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Kassandra’s heart stuttered. This was the moment from her vision. Her brother fell to his knee, grabbing the dagger from where he’d hidden it at his ankle.

“Lodan,” she screamed. “Poisoned blade!” This time, it finally seemed like he heard her.

Lodan twisted, but not fast enough. Harl slashed the poisoned dagger across Lodan’s upper bicep. Not in his side like her vision, but he’d still cut him.

She’d failed.

Lodan staggered but regained his footing. He swatted Harl’s hand with his sword, and the knife dropped to the ground. Lodan wavered again, his feet slipping. It was enough time for Harl to grab his sword from where he’d dropped it.

Blood dripped from Harl’s hand as he swung his sword above his head, aiming for Lodan’s neck. Lodan raised his sword in time to block the blow. The two stood like that for one, horrible moment, pressing against each other. “I’ll drag your body through Anatolia, letting everyone see exactly what happens to my enemies,” Harl sneered. “Then I’ll drag hers. That’s what we do to traitors.”

The noise of battle faded, and she heard Lodan snarl. “You failed to kill me fifteen years ago. You’ll fail again today.” His arm shook, blood dripping from the wound.

He needed help. He needed the antidote to the poison. Now. Otherwise, he would die.

Her foot rested against something hard, and she glanced down. A bow lay there, a quiver half filled with arrows next to it. Built for a full-sized Alpha warrior, the bow was far larger than any she’d ever used.

It didn’t matter, she had to try.

She picked up the bow and slotted an arrow. Her hands shook so hard she almost dropped it. Focus. She had to focus.

The muscles in her arms screamed as she hauled the string back. Clenching her teeth, she pulled harder, aiming for Harl’s side.

She exhaled, and let it loose.

The arrow ripped forward with a twang. It sailed through the air but didn’t reach his side. It arced downward, and sliced through his ankle.

Harl screamed and jolted back, but still managed to keep hold of his sword. “You traitorous bitch.” His face was set in a mask of pure rage. “You turn your back on me? On your people?”

“I’ve chosen my people.”

Harl shook his head. “After I kill the Myrdinians, I’ll kill you.”

Lodan lunged. “I don’t think so.” He swooped upward with his sword, and when her brother raised his arm to block, Lodan changed the direction of his strike. Harl was too slow to counter. The lethal point sank into his neck. Blood sprayed, and Harl slumped to the ground.

The Sardi king was no more.

Lodan’s sword fell, and he collapsed sideways.

“No!” Pulling the antidote from her bodice, Kassandra raced to his side.

She dropped to her knees and pushed at his shoulder, rolling him onto his back.

His eyes were open, and his golden gaze locked with hers. “Kassandra.” His breath rattled as he spoke. A death rattle.

Her stomach churned, and time seemed to stop. No. He couldn’t die.

She yanked the top off the jar and scooped out the wet leaves of the antidote. Pressing it to the wound on his arm, she leaned closer. It had to work. It had to draw the poison out and save him. How much time had passed since he was slashed? Five minutes? Seven? The poison couldn’t have reached his heart. Yet. “Stay with me. I’ll get the poison out, and you’ll be fine.”

He raised his uninjured arm and cupped her face. “It’s too late.”

Her insides seized with ice. “No. Don’t say that.”

Xander dropped to his knees beside her. Blood splattered his armor, but it didn’t seem to be his own. “What happened?”

“A poisoned blade. Can you get his armor off?”

Xander nodded. With two deft motions on the straps along the ribcage, the armor opened, baring Lodan’s chest and neck. Kassandra put her hand over his heart. His heartbeat was slow and weak. So weak.

“What do I do?” Xander asked.

“Press here.” She lifted her hand, and Xander replaced it with his on the clump of leaves. “Keep the pressure there to draw the poison out.”

“Xander, finish what we started.” Lodan’s voice was low and soft. While he may have spoken to Xander, his gaze never left Kassandra’s face.

“Once the king fell, the battle was over,” Xander said. “You need to get up and see what you’ve worked for. Anatolia is finally free.”

Lodan took a long breath. “Good. Help them see it. Help them learn how to live with freedom.”

Kassandra wrapped one of his huge hands in both of hers. “Stay with me.” She leaned closer. “Stay with me, and stay with … our child.”

His expression softened, and she saw Vasick. The boy who’d lost his entire family and finally avenged them. The man who’d held her. Cradled her. The man who didn’t hate her. “Our child?” he whispered.

“I didn’t take Greta’s herbs.”

His fingers loosened inside hers, growing slack as if his energy slowly leaked away.

She clutched them harder. “I might carry our child.”

A small smile flickered on his lips. “I’m glad.” His gaze grew more clouded, and his breathing more labored. “With my last breath, I can gaze upon the most precious thing in all of Anatolia.” His eyes searched hers for one more long moment, then slowly closed.

“No!” she screamed. This couldn’t be the end. She refused to let the prophecy come true. To let death reach up and take him. “Don’t leave when I finally know …” She threw herself on his chest and whispered, “When I know I love you.”

Beneath her chest, she felt his heart beat once, then no more.

Kassandra let out a strangled cry. Her mouth was at his neck, right where it sloped into his shoulder. Without thinking, she bit.

The bond started slow, a warmth like a hand on her chest. It quickened and grew but then turned cold. Ice cold. She clutched at Lodan. “You come back. Come back to me.”

A flood of heat washed through her. The bond, the primal, mysterious bond between Alpha and Omega, clicked fully into place. It was lightning. Fire. Like coming home after a long, long journey.

Lodan’s heart thudded. His chest rose and fell as he took a breath. Then another.

She gasped and drew back.

His eyes were open. “Vasick,” she whispered.

Lodan wrapped her in his arms and hauled her farther onto his chest. Growling, he sank his teeth into her shoulder.

The completion of their bond punched through her instantly. It slashed at her, fierce and possessive, but then warm, safe, twining around her so tightly it would never leave. It was Lodan. Exactly where she wanted him.

Lightness flooded through her like she was floating. His head fell back, and he gazed up at her. “You saved me.”

She smiled. “I had an arrow, and I didn’t even use it on you.”

“A lost opportunity. Now you’re stuck with me forever.”

She let a small cry, half sob, half laugh. “I don’t want to be parted from you ever again. Not even by death.”

“Good.”

His arms tightened, as if he was afraid she’d slip away. “Tell me you hate me.”

Her smile widened. “I love you.”

He smiled, too. “I know.”