Page 97 of Diamond Kisses

We all looked as he dropped like a sack of rocks.

Ian stood over him, the sulphur of gunpowder cut through the stench of acrid fire and melting flesh.

With a smirk, he shot Kirk again.

Kirk didn’t move, his limbs bent and splayed.

God, it hurt.

All of thishurt.

The loss of good people.

The torture of so many.

“This way!” Abby and Pen broke into a run, leaving their backs exposed. “We have to go!”

Peter gave me a look. I already knew what he’d do.

Without a word, we rantowardIan. We sprinted the short distance, and Peter raised his sword. Letting me go, he double-fisted the handle and swung.

The dark-skinned Master feinted to the side, snickering under his breath. “That the best you’ve got?”

Peter grunted and swung again, staggering with the weight.

Ian lifted his gun. “Say goodbye, Pete.”

“That might be the best he’s got.” A guard stalked out of the blazing foyer as if he was made of fire. “But not me.” With effortless grace, he raised his gun and fired.

Ian’s head snapped sideways, a bloom of blood welled on his temple and a spray of bone and brain exploded out the other side.

His body barely thudded against the grass before the guard looked at us, his gaze snagging on the sticky blood staining my chest. “The surviving jewels are being gathered in the south. Head there. Dr Belford and Rose are tending to the injured. A few guards are there to make sure you remain unharmed.”

“Are you friends with Stewart?” Peter asked.

The guard shook his head with a wince. “Nah. I’m just someone who wants freedom as much as you. I saw an opportunity, so I took it. A lot of us did.”

Another scream inside the castle.

We all swayed to help.

Light-headedness came for me again, bringing with it yet more snow in my veins.

Ignore it.

You’re fine.

My heart thudded with unsurmountable difficulty.

Each beat rocked my body with its effort.

“There’s quite a few of us now.” The guard checked how many bullets were left in his gun, then stepped back toward the fortress. “Most of the guards who are left will be on your side. We’ve been waiting for something like this for a while.”

Breaking into a run, he shouted over his shoulder. “Now go. Get out of here!”

Grabbing a tablecloth hooked on a shattered table, he wrapped it around his mouth and vanished into the smoke.

For a second, Peter and I didn’t move.

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