Last Stand (The Black Mage #4)(97)

I didn’t hear the rest of her words. Something she had said was wrong. “There was a d-dagger in his c-chest?”

“You don’t remember?”

How could I? “Ella, I-I didn’t…. The d-dagger wasn’t mine.” I tried again. “Did o-one of the r-rebels…?”

“It was there when we got there.” Alex’s brow was furrowed. “Wish it had been me. The scum stabbed his own wife.” My twin rattled on angrily, but something was still wrong.

How did the dagger get there?

Did Darren try to end his life when he saw the cave crumbling down? But then, how did he survive?

How are either of us alive?

I lurched forward as sudden panic swarmed my chest. “Alex,” I choked, “h-he’s alive, isn’t he? The guards said—”

Alex and Ella exchanged looks. “Yes, but—”

I didn’t hear the rest. Yes was all I needed. My pulse pounded in my ears; I could breathe again.

“Ryiah.” My brother stared hard at my face. “He stabbed you in the heart.”

“It’s not what you—”

“Darren tried to kill you!” Alex’s face was scarlet as he started to yell. “Tell me how you can possibly defend that!”

“Alex.” It hurt to raise my voice. “I stabbed myself.”

Ella grabbed my brother before he could lunge. “Why in the name of the gods would you do something like that?”

Deep breath. And again.

“It was my last stand, Alex.”

My brother fell back in Ella’s arms, sputtering. “What?”

I waited for the truth to sink in.

“You were trying to save him?” My brother looked so betrayed. “Why? How could you, Ryiah?”

Ella’s eyes hadn’t left my face. “Darren finally believed you, didn’t he?”

My brother froze, his face going as white as a sheet.

I couldn’t speak; I just nodded.

Ella was still trying to piece together the events. “While the two of you were alone… you finally got through to him.”

Alex’s hand squeezed my wrist so hard I was surprised it didn’t break. I forced myself to use words. “N-not at first. I’m not sure w-what I did to convince him… But he saved my life near t-the end.”

My brother’s grip lessened, but only slightly.

“And that’s when you cast your last stand… to save him?”

I nodded; Ella took a shaky breath.

“Ryiah, if you didn’t do it and the rebels didn’t… that means it was him.”

“H-him?”

“We were wondering how you both lived.” She looked me in the eye. “You cast a last stand… That might explain why Darren is alive, but not you…” She sucked in a sharp breath. “There is only one explanation that makes any sense.”

The realization hit me like a rock.

Why hadn’t I thought of it before? The dagger in his chest.

“He cast a last stand.”

Darren tried to save me too.

“It’s how both of you survived.” Ella’s eyes were as wide as moons.

“Each casting… canceled the other’s price.” Alex’s voice was hoarse. He was struggling to process Darren’s benevolence with the violent villain of the past. “It’s never been done. Why nobody knew, not even the healers…”

It shouldn’t have worked.

But it did.

A last stand was a selfless magic. Perhaps it didn’t have to make sense.

Ella cleared her throat, and I caught her guarded look with my brother. “We need to tell her.”

I stared at the two of them, trying to decipher their glance. Then I remembered the guards from before. The prisoner.

“Darren’s in the dungeon, isn’t he?”

Ella flinched, and Alex wouldn’t meet my eyes.

“There’s more.” My friend swallowed. “Ry, when we found the two of you and you were still alive… The healers immediately saw to you, but Darren… We didn’t know he’d turned. He was alive, but barely.”

Alex lifted his chin. “The rest of our band helped carry him down to call off the Crown’s Army command… But when we were done, and Darren had somehow miraculously survived, which we know now was the effect of your casting, there was too much confusion. The people needed time to adjust.”

Fear cinched my throat. “W-what are you saying?”

“His execution is set a week from today. A day after the new ruler is crowned.”

For a moment, I couldn’t hear anything. Every part of me was ringing as I tried to calm down.

This isn’t the end. The new ruler doesn’t know. We can change this. I can explain.

“The declaration has already been made. Announcements were sent by envoy to every city in Jerar. The other kingdoms are already involved.”

“Who is it?” Whoever it was, I would see them at once, even if I had to have Alex and Ella carry me every step of the way.

“Priscilla.”

My jaw dropped. Her? Of all the potential rulers in Jerar?

“But she’s a mage!”

“So was Darren, and she has already renounced her robe for the Crown.”