Page 35 of The Path of Blood and Betrayals

With a snap of his wrist, Tay pulls me back elegantly but I stumble, toes catching on the wooden grooves, falling back against the Witch.

Peering down at me, Tay’s smiles slips at the worry etched on my brow. “What?—”

A bellowing ring vibrates over the ballroom, cutting my friend off. It’s so loud, so jarring, that ladies falter and lords hold the wall for support.

Five solid rings before it ends, silence stinging my ears, my magic rolling in my gut. The brew is starting to wear off and it’s rising, growing with my panic.

“We’re under attack,” the king calls, standing from his table. Guards come rushing into the grand room, gleaming swords held high. “Follow the guards. We will need to get you all to safety while we handle the threat. No one go alone.”

The occupants dart away as the king finishes, following orders with a chaotic flurry that twists my insides.Mamas and daughters whimper as they skate by, heels clacking against the dance floor with hast. Lords shout for their personal guards and the ringing of metal being drawn causes goose flesh to rise over my arms.

War. They’re preparing forwar.

“We’re taking Max to her chambers,” Tay orders, already pushing me into one of our guard’s arms. He looks less than pleased.

“What? No, I can help,” I sputter, turning on my heel as adrenaline surges through my veins, my magic stretching to meet it. “You know I can help.”

Tay’seyes are hard, unforgiving. “No. I can’t risk it.” They sweep me away, through the crowded halls. When we get to my chambers, one of the guards hands Tay a spare broadsword and he slices the air, testing the weight.

“You can’t be serious.” I gesture to the weapon and the halls running rampant with terrified guests. “A sword? Tay, you barely know how to fight. Let me help you. We both know I’m valuable.”

“And allow that magic to run unchecked?” He asks, daring me to challenge him. I wince as if slapped, his words cutting deep. “No, Max. I cannot help out there, if I’m worried about what you would do.”

“But I?—”

“No,” he commands, shoving me into the bedroom. Only my pointed toe stops the door from fully closing. “You’re to stay here. Only if this door is breached are you to use your magic.”

“Tay—”

“That is an order, Max.” He stares at me, eyes pleading but face determined. “As the Matriarch’s brother, I am commanding you to stand down. Stay in this room. Lock the door. And donotdo anything that would jeopardize us -you.”

Taking a leathered vest from a guard, he slips it on, long dreads hanging along his back. Gone is the royal, now he looks like a solider.

“And what about you?” I ask, eyes narrowed, holding my chest to stop from falling apart. “You can’t hope to win any fight out there. You aren’t trained like the soldiers.”

“I’m not going to fight,” he explains. “I’m headed to the healers’tent to mend those who fall. That’s how I can help.” Pushing me back a step, my face falls, sadness crushing my chest. “You can help by stayinghere.”

Before the door closes, Tay wrestles with something, exhaling deeply.

“I promised Nafre I’d keep you safe, Max. This is the only way I can. Please. Don’t do anything dangerous.”

The lock clicking in place echoes around me as my heart breaks.

He doesn’t trust me to help. He thinks my magic is too much—too unpredictable. And maybe it is. But I can help. IknowI can.

Kicking off my heels, I listen for their footsteps to fall away.

He might not think I’ll help, that I’ll cause more harm than good, but he needs someone to watch his back. Tay is strong, but he’s no warrior. And with the way guards are running around, from the noises outside the place, whatever they’re facing, will be too much to handle.

Tay doesn’t stand a chance without me.

Grabbing my daggers from the side table, I slink through the door, sticking close to the walls. By now the peerage has taken shelter to hide, but I hear the guards’ boots clomping through the stone halls. Something is coming and I don’t want to be caught unaware.

Slowly, I make it to a window, body hidden. And my mouth parts.

There, everywhere, the crimson banner waves. The army has come for Griffin’s palace and they’re ruthless, slaughtering everyone in their path.

I don’t think, raising my hands, stopping one from slicing the neck of a White Palace guard, flicking my wrist to crush his heart in harsh savagery.