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“Get dressed.” Victor shoved my clothing at me before stabbing his legs into his pants.

“They’ve found us.” I whipped my shift, then my dress over my head. “How the hell did they find us so fast?”

“I don’t know, but we need to leave.”

“I’ll get Yaga.” I stomped into my shoes. “You ready our horses.”

Victor’s firm hand clamped around my upper arm, and I peered into his steely eyes. Face set in stone, he said, “We have to leave her, Runa.”

“What?” Maybe I’d misheard. “I am not leaving Yaga.”

“She will slow us down,” he stated in an emotionless tone.

“So what?” I wrenched my arm from his grip. “If Idris somehow found out we traveled here, he may know Yaga was with us. If he captures her, he’ll harm her to get to us.”

“Yaga knew the risk.” Gone was the male from yesterday. The imaginary male who didn’t exist.

“You son of a bitch,” I spat, my heart withering. “You mademe forget. I got so wrapped up in being nobody with you, I almost forgot who you really are.”

“Runa…”

“Good luck with the temple,” I snapped, a piece of me dying inside. “Look me up when you’re ready for that portal. I will gladly send you where you belong.”

With that, I turned my back on the lost king and raced down the rickety steps.

Lost king, I fumed. Lost king, indeed. Kronk was more of a king than Custodis.

“Runa. Dammit. Wait!” I ignored the vampire’s snarls.

I needed a weapon. Carefully, I scanned the stalls. With few options, I grabbed a long-handled shovel and slipped out the door.

The roads outside the stable were utter chaos. Across the alley, a woman screamed, running from a soldier on a horse baring down on her. With one swift slice of his sword, the woman’s scream was silenced.

She was unarmed and little threat. The soldiers were slaughtering everyone who crossed their path. Images burned in my mind. Images of a similar night. My father’s lifeless eyes stared up at me. Bodies lined the streets. My mother called to me and my sister. Her voice was a horrified whisper,Runa, Raelynn, this way. Hurry.

“Runa.” The sound of my name snapped me out of my memory and into my current nightmare.

Victor stood behind me, pitchfork in hand.

“What are you doing here?”

“Protecting my…investment,” he growled.

I ground my molars. “Right. Just stay out of my way.”

On the road in front of us, a foot soldier headed toward the stables. His dark head swiveled as he searched for fresh prey.

Victor shuffled closer. “What’s your plan?”

I stepped from the shadows. “Hey, bula-hole!”

The soldier spun in my direction as I swung my weapon. The shovel clanged, smashing his face. He fell back, then rolled, hitting his knees. Again, I swung, this time cracking the base of his skull. The soldier collapsed with a soft groan.

Victor claimed the fallen man’s sword, snarling, “It’s foolish to charge into a fray without a plan.”

I bared my teeth at him. “I already told you my plan. Save Yaga. What are you still doing here, anyway?”

He heaved an exasperated sigh. “I honestly don’t know.”