CHAPTER THIRTY #3
“Would you risk it?” Elias tutted. “Would you gamble on how fast my fire can melt her veins, boil her blood?” He halted inches away, bringing the tip of the blade to the side of my neck.
He sliced in a straight line, leaving searing pain in its wake.
It wasn’t deep, but sticky warmth quickly pooled around my collar.
“I can feel the gods watching as we speak. They beg me to put down the mistake they allowed to roam the kingdom for far too long. Avenge the worthy people she’s taken from us. ”
“Do it,” I told Theia, unable to make out her expression in my periphery. If I turned just an inch, the dagger would press deeper into my skin.
Superficial burns, I could heal from. As for my insides…
I’d never been much of a gambler. But Kodhan was still down there, facing that dragon. I had no choice but to lay all my cards out on the table. Trust that Theia’s magic could grab onto Elias’ mind fast enough for my injuries to be minimal.
But before any of us could act, the planks slanted sideways beneath our feet.
The watchtower shifted as something crashed into its side. Wood snapped below us.
It didn’t matter what caused the collision. All that mattered was the slight stumble it forced upon Elias while he momentarily lost his balance, and the glance he spared downwards to ensure the planks wouldn’t cave in.
The hilt of my own dagger seared my fingers when I yanked it free from its holster and plunged it into Elias’ stomach.
His eyes widened, but as they met mine, they glazed over. Like a translucent veil was thrown over them. His mind was no longer his own. I didn’t need to look over my shoulder to know Lachlan’s eyes were the same.
I cranked the blade in further, burying it to the hilt.
His lips parted in a silent scream, but he could only stare at me while his blood dripped onto his boots.
And remained helplessly still while I slowly pulled the blade out.
By the way his face tightened, his breathing a wet rasp, I knew he could feel it. Knew Theia let him feel it.
“First rule of killing someone without magic,” I said, watching him sway, his body slowly giving out.
He was losing too much blood. “Never hesitate.” I didn’t look away, not as Brannon dealt with Lachlan, the latter choking on empty lungs.
A clear demonstration of who was strongest. “The second,” I continued after Elias dropped to his knees.
“If you do manage to strike, make it count.”
He collapsed face-first, a dark crimson stain spreading rapidly around him. The stark similarities between him and Darion in their final moments were not lost on me.
“Should your soul make it to the Hearth of Song, let it be played into the Underworld. And may the baritone of your suffering be eternal.”
Kodhan’s shout of warning from below came at the same moment that Lachlan’s body fell.
The sound of approaching wings boomed like war drums in my ears.
We shot towards the railing, simultaneously ripping our pins down from where they hung loosely above our heads. My heart plummeted. The second, airborne dragon flew towards us at full speed.
And there wasn’t enough time to climb down.
“We need to jump. Brannon, use your wind to block our fall—” I held my tongue. He and Theia were locked in silent conversation.
Hooking my pin onto the front of my vest, I took hold of Theia’s elbow. Shook it enough for her to look at me. “Are you serious? We need to jump now.”
Her own hands snapped out, grabbing both my arms in a vice-like grip. Her fingers dug into my skin like iron. It hurt. She smiled wistfully despite the tempest waging behind her eyes. “Promise that you’ll forgive me.”
There was no pulling away, not when she held on so tightly. Any tighter and she might snap bone. “What are you doing?” Panic raised a brutal surge of tightness in my chest.
“We’re sorry. Remember that, at least.” Brannon reached out as if he’d squeeze my shoulder, but decided against it at the last second. His hand fell limp at his side.
My lower lip wobbled. They wouldn’t. They couldn’t. Not now. Not after everything.
“Please, don’t kill me.” A rattling breath sounded behind me. The dragon would strike at any second. “Please.”
I expected betrayal to come from Kodhan. Had a reservoir of fury prepared for it. But this was entirely different.
And much, much worse.
My mind emptied entirely, all of Gideon’s training flying away like a bird’s feathers on a breeze.
Theia shook her head gently, her smile turning sorrowful. “It was always meant to be you,” she said. And then she began to pray. “May thy soul seek the Hearth of Song, the stars’ blessed kiss upon thy brow. But should blessed star of thy soul be, may wing and claw play a savior’s melody.”
Then she pushed me. Hard.
My back smashed through the wooden railing.
Brannon and Theia backed away from the broken edge of the lookout, hiding themselves from view as I fell.
A strong, yet gentle wind cradled me, slowing my fall. I could only watch as the dragon crashed into the watchtower, body, claws, and all. Wood snapped and splintered between razor-sharp teeth.
Completely eviscerating the lookout.
The scream that ravaged my throat burnt more than any fire could.
The wind at my back retreated all at once, leaving me to fall the remaining distance on my own.
Only a single thought filled my head before I hit the ground.
Those were not the right words to the prayer.