Why is she letting him back her into the fountain?If she wanted to, she could stop him in an instant. So why isn’t she?
My blood runs cold as he slips a dagger from his sleeve, the blade catching the faint moonlight.
My body moves before my mind catches up. I break into a run.
She doesn’t seem to notice, doesn’t see the danger. She turns, trying to step past him, and that’s when he raises the blade. I dive between them. Pain erupts like fire as the daggerpierces my side.
I hit the ground with a groan, breath hissing out of me.
Serenya gasps. “Koen! What—?”
I don’t let her finish. I shove myself up, ignoring the fire in my ribs.
Osric’s shock vanishes, replaced with fury, although it’s nothing compared to the fury inme. The thought of what might have happened if I hadn’t been here makes me see red. I step toward him, and whatever he sees in my face makes him falter.
I swing, my fist connecting with his jaw in a sickening crunch. He stumbles back but recovers instantly, launching a vicious hook. Our blows ring through the garden—the wet smack of flesh meeting flesh, the scrape of feet on stone, our ragged breaths.
A loud crack echoes as my fist smashes into his ribs. He growls, spitting blood. My elbow catches his jaw, sending him staggering. Gravel sprays with every kick and step.
“I’m going to kill you,” he hisses close to my ear. “And when I do, I’ll have more than just her blood. Maybe I’ll have some fun first.”
White-hot fury explodes inside me. My magic answers, wild and unrestrained. The jagged gold lines scrawled across my skin ignite, crackling like lightning. Heat sears through my arm and into his throat as my hand clamps around his neck.
“You will never touch her,” I snarl.
His eyes widen, panic flashing. Limbs thrash, but my magic pours into him. He gags, claws at my arm, then goes slack. Still, the burning light doesn’t stop. Flesh sizzles, bone cracks faintly. Within moments, he shudders violently,convulsing, until all that remains of him falls away into ash that drifts onto the fountain stones, scattering in the night breeze.
I lower my hands, chest heaving, muscles trembling. The magic retreats, satisfied thatSerenya is safe.
I slowly turn, meeting Serenya’s stare, worried aboutwhat she must think after seeing what I’d just done. Shock is etched across her features, quickly hardening into irritation.
“What the hells, Koen?”
It takes me a moment to even process. That’s her response? Not fear. Not relief.Irritation.
When I don’t answer, she snaps again. “You have a dagger in your side.” She gestures like I might’ve forgotten. “Youjumpedin front of a dagger!”
“I know,” I grit out. “Can you maybe…I don’t know…help me with it?”
She glares, stepping forward to shove me down onto the fountain’s edge. Her touch is rough and impatient.
“I’ll numb the area, but it’s still going to sting,” she mutters, pressing one hand over the wound while the other yanks the dagger free. I hiss as pain sears through me.
“You’re an idiot,” she says flatly.
“I save you, and you call me an idiot?” I shoot back, incredulous.
“I didn’t need saving,” she snaps.
“He was going tokillyou.” The growl in my voice surprises even me.
“He wouldn’t have succeeded,” she shoots back. Then her tone softens, almost too quiet to hear. “The gods aren’t gracious enough to allow that.”
I go still, caught off guard. I don’t know how to respond to that.
She stiffens, wide eyes flicking up to mine like she just realized something. “Have you—have you ever…killed before?”
I hesitate. “…No. I’m just a tavern boy. Not much call for killing.”
