“You are an evil, vile creature,” the last one yells, spear quaking. “This blood you spill will stain you forever.”
His own sprays the ground next. And it’s eerily quiet, besides his raspy breathing.
I stand above him.
“Monster. You’re a monster,” he gurgles.
“No.” I drive the sword through his breastplate. “I’m a beast.”
97
Rosalina
No, no, no. Please, no.Not this. Desperately, I fight against the hold of the guard, kicking as he tries to force my knees apart. But he’ssostrong. I’ve lost so much blood, my mind is hazy. The other guard who hit me drops his pants. I thrash, throat raw with screaming.
The other one has grabbed my arms, but it’s the slight turn of his head I notice first. The low surprised murmur under his breath.
A man steps into the room, no armor, face sprayed with blood. But his eyes are on fire. And they’re on me. He drops his sword.
Ezryn. My lips form the word I can’t speak. My mind desperately tries to call to him through the muddled bond.
He moves before the soldiers even let me go. He grabs the one above me by the neck and drags him to the side of the center stone tablet that still holds the bow. He slams the man’s head down hard. Hard enough to break the skull. Hard enough to spray blood and brain matter. Hard enough to kill him in a single blow.
But he doesn’t stop with one hit. He smashes the guard’s head down again and again and again and again, until there’s nothing but broken flesh beneath his fingers.
The guard who hit me lets me go, stumbling over one of the Nightingale’s iridescent brambles, then vomits over himself.
Ezryn drops the mutilated guard to the ground and retrieves his sword. His eyes are ablaze with a terrible fury.
There’s the screech of metal, and I whirl to the elevator. The Nightingale and the trident-wielding knight step out.
Her gaze shifts from the guard with his pants around his ankles to me splayed on the stone tablet. She draws a dagger from her hip and throws with deadly precision.
“Ezryn! Look out!” I scream, scrambling up, desperately shoving my dress down.
But the dagger wasn’t aimed at him. It strikes the guard in the skull. He drops. The Nightingale waltzes over to retrieve her blade. “Disgusting creatures, men. Aren’t they?” She shakes her head. “Regrettable. But I promise to make your death quick.”
She draws another dagger and throws. Silver flashes, and Ezryn steps in front of me and knocks it away with his sword.
“Going to try and kill me too?” She sniffs, hand on her hip. “Half this monastery is already dead. You saw to that.”
I pull myself up, gripping the back of Ezryn’s shirt, needing that contact with him.
The Nightingale makes a clicking sound, as if considering. “Kai won’t be happy about me killing you. But nothing will keep me from my vengeance. Even you, Prince of Blood.”
With a wave of the Nightingale’s hand, the Turquoise Knight charges. He hurtles his trident at Ezryn, who intercepts the attack, blocking and pushing his adversary to the side.
But it leaves me wide open for the Nightingale. She tilts her head, and her hood shifts slightly. Poking out from beneath her pointed ear is the white petal of a flower. A stardrop.
Odd. I wouldn’t think she’d wear anything that isn’t completely practical. She walks toward me, unbothered.
Desperately, I grasp the spear of one of the fallen soldiers and run at her. I toss it. She sidesteps out of the way easily. But the move brought me right beside her.
“Did you really think that would do anything?” she asks.
“No, but this will.” I shoot my hand beneath her hood and snatch the white flower. Then stuff the whole thing in my mouth.
Because I’ve seen this flower before. Seen it pinned in the armor of Kairyn and his Penta Conclave. Seen the acolytes who work in the keep wear them behind their ears. Even Eldy wore one for a time.
