched and tried to struggle against him, but Haldir was massive, and his hold tightened, squeezing the air from her lungs.
“No!” Evander’s voice cracked, and he lurched forward, his hands out, pleading. “What do you want? Tell me what you want and I’ll give it to you.”
“I want to shoot her in the head!” Haldir bellowed.
“NO!” Evander’s breathing was ragged and quick, sweat beaded on his brow. “You want to shoot me. I’m the thorn in your side. You hate me, and I’m right here. Don’t waste your only shot on her.”
“Stop it,” Valenna hissed. “Vander, shut up.”
She moved her hands up Haldir’s arm, debating if she could flip him over her shoulder. He was heavy, and she was out of practice. Her confidence sagged. One misstep, and either she or Evander could be killed in an instant.
Haldir turned the shotfire on Evander.
“Don’t!” Valenna cried. “Please, don’t!”
“I knew it!” Haldir crowed. “I knew it all along!”
Haldir’s free hand traveled to Valenna’s neck, closing around her throat. She inhaled sharply.
“What are you, darling?” he whispered, his breath wet against her ear. “Some kind of witch? A dark sorceress? My father is a general in Sennalaith, you see, andI’ve heard stories about Cadmus’s missing witch child. She’d be about your age. But if you show me a few of your other secrets, I’ll keep this one for you.”
Valenna’s skin crawled, and she choked out, “I’d rather you shoot me.”
“Keep this between us”—Haldir nodded toward the dead plant on the ground—“and make me dragon master, and I won’t tell anyone about your strange, dark powers.”
“Yes,” Valenna rasped. Her head pounded, her lungs begged for air. “Of course.”
His face scarlet with fury, Evander threw away caution and strode toward them. Haldir raised the shotfire, but Evander only stopped when the barrel was flush with his chest. He had the wild look of a fox with its foot in a trap.
“Either shoot me or let her go,” Evander growled.
With a ringing laugh, Haldir shoved Valenna forward, and Evander caught her in his arms. He whirled around, shielding Valenna with his body as a shot cut through the night. Evander flinched.
Valenna screamed, twisting and clutching his arms. Haldir laughed again. He was holding the shotfire over his head, aiming it into the branches. He’d wasted the shot; a cruel game.
Slowly, Evander turned. He swayed as he stalked toward Haldir.
Haldir scoffed. “What are you going to do, you pathetic little …”
Evander snatched his cutlass from the ground and rushed at Haldir. In a blink, the blade was at his throat, cutting the skin under his Adam’s apple. “I could slash your throat and blame it on the tuber. No one would ever know, and I would be the next dragon master.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” Haldir breathed.
“You put your hands on her, and you think I’ll let you live?”
Valenna had never seen Evander like this—unhinged, undone, and she feared he might really do it. She ran to him and gripped his arm. “He’s not worth it, Vander.”
Evander’s neck and cheeks were flushed, his breath quick and ragged. “I heard what he said to you.”
“He’s a fool. Don’t risk your life for him. If you kill him, you’ll be hanged.”
“That’s what’s so beautiful about it. They won’t have time to hang me,” he said.
Valenna didn’t understand what he meant by that, but she did understand the blood streaming down Evander’s neck, soaking his collar.
