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“The fallen prince was raised by two egotistical maniacs.” Carmilla’s mouth tightened. “I will teach the child to overcome their foul Fae blood and to wield their power for the greater good. Then I will pass the crown to them so that they might use it to its full potential.”

Realization dawned on me. She knew the crown was fighting her and must have thought it was because she wasn’t of the right bloodline. It was partially true, but mostly, the crown thought she was a vindictive bitch and didn’t want to obey her.

“We won’t let you take her,” Kieran said before I could come up with a response.

All three rangers stepped forward, placing themselves between us and Carmilla while Alaric and Kieran shoved me behind themselves, both of them drawing their own swords.

Damn it. This was escalating too quickly. I concentrated on the thread linking me to Draven and Vail. Still miles away. Had they run into trouble too?

Stop , I told myself. Deal with the problem in front of you before you go asking for more.

My aunt sighed. “Last chance to come willingly.”

For a brief second, I thought about it. I’d escaped once, I could do it again, but I dismissed that idea.

Kieran and Alaric wouldn’t let me go without a fight, and they would likely not walk away from that.

Our best option was to hit them hard and then run.

Our chances would’ve been better if Vail and Draven were here, but it seemed our time was running out.

The river was less than half a mile from us. We just had to make it there and then hope we didn’t get crushed by any trees while it swept us away. Once we lost Carmilla and her rangers, we’d have to backtrack to locate Vail and Draven. I had no doubt Roth’s brothers could find us.

“Remember, this was your doing.” Carmilla shook her head and reached into a bag hanging off the front of her saddle.

I inhaled sharply as she settled the crown of silver and gold onto her head. Lighting cracked in the sky above us, and several horses stamped their feet in alarm.

You shouldn’t have left me behind , the crown whispered in my mind.

Please , I begged.

I’m sorry. Its voice was tinged with exhaustion and regret. There is nothing I can do.

My aunt’s gaze fell on the rangers standing guard in front of us. “Nyx and Emil,” she said in a clear, commanding voice. “Step forward and hold.”

Both rangers moved forward, leaving Adrienne on her own.

“No!” I cried and lunged for them, but Kieran and Alaric grabbed me. I struggled in their hold as they pulled me back several feet.

“Keep her back,” Adrienne ordered over her shoulder. Her eyes met mine for a brief moment, and I saw the sorrow and determination in them.

“Nyx, stay still. Emil . . .” Carmilla’s dark gaze fell on the blonde ranger, who stared her down defiantly. “Kill Adrienne.”

I fought to get free, but Kieran and Alaric just gripped me tighter and murmured apologies in my ear. In that moment, I hated them, even though I would have done the same in their positions.

Carmilla was using our friends to make a point. Even with everything she had done so far, part of me had still believed there would be a way to convince my aunt to step down or end this in a way that didn’t require her death.

That belief was now shattered into a thousand pieces as I watched Emil and Nyx tremble like they were fighting the command with everything they were worth before going predatorily still.

“Strigoi,” I whispered in horror as Nyx remained but Emil prowled forward.

All Moroi carried a bloodlust that had the potential to turn us into ruthless predators.

For some, like myself, we could turn it on and off easily, and even when it was riding us high, we were still ourselves.

For others, they became something else when bloodlust claimed them—but they retained the tiniest thread of control so that they could pull it back.

They were weapons you had to aim and then get out of the way.

But sometimes, Moroi lost themselves completely, all of their humanity drained and stripped away. Nothing but the predator remained, and there was no coming back. They became Strigoi.

Emil’s eyes were usually a warm brown fractured by light green. Now, there was no brown to be seen. Only a green so pale, it appeared white every time lightning struck over our heads. And Nyx’s sky-blue eyes were now the dark blue of midnight.

There was no hint of my friends to be seen. Not in their eyes nor in their expressions, and definitely not in the eerie way they moved towards Adrienne. Predators focused solely on their prey.

A low snarl tore from Emil towards Nyx, an alpha staking their claim. Nyx ducked their head and went still, their eyes still following Adrienne as she adjusted her stance to face Emil.

“I’m so sorry, my friend.” Her words were a quiet echo across the clearing that shattered my heart.

“Carmilla!” I screamed. “Stop this!”

My aunt looked at me with cold resignation and shook her head once before focusing back on the brewing fight. I saw the instant her expression changed to intrigue. This show wasn’t only to put me in my place. It was an opportunity for her to test the capabilities of the crown.

Growing up, I’d always respected Carmilla’s pragmatism, but now I wished she’d demonstrate more humanity alongside it.

Several of Carmilla’s rangers moved to stand closer to us. The message was clear—if we interfered, they’d put us down. I wouldn’t be killed, but Kieran and Alaric likely would be. All we could do was watch as Emil slowly circled Adrienne with a cruel detachment.

“She’s never beaten him.” Heat burned behind my eyes, tears made of despair and fury.

I’d seen the rangers spar more than once.

Adrienne was good, but even she couldn’t take down Emil.

Any Moroi would struggle to take on a Strigo, no matter how well trained they were or how much they let their bloodlust rise.

Holding on to even the smallest amount of our humanity came at a cost—we were slower and weaker.

Nothing held a Strigoi back.

“Adrienne could have bested Emil years ago,” Kieran whispered quietly, his voice strained.

I jerked my gaze towards him. “What?”

“Emil started talking about how old he was getting and how he should retire. He’s the last of his generation to still be an active ranger.” Kieran swallowed and glanced at me. “He told her the day she could beat him would be the day he’d know it was time to hang up his ranger cloak.”

We both turned back to the center of the clearing, where Emil had gone still as a statue while Adrienne watched him. Her preferred weapon—a broadsword—was gripped in her hands and held at shoulder level, its tip pointing towards the storm raging above us.

Emil ignored the sword strapped to his back and the daggers on his thighs.

Normally, we could shift our nails into claws, but Strigoi took it one step further.

Each of Emil’s fingers now ended in black, three-inch-long talons, the inside curve of each was razor sharp. Perfect for ripping out throats.

Tension filled the clearing as neither ranger moved, both waiting for the other to attack first. Lightning flashed over our heads, and in the split second that Adrienne was blinded, Emil shot forward.

As if she’d anticipated it, Adrienne stepped into his attack and started a diagonal strike, only to spin away at the last second.

It was like watching a dance that two performers had perfected over decades.

Adrienne gracefully spun her sword until it was nothing but a silver blur.

Emil’s opening attack had been a feint, because he’d also twisted to the side, only now, he found his path blocked by steel.

With no hesitation, he blurred to the right and tried to maim her thigh to slow her down enough to get in a killing blow.

Adrienne dodged the attack, her movements like flowing water. They danced around each other in the clearing, punctuated by lightning strikes, as if the storm were dancing with them.

Neither scored a hit. Neither slowed down.

My heart raced with every step they took. It felt wrong to root for Adrienne, but I didn’t know what else to do as I watched two people I cared deeply about battle for their lives. Even if one of them was already lost.

Suddenly, Emil struck at Adrienne’s neck, and when she stepped back to avoid it, his back was exposed.

With only the slightest hesitation, Adrienne’s sword cut vertically through the air towards Emil’s neck.

My heart clenched, but I couldn’t make myself look away.

Only, her blade found nothing but air as the Strigoi leaned backwards until his back was almost horizontal with the ground and the sword whistled over him.

He straightened and lunged for Adrienne’s exposed side. She pulled her sword back to herself, trying to get it between her and those sharp talons.

Too slow.

A scream tore through the night sky, followed seconds later by the tangy scent of blood.

Emil dove towards Adrienne again, and she raised her sword.

I flinched as another burning flash of lightning forced me to close my eyes.

When I opened them, I saw Adrienne staggering back, a pained grimace on her face as blood flowed through her torn leather vest. The thing that used to be Emil raised his hand and licked the blood from his talons.

Then, a low, hungry sound came from Nyx, who had stepped forward, only to be cut off by Emil’s warning growl. The Strigoi took a step back, their hungry eyes still locked on a wounded Adrienne.

Adrienne resumed her stance, her feet shoulder-width apart, left foot slightly forward. Once again, she raised her sword so the point was to the sky. Blood ran down it. I frowned. When had she gotten him? The lightning strike? My eyes had only been shut for a second . . .