Page 36 of The Path of Blood and Betrayals

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Tay running across the field. The healer’s tent is in the distance with soldiers converging into one pile; he won’t make it in time.

He doesn’t think I’m capable of helping—his fear of me causing my lips to tremble, but I shove it aside. I need to help my friend like he did for me, all thoseyears ago.

I’ll make sure he gets to the tent, then I’ll listen to his commands, and hide in my room.

But first?

My fingers redden and I stand, knuckles cracking as I see another solider. First, I can take some soldiers out and help guard this palace.

The raider falls as my hands fist and I hear the pops in my mind’s eye.

Chapter 13

Kaden

Marching through the corridors, our guards flank our backs as one unit. My siblings each take one of my sides, their weapons already pulled. This is normal for us, raging into a battle, ready to defend with little information.

People shove through our crowd, clinging to the walls for stability. It’s chaos; no one here has lived through a siege before.

How lucky for their short lives.

Fee grabs the edge of her skirt, ripping the hem and discards the fabric in a quick motion. Kicking out of her heels, she keeps stride, eyes focused. Before me, my sister morphs from a princess, to a warrior, ready for combat.

Reid twirls his twin daggers between his knuckles. He’d much rather wager coin or flirt with the females, but it seems my years of training are finally paying off, as he scans the crowd, keeping his defenses high.

“Zeke,” I call, summoning the Captain of our guard. A tall Fae, with black hair and matching eyes, he has a jagged scar along his jaw from years ago. Most cultures would hide it, but in my lands, a scar shows strength. “Report.”

“Yes, my heir.” He comes to my side, respecting Fee’s position. “It’sthe Crimson Army. Forces are thin. The palace guards are being taken down mercilessly.”

“Fools,” Fee scoffs, shoving a lord out of her way. “They’re too drunk to fight back.”

“Two nights of parties will tend to do that,” Reid comments, flipping a dagger into the air. “They were caught unaware.”

“Rookies.”

“Split up.” I point to the hallways, stopping abruptly. “Two guards each. No soldier gets inside from this point on.” I disregard the point that soldiers are already at the main entrance, fighting Griffin’s guards. I can hear the clank of metal and splitting skin from swords against flesh.

Freshly spilled blood saturates the air and I have to breathe through my mouth to avoid triggering my beast. He’s been tame lately and I cannot allow him any reason to awaken now.

Guards nod. This isn’t my palace, I shouldn’t care if the Crimson Army takes out Griffin’s forces. It’ll be easier for me to destroy him and it would save me the trouble with my father.

But I hear the innocents down the halls. And the advisor’s scent—spicy and alluring, hangs around the corner. No other scent surrounds her.

She’s alone, unprotected, in the middle of a siege.

Howstupidcan these Witches be?

Itbothersme to know she’s alone. Sitting at the table in the ballroom, she looked forlorn, abandoned, that I was compelled to speak to her. I can deny it, think it was just my lust for knowledge and my want to seek out her magic to exploit, but it was deeper than that.

I wanted to erase the sadness on her face. I wanted to hear her voice. I wanted her eyes upon me so my lungs would function again.

Forcing my guards to protect halls, Humans, who would soon let us be killed, is not using them to the best of their abilities. They should be on the field with me, cutting down our enemies. It’s what an intelligent heir would command.

And yet…

I don’t want those red bastards anywhere near her.

Knowing they haunt these halls and she’s vulnerable, twists my gut, my beast roaring inside my mind. We both know she isn’t my responsibility and yet the need to keep her safe, forces me to make stupid choices.