Last Stand (The Black Mage #4)(78)

“Ryiah.” Quinn’s tone was gentle, calming even. “A leader is held to a different standard than his men. And your brother already told us you tried to reason with Darren. The king refused to listen. He was given a chance, but he refused to take it.”

My eyes shot to Alex, betrayed; my twin looked sick to his stomach.

“Quinn,” Alex pleaded, “that wasn’t what I—”

“I’m sorry.” And our leader truly looked it. “I really am. But—”

“I don’t care!” My scream broke whatever apology Quinn was attempting. Everyone’s eyes were on me, the pressure making me see red.

“I have sacrificed everything for this cause.” Ella attempted to place a hand on my shoulder, but I threw it off. My fingers balled into fists. “Everything. More than you. More than Nyx. More than the rest of you put together. I lost my brother. I betrayed my husband. I gave up the crown. I was willing to die in the gods’ forsaken dungeons just to keep all of you alive! And the one thing, the one thing I asked was for Darren to be spared!”

“You don’t have to come with us.” A pair of green and gold-flecked irises met my own. Ian turned toward his leader. “We came here for Ryiah, but we can do it without her.”

“Ian—”

“Give her a gods’ blasted choice, Quinn.”

The man went silent.

My friend looked me dead in the eyes. “You’ve given up more than any of us, Ry. Nyx gave us orders, and I agree with her reasoning, but you deserve the chance to walk away. I know what he was to you.”



*

So that was my choice. Lure Darren to his death or walk away and sentence the others to their death.

It was never supposed to come to this. My fist found the wall, and there was a resounding crack as the wood splintered and broke. I pulled my hand away, dripping blood.

I didn’t feel a thing. Not physically.

The others were gone. They had given me two hours to make my decision—the time it would take for them to repack their supplies. Alex and Ella had remained inside.

“We didn’t know, Ry.” Ella’s voice shook. “I swear, when they told us Nyx’s orders, they didn’t tell us that.”

I said nothing. I had seen the look on their faces during Ian’s announcement. Alex might not have been Darren’s biggest fan, but even he had been surprised.

“What do I do?” My voice was hoarse.

“Whatever you choose—” Alex swallowed. “—we will stand by your decision, Ry. Ian is right. You’ve given up so much, you don’t have to do this too.”

“So I just sentence thousands to die?” I stared at my hand. I watched the crimson drops slide along my knuckles. “Because he will kill them, Alex. He’s already killing them. Every day the war goes on.”

My twin didn’t answer.

“I… I’m not a fool.” I sucked in a breath. “I knew it m-might come to him or us.” Did I? Or am I just lying to myself? “I knew we might h-have to…” I couldn’t say the words. I couldn’t admit it existed. “But I just thought… I just thought that, if he surrendered, Nyx would spare him. I knew she wasn’t happy when I asked, and I knew his brother was king when we struck the deal, but I…”

But a part of me had truly believed that, if Darren surrendered, she would uphold our pact.

My nails dug into the cuts in my palm. I was such a fool to pretend we were on the same battlefield. Things had changed. “He’ll probably kill me first… He already heard what I have to say.”

“Ryiah—”

“No.” I shook my head, locks flying in front of my face. “Quinn’s right. I already gave him a chance, Ella.” A bolt of shame shot down my spine. “This isn’t about what I want. It’s what’s best for the whole.” Even if it wasn’t fair to him.

“Ryiah.” Alex grabbed my wrist and forced me to unclench my hand. “Did you believe Derrick the first time he came to you?”

“N-no—”

“Then why should you expect it of Darren? You didn’t have any proof. It was his brother or his wife. Lucius and Blayne spent years making him believe a lie, and you only had a week and a half.”

My palm tingled as Alex’s casting commenced on my hand.

“Nyx is wrong.” My twin’s voice was barely a whisper as he leaned in close. “I’m not saying she doesn’t have the people in mind, she does, but she is thinking like a leader and forgot what it’s like to be a person.” He and Ella exchanged a meaningful look. “Nyx’s decision might be right for them. It might be the best decision a leader can make. I might even agree with her, but it doesn’t mean you have to.”

“I can’t outrun them, not like this.” I stared, unblinking, as the skin stitched together along my knuckles. It wasn’t the most pleasant sensation. “What are you saying, Alex?”

“I’m saying there are three choices, not two. And Ella and I can help make the third one happen.”

The third one?

“When the group locates Darren, we will make sure you have a head start. An hour, two at most.” He was pacing. “If the plan works, and I’m not saying it will, you get Darren to call off his men and leave Jerar. But if you take too long, they’ll catch up.”