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Commotion rang out as I approached the front gates, guards fleeing from their posts toward a disturbance.

It left me with a clear opening.

We didn’t start galloping until we made it past the wall in an attempt to avoid detection. A glance back had me looking at Marco’s guardsmen near a blazing collapsed structure that everyone rallied to assist with. If memory served me correctly, that was a wine barrel stand.

Of course they’d all fled to try to save it. The wine was too damned good to lose.

Leaving the fiery scene behind, Nyxia’s hooves shook the world beneath us, as if she understood our mission. And if not, at least she tolerated me enough to trust my instruction. We rode through Waterview, passing Sunvale until the downhill bend to South Harbor. Her stride didn’t let up until I eased her with the reins, hoping she wouldn’t take off as I jumped down and raced to Odion’s door.

Then to rally the light and the fire.

62

Nicholas

Fighting the exhaustion in my bones, my body relied upon muscle memory engrained by years of training. My foot hooked around one of their ankles. My head crashed back into another’s nose. One of my arms came loose after the guard clutched his nose and screamed in agony.

I utilized the opening, barreling into the other to throw him off balance. My fist quickly found his jaw, driving it up hard until he also released me.

Without any weapons, I was severely outmatched by the number of guardsmen lining the perimeter of the market. Sebastian chuckled at the display of his whimpering men.

We gave each other a wide berth, circling like vultures around their prey. How many hand-to-hand sessions had we endured? Learned each other’s moves, weaknesses, strengths.

“I bet you’re asking yourself, how many?” He beckoned over the dirt between us, our paces never faltering. “How many guards have I drawn into my service? Who can you trust? Who’s betrayed you?” he taunted.

“Who do you serve?” I asked, making note of the guards on the outer portion of the square who inched closer, observing the spectacle, ready at a moment’s notice to obey an order of attack.

“I serve this kingdom!” he bellowed, his anger rising to the surface. He now aligned directly before the alley leading to the docks.

“Commander!” one of his men yelled.

It broke our focus, and I directed my attention toward where the man pointed behind me. Emerging from the dark, from behind the stage platform, a tiny figure cloaked in darkness, and a big towering man. The moonlight reflected off Odion’s bald head, two swords in his hands.

Nora’s dagger glinted, and my emotions collided. She shouldn’t be here, she needed to be far away from this. But if this was to be the last time I’d see that perfectly created woman, I was glad it was in this form, watching her take on the world with all the bravery ever possessed by any heart.

“Let him go, Commander Druller,” she ordered.

Sebastian sighed, dropping his shoulders. “Damn. I really liked you,” he said, not loud enough for her to hear from where she encroached the market square. “You two really do belong together.” He glanced at me. “This one is dull as a board, and you’ve got a fiery spirit, just like your father,” he shouted.

Confusion anchored my feet.

“What did you just say?” Nora asked, stopping a few feet before him with her raised daggers and murderous menace in her eyes.

“Proficient boat merchant. He nearly started all this years sooner. But the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, I suppose. He also took a savior’s stance, refusing to hold up his end of the deal once he discovered what cargo we’d be shipping. He even threatened to expose the corruption of the guard, as he called it.” Sebastian chuckled to himself, assessing his sword and admiring the polished iron.

“You’ll be pleased to know he didn’t cower. Not as I took this very blade and slit his throat.”

The world stilled.

He continued, “I knew you’d come from good stalk when I met you. Truly believed you’d do well for this kingdom. Your father and I may have disagreed in the end, but he was smart. A good businessman. Pity, I was looking forward to your rule, Lady Nora.” He inched toward her, his body lax, unthreatening.

My stomach sank, knowing how much this would destroy her, distract her. I wanted to scream, to tell her to run, knowing his speed on a battlefield. Just before the desperation ripped from my throat, I noted his shift. Three squeezes against his hilt.

I moved.

Placing myself between him and her, the cold metal pierced my chest. With no weapons to wield, the only thing I could do was serve as a shield. Sebastian yanked the blade out and kicked my stomach.

The impact forced me to stumble, and I collapsed on the ground. The pain kept me down. Nora’s cry inundated the square. All I could do was look up, wide-eyed, to where Druller stood. The agony was near blinding, from the fatal wound through my chest, and the betrayal I never suspected.