Last Stand (The Black Mage #4)(109)

Sucking in a sharp breath, I slipped around to the front and sent a fist to the soldier’s nose. His neck snapped back as he tumbled unconscious to the ground.

I might be a traitor, but I wouldn’t kill a man fighting for Jerar.

Instead, I gathered the soldier’s weapons and cut my way through the rest of the pack.

I didn’t need magic to win this fight.

Everything in me was a raging storm, and today I wouldn’t fail.

There was one word. One name. It kept me fighting all the way to the end.

I reached the edge of the crowd and found them.

Ella was struggling to drag Darren behind a pile of crates. There was a hazy amethyst barrier keeping them safe from the guards’ flying assault, but her magic wouldn’t last forever.

I reached them in an instant. And then I stopped breathing.

Ella was holding Darren up by the pits of his arms; she was all that kept the fallen king from crumbling to the ground. His eyes were shut, and I couldn’t tell if he was breathing; all I could fixate on was the red bruising around his neck.

Was he—

A whimper escaped my lips, and Ella’s hand shot out to grip my wrist.

“His neck—” her lips were tight as she continued to cast; the magic was taking everything she had, “—Didn’t break… G-got to him in time.”

All at once, I could feel everything and nothing; I was rising on air.

There was a crunch of rock and sand.

I swung, sword ready.

And found Alex instead. He was sporting a fresh bruise on his cheek and his lips were stained red with blood. His face was white as he spotted Darren in Ella’s arms.

“Someone knocked the flask from my h-hand,” he choked. “I c-couldn’t g-get to it in t-time.”

“H-he’s alive.”

My brother slumped in relief.

“I don’t have much more stamina.” Ella’s strained voice broke through our reunion. “Can you two carry him the rest of the way?”

Alex and I jumped in to wrap a slumped arm around each of our necks; Ella ran a wrist across her forehead, wiping away beads of perspiration and dirt.

“L-let’s get… out of here.”

And then the three of us were running.

Ella cast our defense, fending off the keep’s regiment while the smoke continued to clear. We headed west toward a cluster of trees just past the square.

My shoulder collided with a highborn at my right. The young man spun, outraged, screeching profanities.

Merrick. Priscilla’s younger cousin.

Recognition dawned as he raised his hand to cast.

And I sent a flying fist to his face.

The boy went down with one even crack.

“Always wanted t-to do t-that,” I gasped.

And then we were running again.

The further we ran, the less Ella had to cast. With Darren’s rags and our disguises, we were hard to discern among the hundreds in the crowd. Every lowborn was dressed the same: a patchwork of brown and tattered gray.

The highborns were like colorful birds, fluttering around in expensive gowns, confusing the guards with their screams.

And then, ten minutes later, we were there, huddled within a small collection of pine, bordering the keep’s edge.

Ian had yet to arrive.

Ella set up guard near the trees, and Alex and I lowered Darren to the ground. The king hadn’t stirred once when we carried him through the crowds.

My heart raced as Alex knelt, his fingers feeling for a pulse.

I dug my heels in the ground, biting my cheek to keep from voicing my fears aloud.

Why is Darren still not awake?

“It’s a coma.” My twin looked up from the king’s side. “He had… a heavy blow with that rope… But he’ll… He should wake.”

But not everyone does. My nails cut into my palm. I was drawing blood, but I couldn’t seem to stop. I’d heard too many stories from the palace infirmary.

Alex gripped my arms as he stood. His mouth was opening and closing, but I couldn’t make out his words.

Then he shook me, hard.

My lungs retracted as the breath left my chest.

“Darren will live, Ry.” Alex’s fingers tightened around my wrists. “You’ve fought this hard, just give him time to wake.”

I willed myself to breathe. Darren would wake. I just needed to be strong.

“Ian’s almost here.” Ella broke the silence as she returned from her patrol. “Are you ready?”

Would I ever be? I was leaving behind everything I had ever known.

But Alex and Ella had a mission too, a critical role to play in the aftermath of today.

“Are you ready—” I took a deep breath. “—to help Priscilla pick up the pieces of Jerar?”

Ella gave a twisted smile. “Was I ever?”

“We’ll find a way.” Alex stepped in to press a kiss to his wife’s forehead, his hand lingering across her stomach just a moment too long.

I sucked in air, stammering, “A-are you…?”

My brother blanched as he realized what he had done. “We didn’t want to stop you from leaving, Ry.”

“How l-long have you known?” Chains squeezed at my chest and they wouldn’t let go.

“Only a couple of days…” Ella’s cheeks were flushed. “Alex thinks it’s going to be a boy.”