40. Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty
“ I f you hurt her,” I snarl, baring my teeth, “you will be sorry.”
The man restraining Tiffy, who I deem to be the ringleader, only laughs. “There’s nothing more you can do to me.”
I swallow my retort, instead, flicking my eyes to his companions. On each side of the throne room, are two more rioters: one archer and one swordsman. How they got a hold of these weapons, I don’t know.
But I do know that those darkened blades aren’t just any metal.
They’re pure iron.
Turning my head slightly, I glance over at Viridian. The heavy look in his eyes tells me that he knows, too.
I take a deep breath to keep myself calm. Panic sends jitters skittering across my skin, and pumps adrenaline through my veins. Unlike steel, which is made from iron mixed with enough alloy to nullify its effects, pure iron is harmful to fae. One touch, even the gentlest of taps, is enough to leave blackened burn marks on fae skin.
Being demi-fae, I don’t know how it will affect me.
But I have no intention of finding out.
Looking away from Viridian, I study the archers positioned on either side of us. They stand at attention, their arrows drawn. Based on the darker color of the arrowheads, I know they’re iron-tipped, too. All it takes is one wrong move, and they’ll set them loose.
I raise the crown of my head, straightening my posture. I may be afraid, but I don’t want the humans to think I am. I want them to see a formidable opponent.
Someone that won’t fall easily.
Mirroring me, Viridian does the same.
The ringleader smirks, motioning to Tiffy. “If you cooperate, then maybe I’ll let her go without a scratch.”
Tiffy closes her eyes, squeezing them.
I stay silent, my brows drawn together.
“We’re looking for the High King,” the ringleader says, moving his focus to Viridian. “And you’re going to tell us where he is.”
Viridian swallows, jaw ripe with tension. “The High King is dead.”
“Dead?” one of the swordsmen barks. “What do you mean he’s dead ?”
“You told us he’d be here,” an archer says to the ringleader, voice sharp.
“He is here,” the ringleader booms, silencing the others. His face red, steely gaze still pointed to Viridian. “They’re lying.”
“We’re not lying,” I interject. I brush my hair behind my ears. Hopefully, the sight of my rounded ears will make them trust me. Make them think I’m one of them. “He was murdered. Someone else got to him first.”
“No!” the ringleader shouts, applying more pressure to Tiffy’s throat with his knife. She cranes her head back, wincing. “You’re going to tell me the truth. Or your little friend gets it.”
At his sides, Viridian balls his hands into fists. That quiet rage seeps from his expression, and the faint, blue flickering around his arms tells me he’s a second away from unleashing his magic.
The ringleader draws his lips back and sucks in a breath through his teeth. With one hand still pressing the dagger to Tiffy’s throat, he yanks a fistful of her hair with the other, jerking her head back.
Tiffy lets out a scream .
“Tiffy!” I call, instinctively.
“I won’t ask again.” The ringleader’s voice drops with lethal intent. “Where. Is. He.”
My heart rises to my throat. My lungs constrict, every breath more ragged than the last. I wrack my mind for solutions, for anything that can get all of us out of here alive.
But I’m not fast enough.
“All right.” Viridian holds up his hands in surrender, his eyes sad. As if he knows he’s about to do something stupid, but he’s still choosing to do it anyway. “I’m the High King. I’m the one you want.”
“No!” I cry. Has he lost his mind?
The ringleader’s eyes go dark. The kind of darkness that holds pain. The kind of darkness that thirsts for violence.
For blood.
The ringleader releases Tiffy and shoves her aside. The swordsmen raise their blades and rush forward.
“Tiffy!” I run to her, taking her in my arms. “Run! Find the others!”
Tiffy nods, fleeing from the throne room.
The ringleader draws another iron dagger, now gripping one in each hand. The swordsmen move behind Viridian and me, blocking our exit, while the archers and the ringleader close the circle in front.
We’re surrounded. There’s five of them.
Against the two of us.
They close in around us .
Turning around to face the swordsmen behind us, I raise my blunt sword.
“Now!”
Like water rushing when a dam breaks, Viridian’s power pours out from him. Blue lightning snakes across the floor. The rioters jump back, but the swordsmen aren’t quick enough. The lightning wraps around their legs when it reaches them, spiraling up to their chests. They shake violently, Viridian’s magic thrumming through them.
They fall in a heap. Glassy eyes stare up into the abyss.
The ringleader howls, fuming.
“I don’t want to hurt you.” Viridian holds out his hands defensively. “But I’ll do what I must.”
The whole time, he looks at me, eyes urging me to run .
No, I tell him through the bond. You’re mad if you think I’ll leave you.
He smiles weakly, voice soft in my mind.
It was worth a try.
The ringleader only spits at Viridian’s feet. “There’s only one way out. For either of us.”
Viridian’s dark brows stitch together. Any trace of softness is gone, replaced by pure rage. He pushes me back, and then sends more electric currents tearing across the floor.
I surge forward, slashing at the closest archer. I stun him and land a strong kick to his chest that knocks him onto his ass. If we weren’t fighting for our lives, I’d be proud of that move.
“Enough!” The ringleader yells, voice hoarse. “ Get him!”
What happens next is all a blur. The God of Death’s words sound in my mind.
“Choose life, without love, in a cursed land. Or choose death in the name of love, and sacred sacrifice.”
It’s time.
This is how far I’ll go.
This is how much I’ll give for love.
This is how much I’ll sacrifice.
The remaining archer draws back his bow.
Before my mind can process what’s happening, I throw myself in front of Viridian. Just in time, my body stands between him and those who would do him harm, outstretched like a shield.
Only shields are made of durable metal. And I’m made of blood, skin, and bone.
But that doesn’t seem to matter.
Because the arrow pierces my chest.
A blast of energy bursts from my body. It’s colorless, invisible to the naked eye. Whatever it is, it’s strong enough to topple what little furniture remains and knock the human rioters onto their backs.
Suddenly, the world around me slows. It’s as if everything is moving through water or bracing cold winds. Part of me doesn’t even want to think any of it is real.
Burning, white-hot pain overtakes my senses. No fiber in my body is spared.
Gods, it burns. It burns. It feels like I’ve been set on fire, from the inside out.
I stagger back, looking down at my chest.
The arrow meant for Viridian…
Raising my hands to my chest, I fall to my knees. Hard.
I can’t breathe. My breaths have turned shallow. I’m gasping for air.
I see Viridian screaming. But I don’t hear the sound. Agony etches into his face, leaving no corner unscathed. Then his expression shifts, with lethal stillness. Death made flesh. His amber eyes look like liquid fire, a stark contrast to the blue lightning that fills the throne room. I see him stalk forward, while the rioters that are stupid enough to get back on their feet cower before him.
Dazed, I shake my head. My eyes close involuntarily. When I open them again, I see bodies on the floor. More jolts of electricity flash.
Then it all stops.
My eyes nearly roll back, but I force them open. Liquid fills my throat. I choke on it.
The ceiling seems to spin away from me. Then the back of my head slams on stone.
I don’t feel it.
Viridian whirls around, face paler than ever. He runs to me, falling to his knees at my side.
“No, no, no,” he murmurs, picking up my head and setting it on his lap.
I cough. Something wet spills onto my lips. Raising a trembling hand, I touch my fingers to it. Red stains them.
Viridian takes my hand, my blood smearing all over his skin.
My eyelids flutter.
“Don’t you dare,” he commands, gripping my face. “Look at me, Little Fawn.”
I try.
“Look at me,” he repeats, eyes frantically searching mine. His words become more panic-stricken each time he repeats the order. “ Cryssa. Look at me.”
I choke, wheezing. The burning in my chest finally starts to dull.
“Cryssa,” he pleads. Tears race down his cheeks, his face twisted in anguish. “Cryssa, don’t close those eyes. Those beautiful, beautiful eyes.”
I’m crying now, too.
“It should have been me.” His voice trembles. He shakes his head, as if he can’t contain his raging emotions. “Damn it, Cryssa. You should have let them shoot me!”
“No,” I say, mustering as much strength as I can. All the strength I have left. “I couldn’t. I—I wouldn’t.”
“And I can’t—” He stops, pressing his lips together. “I can’t lose you. I can’t.”
I cough again, blood spurting in my throat.
“No.” His voice grows even more desperate. “Please, Cryssa. Oh gods— please .”
Numbness tugs at my eyes. Darkness clouds my vision .
“I…love…” I choke.
Viridian looks at me, amber eyes desperately hanging onto every word.
You, I want to say.
But my throat doesn’t obey.
The last thing I see is Viridian’s face above mine. His mouth moves, but I don’t hear the words. I don’t hear anything. I barely feel his hands on my face, holding me tight.
I succumb to the darkness.