Her body went limp in my arms. It was that same moment footsteps sounded outside.
King’s Regiment. I withdrew the half-rapier from Paige’s back and blinked away tears as I gently laid her down. With two shaking fingers, I shut the lids of her eyes and then stood, crouching against the shadows and readying to run.
Her sacrifice wouldn’t be in vain.
The steps drew closer as someone approached the kennel door.
“Paige?” Someone knocked. “I saw the horse. I know you’re there.”
I wanted to collapse in relief. Darren. It was Darren.
And then I remembered who else was in the kennels with me. I had already lived out this scenario once. I knew whom Darren would believe.
Blayne moaned from the other side of the room, but he was far past the point of shouting his brother’s name.
My pulse thundered in my ears. I couldn’t call out to Darren; I couldn’t let him open the door and find me like this.
He’ll know either way.
I bit down on my tongue. Blayne’s muffled groans were growing softer. Maybe Darren wouldn’t hear. Maybe he’d go away.
I drew a sharp breath as the door creaked. “Mira is only minutes behind me.” Darren’s outline was swathed with light. Storm clouds rolled behind his shadowy form. “I managed to lose her, but…”
He stopped talking.
I was standing in the center of the hall. My guard uniform was covered in blood, and my hair was plastered to my face and neck, short and brown. I looked nothing like my former self. Still, it took all of one second for recognition to cross his face.
“Ryiah?”
I didn’t say anything. I stood there, watching his gaze slide to the floor.
To Paige.
A sharp intake of breath. “Why is s-she—”
His hand caught on the frame as he spotted Wolf. Darren let out a horrible choking noise as he rushed forward.
Then, he spotted his brother.
I stood frozen, unable to move.
The prince dropped to Blayne’s side, hollering for a healer at the top of his lungs. His hands shook as he tore at his sleeve, desperately trying to plug the wound.
I knew I should run. I knew what it looked like. I knew what it was. I knew the guards would be here any second.
But I still couldn’t run.
Darren’s heart was breaking, and all I could do was watch him clutch his dying brother as Blayne sputtered, choking on his own blood.
“D-Darren…” My lips couldn’t form the words; my throat was dry and my tongue felt like sand.
Run, Ryiah.
But my feet were frozen in place. I had to explain; I couldn’t.
“How could you?” Darren’s voice was hoarse, and when I looked, there was only pain.
So much pain it was drowning me alive.
“It’s n-not w-what you t-think.” I stammered, seeing the betrayal in his eyes and the way his shoulders shook as he cradled his brother to his chest.
“Why run,” he croaked, “when you can kill a king instead?”
I realized the broken rapier was still in my hand, dripping blood. It dropped to the floor. “I-I—”
“Paige tried to stop you.” His fists clenched against his brother’s shirt. “So you took her life as well.”
“No!” My throat was raw. “Darren, y-your brother a-attacked m-me.”
Darren wasn’t listening. “And then Wolf.” His voice caught as his eyes fell to his dog. The one happy memory from a dark childhood. “You took… everything.”
I heard others running, but I couldn’t bother to move. My eyes were locked on the prince as the kennel doors swung wide.
“Guards!” Mira’s screech was all I needed to know that I’d been found. “It’s the rebel! Stop her!”
The prince’s gaze was still locked on mine. He made no move to correct the head mage’s orders.
His expression was empty. Shattered.
Run.
I tore my eyes away. I didn’t have time to think. I ducked as a spear flew over my head. My fingers dug into Paige’s breeches, and I yanked the Crown necklace with a trembling hand and snatched the broken rapier with my other.
Something sharp whizzed past my shoulder as another knife narrowly missed my ribs.
I rolled, my shoulder roaring in offense. Then I thrust the jagged blade through my skin. I didn’t stop until I scraped against bone. The pain almost made my legs give out.
Then the air gave a loud pop, an explosion of pressure and sound.
Anyone standing was thrown back against the wall with all the force of a tempest.
For a moment, there was only the heavy patter of rain and the dark sky from above.
I didn’t look at him once. I couldn’t. Not if I wanted to leave.
Then I was running. Through the doors, across the clearing, leaping onto the mare’s saddle, and cutting the lead. I kicked my heels, leaning low as the horse took off across the palace yard.
There were shouts from just beyond. I jerked the mare to the right as an arrow soared just past my neck. I rode on and on while the storm muffled their shouts. Mira’s men were forced to follow on foot.
I had only seconds to spare.
When we reached the iron gate, two soldiers were standing guard, polearms crossed.