“Last chance. Who else?”
“I can’t say. Iwon’tsay.”
“Then I suppose we’re done here.” Killian held out an open palm. “Lieutenant, your sword.”
There was the scratch of steel leaving its sheath. Then, the cold hilt pressed into Killian’s waiting hand.
Moving behind her, Killian took a handful of Serua’s hair and placed the sword against her throat. She fought him all the way, scratching and clawing at his forearms, raking deep scratched into his skin. He barely felt them.
At last, Killian leaned in close, and whispered into her ear. “Serua Baraeth, you are charged with treason for theattemptedassassination of your king, His Majesty Fyar Engarathi.” Seruajerked in his grip, a questioning whimper escaping her throat. “Yes, that’s right. Rejoice. Our king still lives. You’ve failed.”
Serua slumped, all the fight draining out of her. “No.”
The sharp steel of Loran’s sword cut through muscle and sinew easily. Slit from one ear to the other, blood poured from Serua’s throat. She bled out quickly. She didn’t suffer for long.
A mercy she didn’t deserve.
Killian stared down at her until she stopped twitching. Stepping over her now lifeless body, Killian wiped her blood off from Loran’s sword on the fabric of his light linen sleep clothes and handed the blade back to his lieutenant.
Killian and Loran didn’t speak for a long moment, just stared at each other.
“Do you have anything to say?” Killian asked.
Loran simply shook his head no and took back his sword.
Kade paced back and forth in front of the fireplace in Killi’s room wringing his hands until his joints ached. The fire had long since died out, no one there to tend it since Killi had fled the room after ordering Kade to go for Hokda.
The healer had been in his own room just down the hall, holed up to rest and relax the night before four days roughing it out in the forest. He hadn’t been happy to see Kade when he’d shown up, frantically knocking and yelling at his door.
But sensing Kade’s panic and hearing his story, the healer had moved with urgency, disappearing back into his room and reappearing with a large leather case. He’d told Kade to go back to his room, go to sleep, and forget anything ever happened.
Kade had done none of those things. He’d tried to sleep, knowing the next day would be hell if he didn’t, but he onlyended up tossing and turning in Killi’s bed, his mind racing. The image of Killi doubled over haunted him every time he closed his eyes.
It was early in the morning now, still before dawn. The apprentices were due to meet Hokda in just half an hour to receive their final instructions before the hunt began.
Kade couldn’t bring himself to leave, he kept glancing at the door, hoping Killi would walk through it. He didn’t have much time left to wait.
He still didn’t quite understand what had happened the night before. Every path, every idea he explored led right back to one answer, and he couldn’t accept that. He had to be wrong.
Killi’s skin had been pale and clammy, his breathing quick and shallow. His knees near buckling under his weight. One minute he was fine and the next…
The door opened and Kade jolted out of his thoughts. Killi slipped through, eyes downcast and distracted. There was a drag to his feet and a slump to his shoulders. His hair was damp and his skin flushed from the baths. He didn’t even seem to notice Kade was there.
It was obvious by the dark circles under his eyes that Killi—like Kade—hadn’t slept at all.
Kade leaped over the sofa and stopped Killi short in the arch before the bedroom. There was a stinging in his eyes when Killi turned his face away from him. “Killi.” His hands were trembling when he pressed them to Killi's chest, needing to feel the beating of his heart for himself. They slid up Killi’s body until they rested gently on his cheeks. “You scared the life out of me. What happened? Are you alright?”
“I’m fine.”
“Please don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
“Don’t lie—not to me. Not now. Please.” Kade was dangerously close to breaking. Killi’s dark eyes were sad when they finally met Kade’s. “I saw it. Ifeltit. Your heart, Killi, youren…” Kade’s voice cracked, his voice thick. “I watched it fade. I-it was nearly gone.Youwere nearly gone.”
Lowering his head, Killi nuzzled into Kade’s hands, his lips pursed and his brow furrowed. It felt like an apology of sorts.
Kade put his fingers to the base of Killi’s throat, along the long thick line ofenilthat ran down the center of Killi’s chest from the two rings around his throat. A vow taken, a pledge, an oath. “Was it this? Was ithim?”
