Rise (The Order of the Krigers #1)(81)

“You made a deal with Skog Heks for what? Power? Lust? You killed our parents! How could you do that?” Vidar’s arms trembled with rage.

Morlet shook his head. “I saw your room!” he cried. “There was blood everywhere.”

“Not mine. The assassin you hired couldn’t kill me. After he murdered our parents, Grei Heks put a protection spell on me and instead, I escaped.”

Morlet turned to Anders as if seeing him for the first time. “You killed them.”

“I haven’t aged either,” Vidar continued, bringing Morlet’s attention back to him. “I, too, am stuck until the evil you unleashed is gone.”

Soldats barged into the room, surrounding us. The king replaced his hood and ordered them to hold their position. At least two dozen swords were pointed at us.

Anders slowly pulled me toward him. “Do you trust me?” he whispered.

I glanced sideways at him. He had killed the king and queen. He had known Vidar’s identity and kept it a secret from me. He squeezed my arm, waiting for my answer. Uncertainty and sorrow filled his eyes. Against all common sense, I replied, “I trust you.”

His face softened before going void of all emotion as he whipped out a dagger and placed it at my throat. His arm wrapped around my torso, my back to his stomach. “Morlet,” he yelled, immediately gaining the king’s attention. “You’re going to let us walk out of here.” The tip of the blade dug into my skin, drawing blood, and I cried out in pain. I didn’t know how far he’d take this charade in order to free us.

“I’ll allow the two of you to leave,” Morlet said, pointing to Vidar and Anders. “But Kaia stays here with me.”

“Kaia leaves with us, or she dies,” Anders said.

“You’d kill her?” Morlet asked, cocking his head, revealing a portion of his face. “Knowing she’s a Kriger?”

Anders shrugged. “If she dies, a new one will be born.” He grabbed a chunk of my hair and yanked it. I screamed.

Morlet’s face paled. “Don’t hurt her,” he snarled.

“Why do you care?” Anders spit. “You nearly killed her.”

“You need her just as much as I do,” Morlet said. “It seems we’re at an impasse.”

“Tell your men to stand down.”

“If you don’t hand over Kaia, I’ll kill all three of you.” Morlet folded his arms, awaiting Anders’s next move.

Vidar nodded to Anders, who shifted his weight, preparing to fight.

“Wait!” I yelled. There was no way Anders and Vidar would survive Morlet’s magic. “I’ll go with you,” I said to Morlet. “But you have to let them go.”

“I won’t leave you here with this monster,” Anders said, holding me tightly.

Morlet smiled—he knew Anders had only been bluffing when he said he’d kill me.

“I’m sorry,” Anders whispered.

Before I had time to react, Anders plunged the dagger into my stomach. Excruciating pain rippled through me as blood leaked out of my body. Anders held me upright in front of him. “If you want her to live,” he said, “tell your soldats to stand down. She only has about three minutes until she takes her last breath.”

Morlet shook with unsuppressed anger. “I’ll kill you.” His face darkened, and I feared he would use his magic on Anders.

Vidar took a step closer to me, but there was only so much the medallion could do. It would protect Vidar, but it wouldn’t do a thing for Anders.

Anders put his lips close to my ear. “Do you have enough energy to use your bo staff?” he whispered. I nodded slightly. “When we leave, strike the castle above the doorway and collapse it so no one can pursue us.”

He loudly said, “Vidar and I are going to walk out of here with Kaia. No one is going to follow. Otherwise, I’ll gut her. After all, I’m just a ruthless assassin.” He slowly moved backward toward the door, keeping me with him. “In exactly one minute, you can use your magic to heal her if you want her to live. If you don’t, you can collect her corpse by the moat.”

The room started to spin. I was going to die.

“Almost there,” Anders whispered.

Morlet’s eyes narrowed, watching us. “I wish I could say it was nice seeing you, brother,” he said, his voice clipped. “But seeing as how you’re leaving with Kaia half-dead, I think it’s safe to say any love we once shared is long gone. You are now my enemy. As for you, assassin,” Morlet snarled. “I will kill you. Even if it’s the last thing I do. And Kaia, dear, you are mine.”

“Okay, do it now,” Anders said.

Using the last of my strength, I forced my power to my bo staff and unleashed it, striking the stones above the door, collapsing it.

Anders picked me up and started running. “Allow Morlet to connect to you.”

I was so weak I couldn’t even breathe.

“Kaia,” Anders said, his voice pained. “Don’t you dare die on me. Let Morlet help you.”

He wouldn’t help me—he hated me. I closed my eyes. This was the end.

“I’m here,” Morlet whispered. “Come to me.”

I didn’t have the strength to do anything. Darkness descended.