Page 122 of A Warrior's Heart

An arrow flew in front of my face, grazing the tip of my nose. I jumped back and turned toward the archer, prepared to strike him down.

Yet, it was me who fell.

“Troy?” I asked in disbelief, dropping to my knees.

Troy’s light brown hair was pulled back from his face, apart from a piece that was braided on the side. He wore armor with King James’ crest on the front. I knew it was him… but he wasn’t himself. He glared as he readied another arrow, aiming it straight at me.

“What did you do to him?” I asked.

“I showed him the truth. That’s all.” Ezra turned to Troy and held out a hand to him. “Come.”

Troy obeyed and joined Ezra in front of us. I was still on my knees, the shock of seeing him again knocking the very breath from my lungs.

“What truth did you show him?” Lorcan asked, his rage barely suppressed.

“He showed me what you are,” Troy said, eyes narrowing. Even his voice sounded different. He had always been like the sun, shining brighter than anything on this earth. But the Troy in front of me right then left me cold. “You’re just as monstrous as your father.”

Ezra smiled. “And what do you plan to do about that, my sweet?”

His sweet?I could rip Ezra’s tongue out.

“Destroy you,” Troy said in a lifeless tone.

Lorcan gaped at him, his hand shaking at his side. “Snap out of this, Troy. He’s poisoned your mind. Turned you against your friends.”

“Friends?” Troy bared his teeth. “You are no friend of mine. You hurt me and then laughed at my pain.” His violet eyes then turned to me, and gods, the anger in them felt like a dagger to the heart. “You’re the worst of all. But I’m stronger now. You will never hurt me again.”

“Hurt you?” I asked, rising to my feet. “You are my everything, Troy. I would never harm you.” Tears burned in my eyes. “You’re my heart.”

Troy blinked, and he started to lower his bow.

“He’s lying,” Ezra said with a scowl. “I told you how manipulative he is.”

Troy shook his head before lifting his bow again, arrow braced on the string.

The battle continued on all sides of us, but the fighting sounded distant. None of the soldiers from either side came within five feet of us. I suspected Ezra had placed some type of barrier around us.

“Your magic is strong,” King Triton said. “I thought it impossible for anyone to break through the shield I built around this kingdom.”

“My mother taught me all she knew.” Ezra glared at him. “She said that one day I would be even stronger than you. Oh, how I wish she could’ve lived long enough to see this moment. The day I avenge her.”

“Avenge her?” Triton asked.

“You raped her!” Ezra shouted, his eyes flashing purple as a dagger flew toward the king’s exposed neck. It bounced off his skin, not leaving a mark.

“I can assure you, I didn’t.” Triton stepped forward, and I realized he was shielding Lorcan. The blade had bounced off the king’s neck, but it would’ve been fatal for the prince. “Your mother seduced me, then left in the middle of the night without a word. I’ve done many horrible things, but I have never forced myself on anyone, man or woman.”

“Liar!” Ezra lunged toward Triton with a murderous gleam in his crimson eyes.

The two of them collided just as Troy released one of his arrows.

“No!” I yelled, diving toward Lorcan and tackling him to the ground. The arrow went over his head.

The noise from battle grew louder as whatever barrier Ezra had placed around us fell.

“Get off me!” Ezra yelled as Triton pinned him to the ground. The king could’ve easily killed him by now but had chosen not to. Instead, it seemed he only wished to subdue him.

He really had changed.