Page 5 of A Dagger in the Ivy

Roy’s jaw stiffens. “Compassion won’t protect us from the fucking carnoraxis. We have to be willing to make tough decisions to survive.”

“There’s a difference between survival and sacrificing our humanity. Stringing up those fae was a cowardly act, and I won’t stand for it.”

Roy sneers and his gaze darts between us and his colleagues. “You may not have a choice. You have your weapons, but you might have failed to notice you’re basically trapped in a room full of sharp objects and men stronger than you.”

Roy takes a step, but then his eyes widen when a shadow darkens the room. The sound of bone hitting bone makes us turn just in time to see Mylo standing over the groaning men, who are flat on the floor cradling their skulls. Mylo is a tower compared to Roy, whose shoulders slump at the sight of him.

“I think you need to reassess your advantages.” Mylo, who hasn’t even drawn his weapon, smirks as he crosses his arms. His biceps stretch the sleeves of his uniform.

Roy raises his arms and takes three steps back.

“You might want to think twice before threatening the commanding officer of the Delasurvian Royal Regiment.” Aila sheathes her sword and hikes a thumb toward Mylo. “And I don’t mean because of this guy. Or have you not heard the famous tales of Celeste Westergaard and her lethal dagger?”

Roy releases a shuddering breath. “Listen, maybe I made a mistake. But it’s over. It is done. The town is safe now.” His eyes redden with tears. “It wasn’t an easy decision, but I can’t fucking change anything now. For what it’s worth, I wasn’t the one who killed them. I drew no blood.”

Anger surges within me, a seething fire fueled by the helplessness I feel over our tardiness. I clench my jaw, suppressing the surge of emotions threatening to overwhelm me.

With one last scowl directed toward Roy, I sheathe my dagger and turn to leave. As my squadmates and I are about to reach the door, a scuffling behind me causes my senses to go into high alert.

I don’t think. I only act.

With a hard pivot, I whip out my dagger and fling it toward Roy, who’s advanced on me and about to strike. His cry of pain floods the room. His hand, which wields a cleaver, is pierced dead center by my dagger. The cleaver clatters to the floor. The metallic sound is followed by the ring of Aila’s and Mylo’s swords being drawn. As Roy’s blood spills upon the cleaver, his jaw hangs open, and his men back away.

“Like I said. A simple man.” I glare at him, daring him to make a move as I march toward him to retrieve my dagger. I’m not nice about it, either, tearing it from his flesh with the same disregard as I imagine the carnoraxis tore into his brother.

I can’t stand to look at his face any longer. Turning swiftly, I storm out of the butcher shop. But with every step, the weight of Roy’s callous words scrape at my heart.

Where were you?

The guilt of not being fast enough to save those fae claws at my gut. But I need to shake it off. The one thing Roy is right about is that we can’t change anything now.

Aila and Mylo follow close behind me, no doubt watching my back. Once we push past the prying crowd outside the shop, Aila’s steps are quick and purposeful, matching my pace, her eyes reflecting the same anger simmering within me.

Coming in our direction are Isaac and Giorgi, my soldiers, each scanning my face to assess what might have happened.

“Are there any other casualties?” I ask them as they approach.

“None in the village, though their riders haven’t returned yet.”Isaac’s gait is one of caution, his sandy hair dusting his squared shoulders as he moves. “We took the names of the dead for the scribe tomes.”

“It was only the three.” Giorgi glances over their shoulder, their fingers steady on the hilt of their sword. “But the citizens we questioned pointed us in this direction.”

“We found the men who tied them up.” I gesture for them to follow as I head to the place I left Thora. “But there’s nothing we can do. Their leader—the brother of one of the fallen—made it clear. They drew no blood.”

“Butwedid.” Mylo raises a brow. “Looks like Roy’s going to have to find a new career. One that doesn’t require him to use that hand.”

“No.” I shake my head. “He’s fae. He will heal.”

“Can’t we arrest him for being an asshole?” Aila asks.

“If being an asshole is a crime, you better lock up Isaac.” Mylo elbows Isaac playfully, but he’s so big and powerful, the impact causes Isaac to stumble.

“Cut it out, jerk,” Isaac grumbles.

“I don’t know how he can live with himself after sacrificing his own brother.” Aila’s voice is tinged with frustration as we stride through the bustling streets of the town.

My jaw clenches with indignation, my mind swirling with a torrent of emotions. “He will see the people of this town alive and well and consider it a necessary sacrifice.” I seethe, my voice tight with anger. “But I can’t say it won’t haunt him.”

Aila shoots me a glace that tells me she agrees with me.

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