Page 225 of Of Masks and Fury

Her shoulders slumped. “I understand because it’s the same for me.”

“Then we live for each other.”

She gave me a jerky nod, then winced because it must’ve hurt her head.

Her laugh came soft and pained. “I really did stab you by accident, you know.”

“I do know. That doesn’t make the memory less perfect.” I stroked her hair, careful around the bandage. “I knew in that moment you’d destroy me or save me. It turned out you did both.”

“That sounds dramatic.”

“You love it.”

“I loveyou.” She rose up to kiss me, soft and sweet despite our circumstances. “Even when you’re being insufferably protective and heroic.”

“You need to look in a mirror, Minx.”

“I will once we’re free.”

Shouts rang out outside. And utter chaos.

Screaming.

Running feet.

“Fire! The market’s on fire!”

Isi and I scrambled to our feet, pressing against the wall to hear better. Smoke began seeping through the cracks in the shed, making us cough.

“What’s happening?” Isi asked.

“I don’t know, but?—”

The door burst open.

Coralee stood in the entrance, her sword bloody and her expression fierce. “Move. Now.”

Magic flooded back into me like a dam breaking. The connection with Gavelle snapped into place, his relief and rage pouring through our bond. I grabbed Isi’s hand and we ran.

The village was in disarray. Flames engulfed a series of low buildings in the square, and people ran with buckets, shouting for help. Coralee’s ermine darted ahead, leading us through the confusion.

“The princess.” Someone spotted us. “She’s escaping!”

Villagers turned, their desperation for the reward overriding worry about the fire. A man lunged at Isi with a club. I caught his arm, twisting until bone snapped, and threw him into two others trying to flank us.

Isi moved beside me, dropping low, sweeping a foot across a woman’s legs, knocking her down. She darted upright, elbowing a man in the throat.

A roar split the air. Gavelle raced toward us in firecat form with Pherin, scattering villagers like leaves in a stiff wind. Pherin’s copper eyes blazed as she positioned herself between Isi and anyone stupid enough to approach.

“This way!” Coralee led us toward the village edge where shadows moved. Maddox and Malcolm materialized from their cover, and our dragons waited in a small meadow not far beyond.

“About time you joined us again,” Maddox called out, his sword swinging to block an arrow meant for my back.

I wanted to raze the village with magic. Overturn every stone, rip off every roof, and seek vengeance against every person who’d touched her.

The wanting was so clean and absolute it frightened me.

But I needed the power for the people who actually mattered.