Last Stand (The Black Mage #4)(68)

My pulse thundered in my ears. I couldn’t call out to Darren; I couldn’t let him open the door and find me like this.

He’ll know either way.

I bit down on my tongue. Blayne’s muffled groans were growing softer. Maybe Darren wouldn’t hear. Maybe he’d go away.

I drew a sharp breath as the door creaked. “Mira is only minutes behind me.” Darren’s outline was swathed with light. Storm clouds rolled behind his shadowy form. “I managed to lose her, but…”

He stopped talking.

I was standing in the center of the hall. My guard uniform was covered in blood, and my hair was plastered to my face and neck, short and brown. I looked nothing like my former self. Still, it took all of one second for recognition to cross his face.

“Ryiah?”

I didn’t say anything. I stood there, watching his gaze slide to the floor.

To Paige.

A sharp intake of breath. “Why is s-she—”

His hand caught on the frame as he spotted Wolf. Darren let out a horrible choking noise as he rushed forward.

Then, he spotted his brother.

I stood frozen, unable to move.

The prince dropped to Blayne’s side, hollering for a healer at the top of his lungs. His hands shook as he tore at his sleeve, desperately trying to plug the wound.

I knew I should run. I knew what it looked like. I knew what it was. I knew the guards would be here any second.

But I still couldn’t run.

Darren’s heart was breaking, and all I could do was watch him clutch his dying brother as Blayne sputtered, choking on his own blood.

“D-Darren…” My lips couldn’t form the words; my throat was dry and my tongue felt like sand.

Run, Ryiah.

But my feet were frozen in place. I had to explain; I couldn’t.

“How could you?” Darren’s voice was hoarse, and when I looked, there was only pain.

So much pain it was drowning me alive.

“It’s n-not w-what you t-think.” I stammered, seeing the betrayal in his eyes and the way his shoulders shook as he cradled his brother to his chest.

“Why run,” he croaked, “when you can kill a king instead?”

I realized the broken rapier was still in my hand, dripping blood. It dropped to the floor. “I-I—”

“Paige tried to stop you.” His fists clenched against his brother’s shirt. “So you took her life as well.”

“No!” My throat was raw. “Darren, y-your brother a-attacked m-me.”

Darren wasn’t listening. “And then Wolf.” His voice caught as his eyes fell to his dog. The one happy memory from a dark childhood. “You took… everything.”

I heard others running, but I couldn’t bother to move. My eyes were locked on the prince as the kennel doors swung wide.

“Guards!” Mira’s screech was all I needed to know that I’d been found. “It’s the rebel! Stop her!”

The prince’s gaze was still locked on mine. He made no move to correct the head mage’s orders.

His expression was empty. Shattered.

Run.

I tore my eyes away. I didn’t have time to think. I ducked as a spear flew over my head. My fingers dug into Paige’s breeches, and I yanked the Crown necklace with a trembling hand and snatched the broken rapier with my other.

Something sharp whizzed past my shoulder as another knife narrowly missed my ribs.

I rolled, my shoulder roaring in offense. Then I thrust the jagged blade through my skin. I didn’t stop until I scraped against bone. The pain almost made my legs give out.

Then the air gave a loud pop, an explosion of pressure and sound.

Anyone standing was thrown back against the wall with all the force of a tempest.

For a moment, there was only the heavy patter of rain and the dark sky from above.

I didn’t look at him once. I couldn’t. Not if I wanted to leave.

Then I was running. Through the doors, across the clearing, leaping onto the mare’s saddle, and cutting the lead. I kicked my heels, leaning low as the horse took off across the palace yard.

There were shouts from just beyond. I jerked the mare to the right as an arrow soared just past my neck. I rode on and on while the storm muffled their shouts. Mira’s men were forced to follow on foot.

I had only seconds to spare.

When we reached the iron gate, two soldiers were standing guard, polearms crossed.

I tossed the prince’s chain at the nearest man’s feet. It sloshed in the mud, but it’s cut and color was unmistakable.

“Crown’s orders!” My heart was halfway in my throat and the rain was washing away the brown dye with every second I sat there, panting. “Let me pass!”

The soldier looked up at me through sopping bangs, squinting through the rain. He wasn’t supposed to question orders, and that necklace was as familiar as the throne. He couldn’t argue with the stranger in front of him, lest he risk execution.

The man nodded to his comrade, and the two unlocked the bars.

The metal quivered and groaned, and I didn’t bother to wait for them to clear more than a gap.

“Stop her!” Mira screamed at the top of her lungs, but it was too late.

I was just a shadow streaking across the cobblestone streets of Devon.

A shooting star, caught in the rain, cloaked in death and betrayal. Burning everything I touched with my crystalline shards.