Page 147 of Bloodguard

And Maeve deserves my loyalty.

In the minutes that follow, I’m certain I’ll break down the castle doors. Soro could be hurting Maeve as we speak. I can’t handle anything more happening to her.

“It’s time to save Maeve,” I say.

Giselle shakes her head. “No, Leith.” She rights herself. “It’s time to take back Arrow.”

chapter 51

Maeve

I chose to save Leith’s life.

So why do I feel dead on the inside?

I cradle my head, still sore from battle, and sit up. Be it from grief or my injuries, my stomach continues to roil, its contents swirling upward and burning my throat.

Those catacombs were horrors I won’t ever forget. Piles upon piles of unidentified, desecrated remains, not just from war but from the limitless demands of Aurora the Phoenix.

Thefuckingphoenix.

The same one I killed my grandmother over. A cry breaks through me, and I curl inward.

Ikilled my grandmother.

Me.

But Papa paid the price.

It cost him his mind and his throne, and it may cost mine as well.

My knees knock together as I stand and stumble across the room. If memory serves, this apartment—one bedroom and a foyer in the royal wing—used to belong to Ugeen’s wife. She hosted tea for me here once before she left him, mostly because he kept screwing her cousin. I wish they were still married. Polasie was sweet and funny and would have loved to see me force-feed Ugeen his liver. That snively kiss-ass opportunist will pay for his role in the coup.

They dragged me here from the arena, knowing it was the only way to prevent me from ripping Soro’s throat out and running to help Leith.

Oh, stars. Leith.He was so injured, and I wasn’t there to heal him. Is he alive? Hehasto be alive.

Making me watch them destroy my family and home wasn’t enough for these foul creatures. They forced me to watch Leith’s match, which was horrendous. I broke free when he collapsed, begging him to fight when it looked like he’d never move again.

Except he wasn’t done. My champion climbed out of the grave they dug for him and proved why he deserved to win.

And after he won, he lost.

I expected him to rage at the announcement, but it was worse. A frightening calm like the air before an ice storm ravaged, erasing the young man I’ve come to know and replacing him with the murderer the arena made him. When he saw me promise to wed Soro, I watched the rest of Leith be demolished.

I had no choice. Soro would have killed him if I hadn’t agreed to his terms.

So, for now, I must act the part of the compliant bride-to-be, despite my desire to roast my betrothed’s balls over a spit.

I force myself to rise and stumble to the basin in the corner. I pour cool water from the porcelain pitcher and splash it on my face with trembling hands. Uncle Vitor… He wasn’t the bad guy after all—at least not completely. He made mistakes,terribleones, but he didn’t deserve to die as he did.

I wipe my face with a towel.

Or did he?

In the end, he became what he offered—a sacrifice to the phoenix.

What was it Grandmother said? Something about one life to save thousands?

---