And before Dash could reach him, Ferox was surrounded by a bright light that held him immobile. Dash pulled up short and looked around for the source of it.
Marthen.
With his arm outstretched and palm aimed at the centaur, he held Ferox with his powers and used them to lift the centaur off his feet.
“What are you doing, Marthen?” Dash asked.
“Keeping you from killing him.”
“Why would you be so cruel?”
“You know why.”
Because it would begin the very thing Dash was trying to avoid. Unending war. Meara would use this as an excuse to rally the other kingdoms against him even more. He knew it.
As much as it galled him, Marthen was right, and he owed him for having the cooler head.
Hostages were power. He needed this rodent alive.
“Does he have to be returned intact?” Ryper asked.
Dove ran his thumb along the edge of his axe. “Surely, he could be a little worse for the wear?”
Marthen shook his head. “You’re better than that.”
Dove scoffed. “No. I’m really not.”
Neither was Dash. Not deep in his soul. Or even on the surface. He wanted to beat Ferox the way that monster had torn through them when they’d been unable to fight back.
Even now, he could hear the ringing laughter of Ferox and his friends as they tortured them when they’d been children, left in the care of enemies who’d wanted them dead.
He knew that same echoing laughter rang inside Dove’s and Ryper’s souls just as loudly.
They all wanted justice. They salivated for it. And yet again, it would be denied them.
It was insufferable really. When would they get to have their peace?
His gaze went to Tanis, and the fear on her brow as she watched him. It wasn’t fear of him being the demon he knew he could be. She was afraidforhim because she cared. She didn’t want him hurt.
That was all that mattered.
Without warning, all that inner fury evaporated. Dash stood there, stunned as it was literally sucked out of every part of his body. He’d never felt anything like it.
After all this time, he had that elusive peace that he’d been seeking the whole of his life.
His friends were alive. Tanis was unharmed. Really, did anything else matter?
Thiswasa victory. Ferox was routed. The centaur soldiers had either fled or thrown down their weapons.
It was over.
They were still standing. Yes, they’d lost some of the elves, but the vast majority of them were alive and unharmed. Their homes and the palace remained intact.
It was enough.
“Put him in chains,” Dash growled.
Ferox shrieked in anger. “You won’t be able to hold your kingdoms. You may wear a crown, but everyone knows that you’re nothing more than an unshodden, halfbreed dogger!”
