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“You…you should be—” he stammers.

I cock my head at him, smiling sweetly. I want to say something cutting and witty, but instead, I leave him sputtering, brushing past him to rush to the young girl’s side. She is frozen to the spot, shivering with her arms wrapped tightly around her. She looks at me with wide eyes before darting them back to Theo.

“It is alright,” I whisper to her, wrapping my cloak around her shoulders. “Look.”

I glance up at Theo, who allows himself to turn back, his scales sloughing off and his size shrinking to human level. The girl visibly relaxes as he does.

“L-Like a werewolf?” she asks me. I smile.

“Of sorts,” I reply. “You are safe, but we need to leave the castle. Now. The rest of the staff are in the village. They will feed you and have you sent home.”

“Home?” She swallows, and tears begin to fall. “I am allowed home?”

“You have my word.”

She looks at me with round, watery eyes. She half-turns towards the castle doors but hesitation lines her body.

“But the king—” she starts.

“He is the king no longer.” I turn to glare at him, and he stares daggers back at me. The young girl trembles, uncertain, so I place two fingers over my heart. “The wind at your backand fire in your chest.”

With a trembling hand, she repeats the gesture.

“Soft snow underfoot and a safe home awaiting you,” she whispers back, locking eyes with me.

“Run. Now.”

The young girl seizes her opportunity and flees. As soon as she is clear of the doors, I turn to the king.

“Guards!” he calls again angrily, but they hesitate, looking between Theo and me.

“Long have you sat over this town and these people like a dark cloud,” I say, taking a step towards him.

“Guards!” he makes another attempt, spittle flying from his lips as he takes a step back.

I raise my voice over his and keep walking forward.

“Long have you sat on a throne of malice and sadism.”

“Stop!Guards!”

I draw on my au’mana, raising my hands and allowing the purple smoke to swirl around my fingers.

“Too many women have found themselves at your mercy,” I hiss, and he stumbles back, falling with a cry. I stare down at him. “Too manypeople. Your wife. Your son. Your kingdom.”

I take a long breath, the deep well of au’mana at my fingertips. My ophid hums, warmand full.

Something slams into my spine, sending a sharp pain ricocheting through my ophid. I shriek and fall to my knees. My legs go numb.

“Shivani!” I hear Theo cry from behind me.

“Run, Your Highness!” a guard calls.

I glance up at his voice. The guard tries to haul the king to his feet, something shiny and metal in his hand. The tip is tinged with blood. My blood?

I desperately reach behind me, twisting my arm to touch my back. My hand comes back wet and sticky. Panic floods my brain. Theo’s hands scoop under my arms, trying to lift me up, but I cannot stand. His lips move, but the ringing in my ears drowns him out. I look behind him to see the king fleeing. He is going to get away.

No.