Hokda scowled. A beat of silence. “It might. There’s no guarantee—”
“He’s not dead yet!” Kade begged. “You have to try.”
Fyar’s eyes flashed and he snarled at Kade as he pushedpassed, but he knelt behind Hokda, and put a hand on the healer’s shoulder.
An explosion of gold filled the clearing, and for a moment, hope bloomed. Hokda tried again.
And then, the light faded.
Hokda lowered his head.
Nothing.
“No,” breathed Kade. “No. It should work. It should’ve worked. What did you do? What did you do so it wouldn’t work?”
Was Kade trying to get himself killed? “Stop.”
“You’re punishing him.” It was like Kade couldn’t hear him. “You’re letting him die.” He opened his mouth to continue shouting. “You—”
“Enough!” Killian barked, yanking Kade backwards, his grip on Kade’s arm bruising. “You stop this now, Apprentice.”
Kade looked stricken, a whine escaping his throat.
Lyra, who had been watching silently, made the final decision. Reaching down, he untied the tourniquet from Porthos’ thigh, letting fresh blood run rivers over the old, whispering comforts all the while.
A mercy. Porthos would go quickly.
Choking, sobbing, Kade turned to Killian, burrowing into his arms. Unable to watch his friend’s last moments.
Prince Porthos Yvylr died in his brother’s arms.
Killian thought he was lucky for that. There were worse ways to go.
The clearing was silent, still, not even the birds dared to chirp.
Fyar pushed to his feet, declaring the hunt over. A prince was dead, and all of Netyere would mourn him. Everyone was to return to the palace immediately.
Everyone moved except for Lyra who was still cradling Porthos in his arms, a faraway look in his eyes.
Kade had looked betrayed when Killian stepped away and mounted his horse alongside Fyar.
This was life, this was duty, it didn’t stop for anyone.
Killian would deal with Kade once they had a moment alone.
Fyar’s whispered voice carried. “Captain, I suggest you keep better control of your brother. The next time he speaks to me that way, he will live to regret it.”
A clear warning.
Kade lowered his head, face burning.
Kade felt like he was moving through water, everything slow and unfocused. He didn’t remember the journey back to the palace. He barely remembered trailing after the guards as they carried Porthos’ lifeless body to the infirmary, laying him down in one of the empty rooms.
Hokda ordered everyone out.
Kade didn’t go.
Surprisingly, Hokda didn’t force him to.
