Page 53 of Stars May Burn

I barked orders to the soldiers in the courtyard to go and help clear the remainder of the wall, while ordering the men from the back wall to go through the stables, armory, and remaining rooms for any Kollenstar men who might be hiding. We needed to find every last one so that nobody could admit the returning army while our guard was down.

A cheer made me look up, blocking my eyes from the sun. My soldiers waved down from the front wall, raising their swords in the air.

By the kingdoms, we had actually done it. The cost had been high, but we’d taken back Whitehill.

And I was still alive.

I half laughed in disbelief and turned to grin at Sir Cley.

My smile dropped in shock. Sir Cley was looking down at his chest in surprise where an arrow protruded from beside his sternum. He met my eyes just before crumpling to the floor, red already staining his jerkin.

No, no, no.

I ran toward him and ducked as another arrow barely missed my head. Cley’s breathing was labored and shallow. Where were those arrows coming from?

I collapsed to his side, my fingers brushing his shirt to find and staunch the flow of blood when a force punched me in the stomach and jolted me backward. I looked down in shock at the arrow that had appeared in my abdomen. My fingers automatically surrounded it, applying pressure to stop the bleeding. I turned back to Sir Cley, but his eyes were open and vacant. Blood trickled from his mouth, already congealing.

Grief and a sense of failure kicked me in the chest as I rolled to one side. Someone shouted from within a wall, and the arrows ceased.

I tried to stand but fell. Footfalls sounded; I could feel their vibrations through the floor. I looked back down at the arrow. Was it even possible to survive that?

After all I had done to fight death, it hadn’t been enough.

A man took me by the shoulders and started ripping bandages. I waved him off. “Get everyone to the walls. The Kollenstar army will return here soon. Defend Whitehill.”

I motioned away from myself again, but my vision was blurry, and it was hard to focus on what was going on.

I lay down. It was easier that way. Every movement was an effort that was quickly becoming more pronounced. My clumsy fingers found the ribbon Sophie had given me, threaded through my lapel. It felt right to die holding it. A great pressure pushed down on my body, refusing to let me move any more.

My eyes were already closed. I waited, wondering what dying felt like.

But I didn’t feel the peace I’d expected.

I had been prepared to let it all go. To die happy that I had done at least one good thing in my sorry life by making Sophie safe and free. But as I felt the softness of the bloodstained ribbon, my mind wouldn’t go to that blissful oblivion.

Words tortured my consciousness.

‘Promise me you will fight death.’

‘When you return, I hope we can get to know each other better.’

Silly, foolish dreams. Dreams I didn’t deserve to even consider.

But I wanted to see her again. I wanted to live for her.

I’d never wanted to live for anything before.

I groaned and found I couldn’t open my eyes. I couldn’t move. I drained the last of the strength from my reserve and fought to stay conscious—if this could be called consciousness. It was really only pain.

Voices faded in and out.

Excruciating pain exploded in my abdomen as the arrow was yanked from my stomach.

Agony.

Silence. Blackness.

Voices again. Fluid on my lips. Being carried. Callum’s voice. “We did it, Kasten. They didn’t try to take back the fortress. They went back to Kollenstar. You’re a luckier man than you have any right to be. Stay with me now. Don’t you dare die.”

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