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Hearing her mother’s name, Helvette, made anxiety thicken in her throat. There was nothing she could do to settle her racing heart, not when she was so close to being discovered because of his stupidity.

“I am Lady Cecily of house Dyèrie,” she said before she gave a curtsey. “It is a pleasure to meet you.”

He grabbed her wrist and pulled her closer while looking for a way out of the crowd. She eyed the people around them, thankful no one appeared to notice, not with Vermont and the pillar mostly blocking their view.

She’d known this man for most of her life. She knew him well enough to know he wouldn’t leave her be.

“Do not play games with me,” Eldaeric bit. His eyes found the balcony attached to the ballroom, one that would take them outside into the privacy of night. “Come with me.”

“Unhand me,” she hissed quietly, wringing her wrist to free herself, but to no avail. “Please.”

He would give her away if they were caught speaking!I need to escape. I need a way out of the ballroom.Vermont came to her side and placed himself between her and Eldaeric, who refused to release her.

“Cecily, are you okay?” Vermont narrowed his eyes at Eldaeric, who looked at Valerie with utter confusion. “Unhand her. Immediately.”

Then, before her very eyes, she watched an arm thread around his throat from behind. Eldaeric immediately let go of her to fight against that arm. It was only when he was being dragged to the centre of the ballroom, forcing dancers out of the way, did she know who had him.

Geryon was holding him in a headlock while he had the point of his sword pressed against his spine. The pointed tip of steel forced his back to arch in a submissive position.

A swift hush fell over the crowd as they watched Geryon and Eldaeric struggle against each other. Music abruptly stopped, and gasps rang out as people almost tripped over each other, scattering to get away.

Valerie thought Geryon interfered because he’d been grabbing her with the intention of dragging her somewhere. She thought it was to protect her.

She knew she was wrong by the words that came out of his mouth.

“Come now, Witch, give us a show,” Geryon grinned, humour lighting his eyes. He spoke loudly, making sure everyone could hear his accusation.

Valerie was just close enough to hear Eldaeric’s soft words. He was still struggling against the arm, but he wasn’t panicked as he tried to look over his shoulder at Geryon.

“How did you know?”

Geryon buried his head next to his ear and whispered something. No one was able to hear what he said. It didn’t matter. Whatever it was made Eldaeric’s eyes widen in fear.He plans to fight him.

Valerie wanted to step forward to stop them, but she knew she couldn’t. Then Eldaeric looked to Valerie to mouth just one single word.‘Run.’

He dropped his arms so he could tighten his hands near his torso and clenched his eyes tight as he spoke a single chant. Two fireballs exploded from his tension-filled fingers.

Whatever he planned to do was swiftly ended by Geryon slamming that sword through him.

He’d been waiting for him to reveal his magic, to prove to all he was a Witch before Geryon killed him. Eldaeric hadn’t stood a chance, not with the way he’d been grabbed.

It had been a perfect trap, one that was obviously planned – there had been no taunting.This isn’t the first instance.

Geryon twisted his sword in Eldaeric’s chest as the man fell to his knees, making sure he would feel an extra bite of pain before he died. He cleanly sliced his blade back, and blood squirted from his torso before dribbling down the front of his tattered brown clothes.

Before Eldaeric could attempt a final retaliation, Geryon cut into his neck with a quick sideway slice of his sword, embedding it halfway and making sure he was truly dead.

There was a ringing sound of gasps and chatter around the ballroom. People either looked horrified and shocked or pleased by watching the kill.

Valerie couldn’t stop her eyes from widening at what she just witnessed. She just watched someone she had known since she was a child, her friend, murdered right before her eyes.

How did he know Eldaeric was a Witch?How could Geryon have known when he hadn’t initially used his magic?How?!

Geryon was satisfied with his kill, pleased with the Witch’s blood that coated his body. She could see it in his grin as he stared down triumphantly at the corpse currently bleeding out.

A singular pair of hands began clapping from the end of the room. It came from King Bradwick, who stood from his throne with a radiating smile.

“And that is why, ladies and gentlemen,” he laughed, continuing to clap for the performance of a swift kill, “Lord Geryon is my most prized guard and treasure.”