Page 153 of Esperance

“I want you on your knees,” Tam hissed.

Argent’s knees hit the floor at once, his hands still lifted, his palms out.

“Argent,” Jayveh breathed, a catch in her throat.

The prince’s eyes were focused on Tam, but Amryn could feel the depth of his love for Jayveh as he said, “Release her, Tam.”

“This feels so good,” Tam said. “Too long, you’ve had my people—my family—on their knees. You controlled everything. Now, I control your whole world.” Her hold on the knife shifted; it cut through the material of Jayveh’s dress and broke skin; a thin slice of blood appeared alongside the blade.

Jayveh sucked in a breath.

Argent’s face tensed, and a muscle in his cheek jerked. “Please don’t hurt her.”

“I guess you’re worried about your child, too, aren’t you?” Tam clicked her tongue. “I really do have you, don’t I? You’d slit your own throat right now if I asked you to.”

“Argent, don’t—” Jayveh’s soft plea was broken when Tam actually pushed the knifepoint slowly into Jayveh’s side.

The princess gasped, her face twisting. Fear for her child punched through everything, stealing Amryn’s breath.

Argent snarled, his calm breaking. “Let her go, Tam.Now!”

Tam nodded for one of her guards to step forward. The moment he was close, she shoved Jayveh at him. The man caught the princess, banding his arms around her to keep her immobile.

Jayveh hissed in pain, blood dripping from her wound, but her desire to fight only sparked brighter as she saw Tam advance on her kneeling husband. She began to struggle.

Argent shifted an open hand toward Jayveh. “Stop,” he ordered.

She halted, breathing through her teeth. “Argent—”

He jerked his head, and she fell silent.

The whole room was frozen. Tam stood a pace away from Argent. His bodyguards were barely breathing, and Amryn was so tense she didn’t know how her spine didn’t shatter.

Argent eyed Tam. “I assume you’re the rebel in charge here.”

Her knuckles whitened against the knife. The edge of the blade was stained with Jayveh’s blood. “Yes.”

“I didn’t ever suspect you,” he said.

“Your arrogance blinds you, just as the emperor is blinded. He thought Esperance would bring hope. Peace. But it will be his darkest hour.”

“I suppose there’s nothing I can say to change your mind.”

Tam sneered. “No.”

“Very well.” Nothing outwardly changed, but Amryn tensed along with Argent. “Now.”

One of his guards ripped a metal star-shaped blade from his belt and hurled it. It thunked into Tam’s chest and the girl flew back.

Argent shoved to his feet and tackled the man holding Jayveh, the three of them going down hard. The soldiers all leapt back into action.

Amryn was overwhelmed by the pain she felt in Tam and others, but she managed to snatch up her discarded knife. She stood just in time to see Tam pluck that metal star out of her chest and reach for her knife.

Amryn ran and pounced, slamming on top of Tam.

Tam roared and threw her weight to the side, rolling them. Amryn’s temple knocked against the stone floor. Her vision blurred.

Tam’s fingers dug into her piled hair and yanked. Her scalp burned and pins snapped free as Tam snatched a handful of her hair and pounded her face into the stone.