Page 156 of Crown of Slumber

Callan stood straighter, his nostrils flaring. “I—I don’t—” He broke off, his brow furrowing in confusion.

“Leave,” I said, pouring more strength into my voice. “Turn around andleave.”

His arms began to shake, and his breathing turned ragged. “What—What are you doing to me?”

“I’m offering you a taste of what I can do with words alone,” I hissed, baring my teeth at him. Then, I unleashed the full force of my magic as I bellowed, “Fall to your knees!”

Callan’s legs gave out, and he knelt before me, crying out in pain. “Stop.Stop!”

A few soldiers rushed to his aid, but I turned on them, too. “Stop. Do not move.”

They froze in their tracks, limbs stiff as if they had become nothing more than statues.

“Do you want me to decimate your army with a single word?” I asked Callan, cocking my head at him in consideration. “Because I would destroy every single one of them if it meant keeping Aurelia’s home safe.”

I was bluffing. Already, my insides were quivering with fatigue from pushing so much power into my commands.

But Callan didn’t need to know that.

The Autumn King gazed up at me, his eyes watering. “You wouldn’t.” His voice trembled.

“Between me and the dragon, we could certainly do some damage,” I said with a cruel smirk. “And my armies are on their way to you now. Do you really want to have your forces torn apart before you even cross the border?”

“Fennick… The Dream Mage…”

“Aurelia is battling the Dream Mage as we speak,” I said. “I think she has more important things to worry about than you and your mother.”

Callan blinked, his eyes flaring wide. “What?”

“Aurelia is saving your sorry ass,” I said. “She’s saving all of us. Now, this is your last chance.” I drew my sword. “Leave, or I’ll cut you down right now. Or, better yet, I’ll order you to fall on your own sword.”

Callan glanced at the three soldiers who still remained frozen,unable to come to his aid. Then, he looked at me. His eyes flicked to the slight tremor in my hand as I held my sword.

Dammit.Dammit.

Callan sucked in a breath, then rose to his feet as if suddenly realizing I couldn’t hold him there any longer. After a long, tense moment, he said, “No. I’m not going anywhere.”

I raised my sword, and Mal growled, baring his sharp teeth.

“Reynolds,” Callan said, addressing his captain. “Arrest King Fennick. Use excessive force if you must.”

Panic and fatigue throbbed through my body, but I brandished my sword, glaring as Reynolds approached me. I would cut him down. I wouldn’t last long, but I would take out as many men as I could.

Reynolds did not falter. He didn’t even blink, clearly unfazed by my bravado.

When he was close enough, I swung my sword high. Too high. He met it with his own, and the clang echoed around us.

Taking advantage of his position, I kicked him hard in the shin, then rammed my knee into his groin. He sank to his knees with a strangled groan.

With one swift motion, I cracked the pommel of my sword against his skull, and he fell to the ground, motionless.

Panting, I raised my eyebrows at Callan, who scowled at me. “Is that all?”

With a growl, Callan pointed his sword at me. “Take him down!”

Shouts rang out. As one, the soldiers surged toward us, swords drawn.

My hand was sweaty as I gripped the hilt of my sword. I shared one last somber look with Mal before we both dived into battle.

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