Page 133 of Steel Heart Iron Claws

And that’s when I realize she’s serious.

I shoot to my feet next to her. “Like hell, you aren’t.”

She rakes her damp hair off her face so she can glare at me. “I’m not letting you sacrifice yourself for me.”

I laugh again, though I don’t mean to be cruel. Simply realistic. “Darling, you don’t have a choice.”

Her jaw flexes. Her lips twist angrily. Gods, I love seeing that defiance sparking in her eyes, but what does she think she’s going to do to stop me?

I urge her toward me with my hand. “Come on, Sabine.”

She retreats a step, glancing over her shoulder as though she’s primed to run. “You don’t get to do this. To be a martyr after we went through hell to be together again. You might not remember our past, but I do. I remember every beautiful day. Every night when you held me. Every morning when you made me coffee and hid your grumpiness until you’d had some yourself. The midnights. The dawns. I remember every second—and if you think those end today with your death, you’re wrong.”

In the distance, I faintly hear the far-off bellringer signal Eleventh Hour.

I pinch the bridge of my nose, steadying my temper.

“I might not remember our past,” I start, “but I remember plenty else. I remember pummeling other boys so hard that their skulls cracked. I still hear Onno’s dying whimpers at night. Don’t you get it? Sabine, I’ve killed innocent men. Tortured women whose only crime was hearing gossip about the wrong person. When I say my life meantnothingbefore you?—”

My throat closes up.

After a breath, I continue more measuredly, “My life was less than worthless. I was a blight on everyone I crossed paths with—until I met you. I’d pay any price to remember our past, but it isn’t going to happen. The memories are gone. And I don’t care, understand? Because I finally have a chance to do one worthwhile thing in my life. And then all of my mistakes will be worth it. This is my chance to make up for everything. Because I can saveyou.”

She watches me carefully, warily. I take another step forward, reaching for her, but she hobbles two steps back and ducks under a branch, putting it between the two of us like a shield.

She shakes her head hard, eyes flashing. “Don’t talk like you don’t have a reason to live.”

My temper is boiling over now. I could never be angry with her, but I’m starting to panic at the idea that she will keep fighting me.

“Only one of us is leaving this kingdom, and it has to be you.” I tear open the leather pocket on my breastplate to hold up Rian’s Golath dime. “You have to ride to Hekkelveld Castle and show Rian Valvere what happens to those who betray you.”

I thrust out the coin, but she refuses to take it.

She keeps that damn branch between us as she shouts, “You’rethe rightful king of Astagnon. The people need you on that throne. We know now what kind of twisted games the fae can play. Do you think my father is any different from Artain? We just haven’t seen his true colors yet. If anyone can protect Astagnon from them, it’s you.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose, glancing up at the high sun. “Gods dammit. I’m sorry, little violet, but we don’t have time for this.”

I lurch forward and grab her arm, dragging her out from behind the branch. She winces as she puts weight on her twisted ankle. Guilt stabs between my ribs.

But this is what I have to do.

When I pull her against me, she struggles like a wildcat.

“Let me go!”

“Sabine, get it in your head thatyou’regoing free, not me.”

“I won’t let you do this!” She manages to wrench one hand free and grab my bow from the ground. She smashes the pointed end into my bleeding shoulder. Pain jackknifes through my upper half, making my muscles slacken.

She slips free from my grasp, staggering back against the tree trunk with the bow clutched in hand. “Stay back, Basten. I’m warning you.”

Pressing one hand to my shoulder, I growl, “I didn’t liberate you from Rian only for you to land in another lunatic’s hands! Artain will have you on your knees for him each night until they’re bloodied. You’re a gods-damn princess. A queen. I’ll die before I see you bow toanyone.”

A sob bubbles up her throat as she clutches my bow across her like a shield. “Please, Basten. Just walk away.”

I see red, and I slam my fist into atowering elm to dull my raging fear. My knuckles burst, blood drizzling out. But the pain feels good. Grounding. Motivating.

Taking a deep breath, I shake my head. “Not happening, little violet.”

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