LORELAI STARED AFTER Kol’s retreating back, her magic searing her palms, her breath coming in gasps, before leaping to her feet.
He’d run away from her, even though he desperately wanted to kill her. Even though the punishment for disobeying Irina was destroying him. Lorelai could feel his agony increase with every step he took. The part of him that had survived Irina’s brutality was fighting to overpower his dragon heart, and he was paying for it with every razor-tipped breath, every fire-laced thought that burned from his mind into Lorelai’s.
She’d underestimated his strength. She’d accused him of being without honor, when the truth was that he was trying desperately to save his kingdom at the expense of himself.
Trying desperately to save her—a girl who meant nothing to him—at the expense of himself.
Lorelai tore off her gloves and moved to follow Kol, although even in his human form, he was much faster than she’d ever be, but Gabril blocked her path, his sword still out.
“What is going on?” he demanded.
Lorelai met his eyes and her voice trembled as she said, “We failed to trick Irina. And instead of letting the blood oath kill him, Irina took Kol’s human heart and bespelled the collar around his neck to cause him incredible pain until he takes my heart back to her.”
A muscle in Gabril’s jaw clenched. “Without his human heart, he’s a predator through and through—one focused solely on you. I know this isn’t fair, I know the boy tried hard to act with honor, but we have to kill him. It’s an act of mercy for him, and it’s the only way to keep you safe.”
Lorelai lifted her chin. “No one else is going to die because of Irina. Including Kol.”
Die. Please. Kol’s thoughts burned against hers, though they felt distant, as if the bond they’d formed was tenuous, and the farther he ran, the harder it was to hear the words that slowly formed in the tormented chaos of his mind.
I’m not going to die. Lorelai snapped at him while she scanned the grove of hemlock trees that spread along the western edge of the Falkrains, searching for movement. For the broken king of Eldr who wanted so badly to kill her and yet was holding himself back.
Not . . . you. Me.
You’re not going to die either. Irina has taken enough from us both.
There was a flicker of gratitude from him before it was drowned out by a wash of agony that covered his thoughts in red and sent his dragon heart pounding.
“Are you listening to me?” Gabril demanded.
“I am now,” she said, but part of her was tethered to Kol, to the pain that screamed through him and the whispers that promised him he’d be better once he held her heart in his hand.
“Lorelai.” Gabril’s voice was gentle. “We can’t save the boy. He’s a predator now.”
Yes. Kol agreed.
“He’s not a predator. He’s at war with himself. That means—”
“You don’t know that. We can’t assume any part of the boy we met still exists.”
War . . . with you. An image of her broken chest spilling blood onto the ground while Kol tore out her heart filled his mind.
Stop that. Focus on something constructive. You and I aren’t at war with each other, no matter what Irina wants.
“ . . . have to do what needs to be done. You still aren’t listening to me. Lorelai—”
Run. No. Chase.
“Both of you be quiet! Let me think.” Lorelai whirled away from Gabril and began to pace.
“Both of us?” Gabril’s voice was dangerously quiet.
Lorelai’s cheeks heated. “I touched his chest with my bare hand and sent my magic into him. That’s how I could feel the space where his heart used to be. How I know that he’s at war with himself. There’s a bond now.” Because meeting Gabril’s eyes felt impossible at the moment, Lorelai looked up, past the crease where the mountain met the valley they were in, beyond the point where the hemlock grove bled into the evergreens that covered the western mountain, and focused on the enormous command outpost for the section of Irina’s army that was stationed in the north.
“And you’re talking to him?” Gabril’s voice rose.
“It would be rude to ignore him. Especially when he can’t use his voice—”
“Because he’s nothing but dragon!”
Dragon. Kol’s voice was a snarl of rage and hunger.
You’re more than a dragon. You’re the king of Eldr. I’m the rightful queen of Ravenspire. And we aren’t at war—
War. The hunger in his voice was a vast, violent longing that swept over Lorelai’s mind in vicious waves.
She scowled at the trees, though she could no longer see him. You listen to me, Kolvanismir Arsenyevnek. We are not at war with each other. Your collar is telling you lies. I’m telling you the truth, and you need to listen to me because I can help you.
There was a long silence, punctuated by images of agony and struggle, and then he whispered. Help.
“What if he shifts? If he gives into his dragon completely, we’re in serious trouble,” Gabril said.