Page 55 of Love of the Bladed Dove (Drakaren #1)

“No,” she whispered. Her knees buckled, and for a heartbeat she sagged beneath Kain’s weight.

She turned her eyes upward, staring through the darkness at the fractured window above.

He would be there. He had to be. He was strong enough to survive it, he always was.

She half-expected to see his silhouette in that frame, his voice calling her name like it always had when she lost herself.

But the window remained dark. The broken shards still clung to the sill like teeth.

There was no movement. No silhouette. No sign of him. He was gone.

And yet—there was no time to fall apart.

No time to cry, or scream, or collapse in the dirt like every part of her wanted to.

Not while Kain was half-dead in her arms, bleeding from his head, limping on a ruined ankle and shredded abdomen.

. Not while Ciana was still waiting for her in the trees.

So she ripped her gaze from the window and swallowed her scream.

Shoved it down so deep she didn’t know if she’d ever be able to pull it out again.

“Come on,” she rasped, wrapping her arm tighter around Kain’s waist, taking as much of his weight as she could.

His breath hitched as he stumbled, the pain clearly worsening.

His steps were uneven, barely coordinated.

His blood smeared across her skin like ink as she dragged them forward.

Each footfall was agony. Not just from the terrain.

But from the truth. She was walking away from Theron .

From the man who’d died saving them. From the man she hadn’t even had time to say goodbye to.

She blinked hard, fighting back the hot sting of tears as she half-dragged Kain into the dark tree line.

He had done this—for her. For her sister. For all of them. And now he was gone. But she would come back. She swore it on every God she could name. She would come back for him—even if all that remained was blood, armor and dust. She would not leave him behind forever.

But right now… she had to keep the living alive.

Kain let out a weak groan beside her, and she held him tighter. “One step at a time,” she whispered, mostly to herself now. “Just… one more step.”

Just as they broke into the tree line, a voice called out. “Lady Layla?” Sir Edwin emerged from the darkness with Ciana.

“Sir Edwin, Ciana. Kain is badly injured.” Layla breathed, her voice strained. “We have to get to Aerilynn and everyone else and get out now. ”

Sir Edwin’s expression faltered as he dove to Kain’s other side. “And Theron?” Layla shook her head, unable to speak. The grief threatened to drown her again.

“I’m so sorry, My Lady…” After a brief pause, he solemnly looked away and pointed. “This way,” he said gently. “They’re waiting just beyond the ridge.”

As they moved through the thick canopy, where moonlight barely touched the forest floor, Layla kept glancing back.

Every step away felt wrong. Like her heart was still trapped in that terrible castle.

At last, they emerged to the sound of familiar voices.

Xaden stood, sword drawn, Sparrow kneeling beside Aerilynn, who still clung tightly to his hand.

Their Graystonian guards were scattered in a wide perimeter, keeping alert.

Relief washed over the group like a breath held too long—Antonins exhaled in silent thanks, the Graystonians nodded in quiet respect, the success of the mission heavy in their eyes.

But the moment cracked as Xaden’s gaze swept past them and his brow furrowed.

His voice cut through the fragile stillness like a blade:“Where’s Theron? ”

Kain slumped heavily against her now. “We… we killed the King. In the escape, Theron took a sword to the heart holding off the guards….” He paused, “he saved us all.” Her lip quivered at the admission. She couldn’t believe it. She wouldn’t.

“What if he survived?” Layla’s voice cracked, broken with panic. “What if they missed his heart? We should go back. Please, someone help me go back and save him.”

“No,” Kain said firmly, voice like stone as he stepped out of his friends grip. “He didn’t die so you could throw your life away. There is no saving him, Layla. He’s gone. Now we have to go. Now.” His tone left no room for doubt. For argument. But still—she couldn’t believe it.

“But—”

Xaden stepped forward, steadying her with a hand on her shoulder, gentle but unyielding.

His eyes met hers with a rare flicker of softness.

“He died as he lived. Standing between the innocent and a blade. He was struck protecting the escape… and he bought you the time to get out.” Layla’s breath hitched.

“He’s not gone, not really,” Xaden added.

“He’s in Ondurin now—feasting with Varyn, probably already challenging some poor bastard to a spar between rounds of ale.

” A faint, respectful smile touched his mouth, more solemn than amused.

“That’s not a tragedy, Layla. That’s an honor. That’s the warrior’s reward.”

She wanted to scream, to collapse, to deny every word—but the conviction in Xaden’s voice, the quiet reverence, made something deep in her chest fracture instead.

Then—Kain’s knees buckled and his eyes rolled back.

“Kain!” Layla’s scream ripped through the trees as he collapsed beside her, crashing to the earth like a warrior struck down mid-charge.

She dove after him, catching his weight just before it hit the ground fully.

But he was heavy—too heavy. Blood poured down his back, soaking through his dress clothes, through her fingers, through her soul.

No. No. No.

She didn’t know there was anything left inside her to break.

But there was. Seeing him like that shattered it.

The last tether of hope. The final flicker of strength.

Layla dropped to her knees, hands frantically pressing to his chest, his face, his throat.

“Kain?! No! Look at me—look at me!” she begged.

“Please… stay with me. Please.” Nothing.

No groan. No flicker of pain. No infuriating smirk. Just blood. Everywhere.

“HELP ME!” She shrieked, her voice unrecognizable. “Someone—please!”

Sparrow was already moving, Xaden just behind him, but they weren’t fast enough. No one was. She cradled Kain to her chest, her fingers shaking as she ran them through his blood-soaked hair, her sobs ragged and relentless. She kissed his temple. His jaw. Anything to wake him.

“Don’t do this. Don’t you dare leave me too,” she whispered.

“Not you. Not now.” he sky above blurred, her tears falling fast and hot as if the heavens wept with her.

First Theron. Now Kain. She rocked him in her arms like she could hold his soul in place.

But it was slipping. And she could feel it.

And all around them, the forest stood still, as if the entire world had stopped to grieve.

Please, not both of them.

Not tonight.

Not like this.