Page 119 of An Honored Vow

“I have you outnumbered,” Damien said through his Bow. “I have you out-armed. And now—”

The Bow’s gaze shifted to something behind me. I turned. Nikolai was fighting four soldiers. More like prodding. He held two tiny daggers that looked even smaller compared to the soldier’s swords.

One soldier lifted his arm, preparing to levy a heavy blow, and dropped his sword on his own head. The others straightened, turning their own weapons onto themselves. They dropped and their amber pupils faded.

The tether.

Whatever Damien had done, he wasn’t ready to use it yet. My belly tensed as I stabbed my sword through a soldier’s throat.

Fyrel charged toward Nikolai, swatting soldiers in every direction as she carried Syrra on her back. I transformed, soaring over the soldiers and landing on her white fur. There was a second flash of light.I used my earth magic to trap a line of soldiers into dangling roots. Syrra jumped off, running for Nikolai to fight beside him.

The sentries along the wall no longer held bows but spears. Their points dripped in dark purple liquid. Poison. The Bow swung his arm and the first barrage came hurtling toward us. Fyrel turned, swatting the spears from the air like it was nothing. I gripped her fur, trying not to slide from her back.

“Fire at will,” shouted the Bow down at his ranks.

Spear after spear whirled through the air. Each one aimed for Fyrel. She stood on her hind legs, shielding me and swatting bolts with both hands. She twisted, deflecting a spear to the field below.

I dangled from her back and watched as the spear hurtled toward Nikolai instead. “Nikolai!” I cried, letting go of Fyrel.

There was no time for magic. All I could do was watch as Syrra pushed her nephew to his knees. The spear pierced through her chest. Her last breath was barely a gasp as she crumpled to the ground, dead.

Nikolai screamed so violently theshirakabove recoiled from the sound. He crawled along the ground and cradled Syrra’s head in his lap.

“Raava,” he whispered through the sobs. “Wake up.Wake up!”

He reached for Syrra’s blade, left forgotten in a soldier’s chest, as if that would set new life upon her lungs. But as soon as his hand touched the hilt he recoiled back in shock, his fingers burnt and blistered.

The golden sword had faded back to silver. Unclaimed once more.

Thick streams cut into my cheeks, but I couldn’t let the beast above me go.

“Keera,” Gerarda called, running toward two Shades who were holding a shield above their heads, ready for her to jump. I nodded and Gerarda ran. Sprinting like a mountain cat, she leaped onto theshield and was propelled into the sky. I waited until she reached peak height and threw my hands down, pushing her higher with my gusts. Gerarda let out a battle cry as a beam of pure light exploded upward directly into thewaateyshir’s red center. It squealed as it died, fading into nothing as the others fled from Gerarda’s magic.

She landed on top of a soldier and twisted his neck. I didn’t wait to see the body fall. I ran to Syrra and Nikolai. Soldiers ran for us, but thick roots sprang from the earth and pulled them into early graves. I turned and saw Feron lift his faelight along the hill. He would hold the soldiers off long enough to get Nikolai to safety, but we had to be quick.

“Nik, you can’t lay here,” I urged.

He shook his head. “Heal her. Keera, heal her now.”

“Nik.” My lips trembled. “I can’t.”

I pointed to her sword because that was easier than looking at Syrra’s vacant eyes.

“No. No.” Nikolai shook his head with tears streaming down his face. “She died saving me.”

“And there is no other death she would’ve wanted.” I pressed my hand to Nik’s cheek. “There is no greater honor to a warrior than giving your life protecting those you love.”

“No, she wanted to live.” Nikolai wiped his nose. “She wanted to see the world we would build together.”

“No, she didn’t.” I pulled the spear out of her chest and folded her arms. “Syrra made her choice the day she sheared her hair. She knew she was never going to braid it into anyone else’s. Maerhal’s funeral was always going to be her last.”

Nikolai’s face fell. He caressed Syrra’s smooth head, and he let out one last sob, finally seeing the truth of what his aunt had planned. To die for her people—to undo her biggest regret. She never wanted to be a survivor again.

A glowing thread of amber appeared beside Nikolai. It dissolved into a veil of mist as Dynara stepped through the portal.

Nikolai’s shoulders drooped as he picked Syrra up under her legs and her back. He looked like he was cradling a babe in his arms. My heart tore. It was so unfair that Nikolai would bury the two mothers he had ever known, the twoikwenirawho had held him just like that as a sleeping child. His son, his mother, and now his aunt. Nikolai had joined the rest of us and become the last of his bloodline.

My jaw flexed. I wouldn’t let that bloodline die today.

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