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Stepping forward with the hairs on my arms rising, I put myself between them and her. “Anyone touches her, and I’ll turn this farmland into a fucking graveyard.”

“Oh, big words!” Lian laughs, while Corvin just rolls his eyes and marches toward us, jaw clenching.

I reach for the blade at my back, muscles tense.

Two against one. I’ve had worse.

But thundering footfalls pounding the earth at my rear distract me. I glance over my shoulder to see Viscount Rylan returning, face pinched, anger burning in his stance. His arms swing widely at his sides. His cloak snaps around his legs as he takes in the entire scene before him.

“What is this?” he barks, mostly staring at me now, before his gaze slips over to Dawn. She shakes, her expression dark, and I don’t blame her, but I’m fucking annoyed that it’s aimed toward me.

Rylan arrives, pausing feet in front of me and before Corvin.

“My lords,” he begins. “I wasn’t informed that you were arriving today, or I would have prepared a welcome fit for royalty. And you shouldn’t be in the farming district, of all places. You deserve better.” His face flushes, hands clenched, head lowering to them. Fucking bastard.

“Travel plans change,” Lian admits, stepping forward. “And we’ve wasted enough of our time, so we’ll take our Offering and leave. Dawn, let’s go.”

She scowls in response, retreating a few steps.

Rylan swallows, his throat bobbing. “The king explained that you were simply paying us a visit, not selecting an Offering. However, if⁠—”

“You were busy. We didn’t want to intrude,” Corvin butts in, his words firm.

“She’s not leaving with you,” I instruct, sticking my chest out, feeling the heavy blade still at my back.

Rylan swings his scowl in my direction, lips lifting over teeth. “Why are you here? Go. These matters don’t concern you.”

A snarl rumbles in my chest. Push me further, and I’ll rip your spine out.

He swings away from me. “My lords, you need to understand, the Offerings are handled through a strict protocol as agreed to by King Slate and the monster realms.” He gives a fake laugh. “We can’t just hand over anyone as an unselected bride. She hasn’t even been chosen for this year’s Offering.”

“That doesn’t change anything,” Corvin states, his voice booming, jawline clenching.

“Please,” Rylan continues. “I’ll arrange another Offering, someone more suitable. Two, if you prefer.”

“No,” Lian barks, towering over him. “Are you hard of hearing, Viscount? Dawn is ours.”

Rylan flinches backward.

Dawn whimpers, drawing my attention. Our gazes clash for a heartbeat before she tears away from me. It slices me apart to see her this way.

Rylan’s huffing for air. “My lords, I apologize, but I can’t breach the king’s agreement.”

“Then pull her name out of the fucking Chalice. Why are you being so difficult?” Corvin cracks his neck, and I’m half expecting him to tear his head off. The fact that neither of them has drawn blood yet surprises me.

“Let’s end this,” I say, stepping forward. “I’ll make it easy on you. She’s staying here with me because I’ve already officially claimed her as mine.”

Dawn gasps behind me, but I keep my attention on the two lethal monsters ahead. It’s clear they’re going to push the Viscount, which will lead to bloodshed. As much as I welcome it, Dawn’s been through enough terror for one day.

Corvin’s head rises, nostrils flaring. “By what ruling?”

“By stupidity would be my guess,” Lian snaps, smirking.

I huff, crack my back, and march toward the pyre. “I’ll prove it. Then you can both go fuck off back to Grimvale.” My pulse thunders in my temples as I stride forward, needing them out of my damn face long enough to take Dawn away from this place.

The fire is low already, while the bones of the structure still burn red, heat rising from the pile of blackened ash. They tied her to this, trying to burn her, and my hands curl at the front of my shirt before I furiously rip the fabric open across my heart.

I turn to face the audience.