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Ravis huffs before focusing on twirling his overly long dagger once more. “Tell me about how you came to be here and how Serutha disappeared so quickly. What new magic has my brother discovered?”

“I’m not sure,” Kellyn says. “All I know is we stepped through a portrait of you and we were suddenly here.”

“Hmm. A painter, is it? Well, I shall have to locate them when I storm the gates to retrieve Serutha.”

Kellyn thinks quickly. “Why do yourself what you could have us do?”

“Because I’m traveling to Skiro’s pathetic territory anyway, and I have no patience for liars. Strax, test my dagger’s sharpness for me, will you? The girl first, I think.”

A guard standing several feet behind the prince steps forward.

“We have not lied, Prince. Let us do your bidding. Spare our lives, and we will get her back for you,” Kellyn says.

“Liars claiming not to be liars. Must be a Tuesday.” Ravis sighs. “Tell me, why would a mercenary destroy the very portrait which could have taken her home? What mercenary doesn’t save her own skin?”

Ravis points his dagger right at me.

I look away. I still can’t find my words. All I wanted was to get Kellyn out of here, but there is nothing I can do. There is nothing either of us can do. We’re surrounded by guards. Our weapons are nowhere to be seen. There’s an entire castle’s worth of men and women between us and the exit. Never mind a whole territory to traverse before we can get back to Skiro.

“One with a good heart,” Kellyn whispers too quietly for Ravis to hear.

“Strax,” Ravis drones, and he thrusts his dagger into the hands of his guard.

Who then approaches me.

A strange calmness settles over me, and I feel suddenly as though I’m not actually in the room but watching this scene from afar. Is that what happens when you know your death is coming?

“No, please, Prince. You don’t need to do this. I’m the mastermind behind everything. Let her go.” Kellyn’s words don’t do anything to sway Ravis. He turns sideways in his chair, throws his legs atop one of the cat-claw armrests. Then his eyes turn on me, waiting to watch his man end me.

It’s not a terrible way to go, I suppose. I did everything I could to save Temra. I can meet my parents in the next life guilt-free. Or mostly guilt-free. There were probably lots of things I could have done better. But at least I did everything I could to save my sister’s life.

I’ve lived a good life myself. I’ve left my mark, leaving behind weapons for the world to use. I’ve seen much of the world overthe past few months. I had my first kiss. I knew what it was to be with someone for a time. I raised my sister to adulthood, and if she survives, she’ll be okay. Petrik will take care of her.

My only regret is taking Kellyn down with me. He didn’t deserve this. The stupid man shouldn’t have gotten himself caught.

I look at him now, without an ounce of discomfort toward him. I suppose there’s a sense of clarity that comes with dying. How can I be anxious when I know I won’t be around to regret anything? I take in his golden-brown eyes. So beautiful when they’re searching my own. I trace a lock of hair with my eyes, marveling at the red color, remembering the texture under my fingers. His lips are perfect. The color of light roses and softer than anything else in the world. I’m glad he kissed me today. I close my eyes to savor that memory one last time, just as the dagger angles toward my neck…

“This is Ziva Tellion! The magically gifted bladesmith!”

My eyes fly open at the words coming out of Kellyn’s mouth.

He didn’t.

“You don’t want to kill her when you could use her to storm Skiro’s gates.”

How,how, can he be suggesting such a thing? My consciousness slams back into my body in full force, and I return to being a nervous wreck.

Ravis raises a hand, which signals his man to hold. “Prove it.”

“Our weapons,” Kellyn says. “They’re magicked. She made them. Have your men retrieve them, and you will see. My sword is stashed up in the attic behind a framed portrait.”

Skiro’s feet slam loudly back onto the floor in front of him. “If you’re lying to me this time, I will cut out your tongue and feed it to you. Strax.”

The tall guard disappears from sight, and I glare at Kellyn.

“What are you doing?” I whisper.

“Saving you.”