“Take another step toward her, and I will cut your head off.”
My eyes whip to those calm, deadly words spoken through Kyzen’s lips. His sword presses against Mara’s throat, and with one wrong swallow, she’ll earn herself a deep, unhealable cut.
I sneer at the tears welling in her eyes.
Pitiful.
Strong arms wrap around my stomach, and my body becomes bathed in a power that makes my blood sing. Creed’s chest lifts me with each of his struggling breaths.
“Enough,” Gladian barks as he stomps toward us until he’s standing with what’s left of his Valtrue.
Kyzen scoffs at him but removes his sword and moves to Amick’s side.
Deep in my mind, I know I should rein him in, but first, I have to figure out how to rein myself in.
“Three dead from the stronghold. According to them, a small entourage escorted him here but didn’t make a move until they crossed back over. He gave them the go-ahead and immediately attacked. Either he knew one of you was going to follow or he planned on letting his army break through today.”
We all spare Gladian a minuscule amount of attention as we turn and head toward the barrier. Creed puts me on my feet after I tap his arm for the twelfth time, and we wordlessly continue stomping away.
I’m not sure any of us can form words right now.
Between the havoc in my soul, the madness in my mind, and the worry in my heart, nothing will come out as it should.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Gladian’s voice carries to us, but its echo fades as we cross through the barrier.
The second the warm embrace releases us, Creed grips my elbow and tugs me closer.
“What the hell happened, Amick?” Kyzen asks, low and icy.
“I don’t know.”
“What do you mean you don’t know? Seduction claimed—”
“I’m well aware of what she claimed, Kyzen. I was standing right there.”
“Then what did you do?”
The two of them slam to a stop and stare one another down. The accusation coming from Kyzen has the tension in my chest nearly suffocating me. My soul shudders from the hurt that flashes across Amick’s face.
“You…think I did something.”
My shoulders shake as my eyes bounce between them. Kyzen’s stern glare fractures, but I can’t get my whirlwind of emotions to slow.
That apparently displeases Creed to no end.
He snatches me away from them and ignores the glare I’m giving him for his manhandling.
“A little fucking help would be nice.” He growls, and I jerk my elbow from his grip.
“Well, what the hell do you need help with?” I ask in a tone as shitty as his.
He cuts his eyes at me, but there’s no heat or anger reflected at me. I actually scoff at the tender look on his face.
“I now see where the difference lies.”
My gaze snaps to Derivius, and I find him already staring at me.
“What does that mean? And where were you this whole time?”
