Page 94 of Kingdom of Crowns and Daggers

The taunt works, and they lunge at me again, desperate now.

I cannot even go on the offensive. All I can do is defend, ducking and weaving under their blows to stop them from gutting me as we dance across the floor. I manage to avoid any serious blows, but I’m slowing from blood loss. I need to end them quickly. My eyes narrow in irritation as I analyse their movements like Crux taught me. Everyone has a pattern, and as I force them through the motions, I pick up on them quickly.

Smirking, I purposely drop my shoulder for the next blow, leaving my stomach exposed.

As expected, the one on the left kicks out, hitting my stomach and sending me flying back. I hit the railing hard once more, the air leaving my lungs in a whoosh as they come at me. I roll forward to avoid the blade heading for me and come up behind them, stabbing the arrow into the back of one of their thighs. He yells, and I yank it out, spinning and crouching on the floor, but not even that wound can stop them.

I flip backwards to avoid the next blow and sweep my leg out, knocking him down to my level, and then I kick him. He tumbles over the railing but grabs it. It gives me the opening I need.

Using the arrow like a dagger, I grip the slippery wooden shaft and leap at the assassin not dangling from the railing. He ducks under my wild swing like I was expecting, then I turn so my back is to him and stab backwards. There’s a scream, and when I whirl, he’s falling back, holding the shaft as it sticks from his eye socket. Smirking, I leap once more, kicking as I go. My foot hits the end of the arrow and drives it into his skull, and he falls backwards, dead.

I duck under a grabbing hand and spin, sliding between the last assassin’s legs and ripping his robe as I go. Jumping to my feet, I wind the material between my hands and tug it taut as I face him. “Last one, and here I thought you would be worthy opponents. I was wrong.”

This time, I make the first move. I feint forward, as if I’m aiming for his injured leg, and like I anticipated, he dives to protect it. I roll over his back, wrapping the material around his throat before yanking him up and back, choking him.

A dagger skims off my leg as he fights, but I lower to my knees, using all of my body weight to choke him. He slows, still struggling, and a dagger comes at me. I have no choice but to roll away, taking the material with me.

He coughs, but I don’t give him a chance to recover, heading his way again. I block his wild swing and wrap the fabric around his dagger, sending it spinning away. He falls back into the railing, and with a yell, I wrap the cloth around his neck and throw myself over the railing. I dangle there, my feet almost touching the water as I cling onto the material around his neck. Looking up, I see him fighting to get it off, smacking the wood with a snarl, so I use all my weight to drop lower until I hear a snap.

Breathing heavily, I spin midair and grab the railing, then I haul myself up. After ensuring he’s dead, I grab the dagger from the floor and glance around to make sure there are no other threats.

Water and blood steadily drip to the wooden floor from me. Adrenaline pumps through my veins, making my blood flow faster. I can’t see any other assassins, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any. We need to get Joha somewhere safe with guards before the blood loss takes its toll. Assassin or not, even I can’t fight that.

I grab the edge of the railing with gritted teeth and peer down, but I don’t see Joha. Good, he’s hiding like I told him to. Holding my bleeding shoulder, I lean as far over as I can. My hand has started to go numb, my fingers tingling, and I know that’s not good. I did some damage when I ripped the arrow out, but I had no choice. “Joha, it’s safe.”

He appears, looking worried. “Are you okay?” he hisses.

Reaching down with my good arm, I offer him my hand. His wet one slaps into it, and I jerk him up. He’s heavy, and I have to haul him back. His feet hit the wooden railing, and he uses it to climb up, falling into me.

We both collapse to the wooden floor, wet and panting. He turns his head, his eyes widening. “Alyx.”

“I’m fine.” I climb to my feet, stumbling slightly. My head feels woozy and my knees give out. I land on them hard with a wince, but I keep the dagger as I kneel before him, facing the entrance to the lake house. I’m weaker than I thought. I lost too much blood.

Fuck! I underestimated the wound. I turn my head, almost throwing up as my vision wavers, to see my entire back soaked with blood. That isn’t good, but I don’t have much choice. I cannot move, I cannot get him somewhere safe, so I turn forward to protect him with my last breath.

“Oh gods, Alyx!” Joha presses against my back. Fighting the dizziness that seems to want to claim me, I narrow my eyes. I need to protect him. I cannot pass out, not now.

“Alyx!” he screams just as the sounds of rushing footsteps reach me.

Orion appears with Crux at his side, both bloody and panting, and I smile. “Thank the gods.” I stop fighting it. My dagger hits the wood as I fall right into Joha’s waiting arms, and the darkness claims me.

Chapter

Fifty-Two

JOHA

Istare down at Alyx’s pale face. Her eyes are closed, and her jaw is slack. She’s quiet and so small in my arms. Panic fills me as I cup her cool cheek. “Alyx?” I call, but she doesn’t respond, and I lift my head to meet Crux’s and Orion’s worried eyes as they hurry over.

“My king, are you okay?” Orion asks.

I nod rapidly. “Alyx saved me. She got hurt,” I explain, sounding weak before I shake it off. I’m king, and she’s depending on me. She saved me, and now it’s my turn to save her. I stand and lift her into my arms, uncaring about the blood covering me as I hold her tightly. One of her arms hangs low, and Crux places it over her chest as he runs his eyes over her face. I see fear there I have never seen in anyone before, and I know then that Alyx is this assassin’s weakness.

“I will take her to my room. Call the healers at once, all of them,” I order. “And gather all the guards. I want her protected while she is weak.”

I stride away, and they fall into step next to me. “My king,” Orion hisses. “We killed the ones we found, but there could be more. You should wait?—”

“And waiting might kill her!” I roar. “Crux will stay with me. Go, Orion. That is an order.”

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