Page 80 of The Path of Blood and Betrayals

Before me are three very worried faces as I jump between them.

“He’s coming!” I yell as both the Fae instinctively draw their swords and I hide behind Tay’s massive form.

His sword gleams as he looks down at me. “What happened? Where’s the heir?”

I open my mouth, but a hungry howl cuts me off, echoing around us.

“Shit,” Reid curses, hunkering low as Fee’s face goes white.

Kaden turns the corner, body dripping red as he holds the wall with black clawed hands. My breath hitches as he stares at us, lingering on me.

It’s not Kaden now. It’s just a monster.

“The Fury attacked us. He tried to fight it but he was injured?—”

“How badly?” Fee snarls, face furious. Her amber eyes flash and I know she’s thinking about all the ways to kill me. “How much blood did he lose?”

“A lot,” I pant, watching as the heir stalks closer. He glares at us like we’re something to hunt and my throat dries. Licking my lips, I say, “His back is completely shredded and he lost consciousness. I thought Fae can heal?”

“They can.Wecan,” Reid adds. He gestures toward his brother. “But Kade is different. With his curse, if he ever loses consciousness, his beast will take over and rampage. The only way to handle him like this is—” He stops, looking to Fee for help.

She scoffs. “Death. The only way to control Kaden like this is to kill him.”

I immediately rebel at the idea. “No. There has to be another way.”

“You know nothing about my brother,” she seethes, glaring at me. “He’s never let go like this. Not since he was a young Fae learning control.Youdid this to me.”

I surge forward when shetakes a step and she tosses me back.

“Stay out of it.” Her voice cracks, even as her mask stays firmly in place.No. She’s preparing to kill her brother.

My heart breaks as I look to my friend. His cool touch heals the scattered cuts along my arms and cheeks and I tug free. “No. We can still save him.”

“Max—”

“You can’t kill him,” I call out as the siblings move closer to Kaden, sword raised.

“Did he drink from you?” Reid asks, looking back. “Taste your blood at all?”

“No.”

His shoulders drop, sighing. “Good. If he had?—”

“She’d be dead,” Fee interrupts.

“But if it can help him?—”

“You’ve done enough, blood summoner,” Fee argues. “Now we have to do this. Otherwise, everyone is at risk.”

Grabbing me, Tay pulls me behind him as the siblings swing their swords toward the heir’s head. He doesn’t react, doesn’t move, just waits. When one blade gets close, he grabs it, claws stopping the metal and tosses it aside.

“Don’t make me do this,” Fee says, sorrow tinging her words. “C’mon Kade. Pull it back.”

Lunging forward, Kaden swipes out, using his claws like a weapon. They parry and block, blade and nails catching close before shoving apart. His siblings move like a well trained unit, one going high while the other goes low. But the heir is faster, more dangerous.

He stops every attack, tossing them back before another comes forward.

“He’s playing with them,” I say, Tay nodding in agreement. “I have to help.”