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Instead of turning around, Cato’s gaze flicks to where Nero slowly climbs to his feet. He sees Nero as an enemy, and he won’t turn his back on an enemy, even to help Vesper. If he levels those sunbeams at Nero and Nero doesn’t defend himself … I move before Cato has a chance to, jumping in front of Nero with my arms held wide. “Stop!”
“If you don’t get out of the way—”
“You won’t do anything,” Nero says at my back, his cold voice carrying easily in the night air. “Touch her and Death will cut you down.”
Cato’s hands start to shake. His dark eyes are wild. “Two have to die, Kestrel. And I’m not going to sacrifice myself.”
“I don’t want you to!”
Death swings his sword, narrowly missing contact with Vesper. By all rights, they shouldn’t be able to avoid his strikes, but as he attacks, they always manage to stay a bare inch from the edge of his blade. How long will that last? Especially if Cato decides to fight me and Nero?
Kill him. He’s a threat.
I ignore the voice. Cato is a threat, but I refuse to believe he’s a threat to me. He wants to survive, the same as we all do. Cato loves his mother just as much as I love Mouse and the littles. He’s protected me time and time again during the Trials, keeping me alive when I would have otherwise died. I don’t care that he turned his back on me tonight. I understand why he did. No matter what the Moon’s voice whispers to me, I won’t kill him. Not if I have any other choice. I grab his arm with my free hand. “Cato, stop.”
“Get out of my way.” He grips my wrist and bends in half, flinging me over his head and to the flagstones with enough force to drive the air from my lungs and deliver a dizzying crack to my skull.
“No!” I reach out a hand, but I’m already too late. Death will kill Vesper. Cato will kill Nero, or maybe Nero will kill Cato. No matter the outcome, I lose someone I care about. I grab Cato’s ankle. “Stop! Please!”
He looks down at me with something like hate. “You ran! You don’t get to make demands now.” He jerks his ankle out of my grip and continues to stalk toward where Nero waits, his sword held in a familiar angle across his body.
Only for it to drop from nerveless fingers, hitting the ground with a clang that seems to ring through the suddenly silent crossroads.
Nero coughs wetly and presses his fingers to his lips. “What…” He collapses.
The Star stands behind him, casually adjusting her lace gloves. “You simply must pay attention to your surroundings, darling. I made my agreement with Death—not you.”
“No. No.” I crawl across the stones, barely registering the bite to my already bruised knees, to kneel next to Nero. No, not him. To kneel next to his body. Blood coats his lips and his eyes have gone empty with Death’s presence. I reach out a shaking hand—only to be brought up short when Cato grabs my wrist.
“She used poison,” he mutters.
“Oh, please. I’m not an amateur. It’s internal. It won’t rub off on the precious princess’s skin.”
I look up at the Star, seeming to be completely untouched by the violence she just enacted. Just like she always is. She flits from space to space, dropping her snide little comments and manipulating those around her. Why should she live when Nero dies? He was more honorable than she could ever dream of being. She had her chance in the Cinque, and she’s done nothing to help anyone but herself.
Behind her, the High Priestess flickers out of vision. I can faintly see the outline of the woman as she approaches the Star’s back, her intent clear in the stealthy way she moves. Instead of watching her, I turn my gaze back to the woman who just murdered Nero. “You’ll pay for this.”
“Unfortunately, little girl, that really only happens in Ruby stories.” She leans down, smugness coming off her in waves. “In just a moment, Death will finish up with the Wheel, and this tiresome endeavor will be over.” Her smile widens. “You really should learn to play the game better.”
The High Priestess is almost to her. I catch the faintest flash of a blade in her hand. She’s not quite invisible, but she’s clearly using her illusions to hide her movements. “Hey, Star?”
The Star rolls her eyes. “What now?”
My mouth is too dry. I can’t think, can’t feel anything at all. “Maybe you should pay more attention to your surroundings.”
“What—”
The High Priestess strikes, slamming her dagger into the Star’s back. The blond woman screams and falls to her knees. The High Priestess helps her down, shoving her to the ground and stabbing her again and again. Distantly, I note that she’s wearing leather gloves to ensure she makes no contact with the other woman’s skin. The High Priestess’s illusions fade, revealing fury and a grief so profound, it actually penetrates through the horrible bubble forming around me. “I know you told the Wands about my sister, you bitch.” She stabs the Star again. “I told you I hid her. You’re the only one I told.” Another stab. The Star isn’t moving, but I’m not about to interfere.
Cato spins to where Death stands over Vesper, his sword raised to take their head. “It’s over!” he yells. “There are only five!”
For a second, I actually see Death consider killing Vesper anyway. Instead, he takes a large step back and sheathes his sword in a smooth movement. “Very well.”
It’s over, but … This is wrong. “It wasn’t supposed to be like this.” I reach down to cup Nero’s face. “He can’t be dead. He was untouchable. He was the strongest of the champions. He … He wasn’t even from the city. He came here because of the injustice the river settlements face. He wanted to make Caelria—Zaersia—a better place. He wanted to give a voice to the voiceless.” I can’t stop talking. “He survived so much, only to die…” Something wet is lodged in my chest. I can barely breathe past it. “No. This is wrong. This isn’t how it’s supposed to go. He’s going to be one of the Cinque.”
“Kestrel.”
I jerk back, ready to spit in Cato’s face, but it’s not Cato crouching on the other side of Nero … Nero’s body. It’s Death. For the first time, he looks absolutely human, exhausted and heartsore, his shoulders bowed and his mouth turned down. He doesn’t try to touch me. “You have to stand.”
