Last Stand (The Black Mage #4)(60)

“You expect me to give up the people that are fighting to save Jerar?” I pushed back. “Why don’t you give up your brother! He’s the real traitor.”

“I expect you to give up a lot of misguided fools.” Darren’s fingers were clenched around my wrist. “For me.”

I faltered. What?

“Give. Me.” Darren’s eyes burned like coals. “A reason. To. Let. You. Live.”

I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t even blink. He was standing there in front of me, his breath coming out in quick, shallow pants.

In another second, I knew Darren would turn and run.

I ran first. I slammed the cell shut, pressing the door to my back so that he couldn’t leave. It was the two of us inside a cage of rusting bars. To leave, he’d have to fight me, and something told me the Black Mage wasn’t prepared. Not today.

“Move away from the door.”

“No.” I braced myself, folding my arms. Even if he hurt me, and he probably would, I was going to make him do it here. Now.

Darren snarled. “You think I won’t kill the traitor in my way?”

I held my breath.

The prince advanced on me like prey.

Stay still.

His fingers were inches away, a dagger at my chest as he leaned in close.

I looked up and met his angry gaze. The sharp sting of metal pressed against my ribs. The pain was nothing to what he and the others had done earlier that week; he would have to inflict a whole lot more, and we both knew it.

I held the prince’s stare as he increased the pressure, the two of us locked in some unspeakable match.

“You really are prepared to die.” His eyes narrowed to slits. “You would do it right here, wouldn’t you? Right now?”

“Yes.” It was hard to swallow.

“For them.”

“For Jerar.”

Something in his composure shattered. The blade vanished.

“Did you even love me at all, Ryiah? Or was it all some sort of twisted game for you?”

“I—”

“No, don’t.” Darren’s laugh was mad. “You are going to die in five days. It doesn’t matter either way.”

I caught his neck with my hand. He flinched violently, but I held on.

“I’ve always loved you.”

He took a slow, hitching breath.

“I never stopped, Darren.” My fingers tightened as desperation seeped its way back into my throat. Please. “I love you, still.”

I felt him shudder, and for a moment, for a moment I thought I broke through.

Then he wrenched my arm away and shoved me aside.

I was too startled to move.

Darren slammed the cell shut and shoved the key into the lock, grinding it violently as he twisted.

“Darren—”

“You really are the greatest liar I’ve ever met.” His voice was like ice. “I almost believed you, again.”

“I’m not lying!” I grabbed the bars, screaming, “Darren!”

He didn’t reply; he was already walking away.



*

The next morning, Darren didn’t return.

But Mira and her legion of Combat mages did. It was only fitting. The Black Mage had given up. I had a whole new nightmare that was chasing my waking hours, making it impossible to rest.

Never mind the physical torment.

A day later there was a loud, jarring screech; someone had opened the prison door.

I opened my eyes and took a deep, retching breath, praying whatever Mira did would be quick.

But it wasn’t Mira I found.

Darren.

I thought he wasn’t going to return.

The prince didn’t say a word.

He didn’t look at me once. He didn’t speak. He didn’t do anything.

I stared at him across the room.

An hour later he left.

The next day no one came at all.





13





“You can’t make the choice to die.”

Everything ached, but his voice was enough to jolt me awake.

I opened my eyes; Darren was inside my cell, leaning against the back of the bars, watching me. He looked better than before; someone must have forced him to bathe. He had more color in his face too. I wasn’t sure if I should be happy or sad.

It was the day before my beheading, and the boy I loved was doing well.

“You are my wife,” the prince repeated, “and you chose the Crown. You chose us. You can’t take that back.”

“Darren…” My throat was raw and it hurt to speak. “…you know… where I stand.” I hadn’t expected to see him again, and now that I had, I didn’t know what to say. From the expression he wore, I knew today would be the worst session of all. Somehow his resilience cut worse than anger or silence or visits from Mira.

I didn’t want to hurt him any more than I already had.

Darren knelt before me and took a rattling breath. I couldn’t react even if I wanted to; the others still had me bound and chained from the evening before.

“Perhaps your life is not reason enough.”

I looked up at him, my heart caught in my throat.

“Perhaps I need to remind you the penalty for the rebel’s family instead.”