Page 229 of The Dawn of the Cursed Queen

I didn’t ask how because it didn’t matter. I now knew I wasn’t leaving here alive. They wouldn’t change forms again. I had already lost my edge. Arrogance would be my downfall.

“Pretty cool, huh?” Isaiah quipped, raising a brow in complete and utter confidence.

I lifted one shoulder in a negligent shrug. “I guess if you can’t heal on your own.”

I lunged for a piece of broken wood and hurled it at him. Kaden glanced at his brother, and I charged. Isaiah lifted his arm, and the wood broke when it hit the spikes on his thick dragonbane armor.

“That was stupid.” Isaiah laughed, shaking the splinters off.

“It’s called a distraction, you idiot,” I said. Pain shot through my knee when it connected with the armor over his midsection, but it was what I needed. Kaden was sloppy when it came to his brother, and he reached for me at the same time I lowered my head. The momentum of his missed grab spun him, exposing his back and the dagger. I twisted, and the wounds over my torso protested vehemently. Ignoring the pain, I grabbed the dagger, ripping it from its sheath. I darted back as Kaden whipped around. He blinked in surprise, watching as I spun the gleaming crystal blade on my palm.

“I don’t want to fight you, Dianna,” Kaden said, his tone careful.

“Too bad,” I sneered. “I do.”

My fist shot out. Kaden blocked one hit and then the next, but I didn’t stop. Every kick, twist, or punch he sidestepped or dodged, but he was still pushed back. Isaiah went to grab me, and I let him pull me close before rearing back and head-butting him in the face. He let go of me with a curse, his nose streaming blood. I spun and jumped, kicking him in the chest. The blow was hard enough to send him sailing across the room.

“You’re faster and deadlier. I love it,” Kaden said from behind me.

I flipped the dagger in my hand. “You shouldn’t.”

“It won’t work if she uses it on you, brother,” Isaiah snapped, pushing himself to his feet.

“I know that.” Kaden gritted his teeth, watching me carefully.

“Oh.” I smiled around the blood that filled my mouth and stained my lips. “Damn magic and their tricky rules. But don’t worry, I wasn’t going to use it. I am going to break it.”

Kaden yelled a denial and lunged toward me as I tossed the blade to the ground. I lifted my leg, ready to smash it under my boot, but suddenly, my body was no longer under my control. My leg stopped moving as if hundreds of hands stilled it. My body bent on its own accord, arms spread wide at my sides, back bending, and my gaze snapped forward.

Isaiah glared at me, his eyes a dark, eerie red that seemed to swirl. My blood felt as if it were hooked to tiny strings, and Isaiah was the puppeteer. Kaden raced forward and grabbed the dagger. My leg snapped down, and my knees hit the ground. Every cell and molecule screamed as if being torn in two as I fought. My arms were yanked to my sides, the muscles obeying only Isaiah.

Isaiah stood beside Kaden, broken glass and wood crunching beneath his armored boots. I tried to jerk my arms, move and fight, but I was immobile as they stood over me.

I grimaced, holding back every scream I so desperately wanted to make. I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction.

“Not so much,” Kaden demanded.

Isaiah’s eyes flicked toward him, and the pressure eased a fraction. The pain in my head lessened, and it was no longer a struggle to breathe. I growled low in my throat. “Is this your guys’ thing? Tying someone down to beat them. Once is a mistake, twice is a pattern.”

Kaden knelt before me. I wanted to back away, but my body would not let me.

“I didn’t want to fight, not really.” He reached out, brushing the blood-soaked hair from my face, and despite my inability to control my body, it shuddered at his touch. “I want you to come back in one piece. I always did.”

“Pretty sure I remember your Irvikuva ripped me to pieces to bring me back to you.”

“They can be a tad rough, especially given how hard you fight, talons and all, but those you didn’t kill died when they returned to me. I never wanted you dead, no matter what you think. I wanted you with me forever.”

“Sorry to disappoint you, but that was never going to happen, and I’m not going anywhere with you now. I’d rather die.” I tried and failed to bite the hand so damn close to me.

He smiled at my attempt and held up the dagger. The hilt glowed with magic, the blade itself taunting me.

Kaden spun the blade by the hilt. “You know, your father helped me sculpt it, although he had no choice in the matter. I needed a loophole. After all she made me take from you, I knew you’d hate me.”

I was silent, my heart pounding painfully.

Isaiah patted his brother’s shoulder. “Kaden was always smarter than me. He was always ten steps ahead of me. Even Mera knows that. One little stick of that dagger, and when you wake up, all your feelings and love for Samkiel will be gone. Replaced and given to my brother.”

Heat flashed beneath my skin, the Ig’Morruthen thrashing and fighting to come to the surface. The need to protect her mate was nearly overwhelming.

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