Page 186 of A Court of Thralls and Thorns

Tae twisted his axe through the air, carving into another attacker’s side. Kaila fought with precision, her short daggers flashing in a blur of steel as she brought down a second BloodFae. But for every one we cut down, more emerged from the tree line.

And then their leader approached.

Tall and gaunt, with his white hair pulled back tight, he moved with unnatural ease—as though the very air bent to his will. He didn’t lift a weapon. He didn’t need to. His red eyes burned into me when I met his gaze.

“Return with me,” he said calmly, voice like gravel. “Come willingly, and you will learn your true name… and your purpose.”

I gripped my rapier tighter. “I already know my purpose.”

He chuckled darkly. “Do you?” His gaze flicked over me, lingering too long, as if he could see something beneath my skin. “You may believe you are human... but you are much more than that.”

“I bleed like one,” I shot back.

“For now,” he said. “But when your power is unlocked… when the Blood King calls you home… you will be far more.” His eyes narrowed. “You will be his salvation. The halfling king will not find the weapon before us.”

“What weapon?”

Kaelith snarled low in her throat, stepping closer until her scales pressed against my back.

“Eilvin, no!” Jax’s scream tore through the chaos like a blade.

I spun just in time to see him stumble back, his face twisted in shock. The Blood Fae’s sword glistened crimson as it slid from his abdomen, and Eilvin’s hand clamped over the gaping wound. Blood seeped between his fingers, dark and wet.

Makor, his brown Swift, bellowed from across the battlefield. The sound split the air like a war horn, vibrating deep in my chest. His dragon lunged for Eilvin’s attacker, jaws snapping closed around his torso with a sickening crunch.

But Eilvin’s legs buckled. His eyes widened as he swayed, clutching his stomach.

“No, no, no...” Jax’s voice broke as he sprinted toward him. Eilvin tried to take another step, but his knees gave out and he crumpled to the earth.

“Help him!” Jax shouted, dropping beside our squadmate. His hands shook as he tried to press against the wound, but the blood kept coming—soaking through his fingers and staining the dirt beneath him.

Makor bellowed beside Eilvin, curling his body around his fallen rider. His tail lashed furiously, his breath coming in rapid snarls as his eyes flickered between Jax and Eilvin’s paling face.

“Stay with me, buddy?” Jax begged, his voice breaking as he pressed harder against his wound. Eilvin’s lips moved, but no sound came out.

I ran toward them, fumbling in my belt pouch for the small vial of healing salve. “We can help him, just hold on, Eilvin.”

His breath hitched, and his glassy eyes locked on mine. “You’re... going to win this, right?” His voice trembled. “Tell... Makor... I’m sorry.”

“Don’t say that.” Jax’s voice was fierce. “You’re gonna be fine. Just hold on.”

He clasped my arm. “Be wary of the royals. They aren’t what you think they are.”

“I will be but…”

Eilvin’s blood-slicked fingers fell limply to his side. His chest shuddered once... and then stilled.

“No!” Jax shouted, shaking him.

Makor let out a heart-wrenching wail, a sound so raw and painful it seemed to vibrate the earth beneath us. His scales flickered with dull brown light as he curled tighter around Eilvin’s body, resting his massive head against his fallen rider’s side.

“We need to move,” Zander barked from behind us. “Now! More are coming.”

But Jax didn’t move. He sat there, cradling Eilvin’s lifeless body, whispering words none of us could hear.

Chapter

Thirty-Nine