Page 125 of Blooms of Darkness

“I told you, I’m fine. Go!” Leif shouted to me, before grasping Corbin’s arm.

I nodded, standing, only to notice Andras’s robes flowing behind him as he strode through the open doors and into the palace.

Someone shouted my name from behind, but I refused to stop.

Andras wouldn’t walk away unscathed today. I couldn’t watch him harm another person I cared for. Not if I could stop him.

And I would. I’d fight to the death if that’s what it took to rid Brookmere of his evil.

I chased after him, thankful for all the running Ian made me do. Every time I thought I’d caught him, he turned down another hallway. Then another.

I shouted his name, “Andras!”

He moved too fast. I had to get him to stop somehow.

“Are you too scared to fight me? Even without my magic?” I screamed.

He stopped and turned.

My chest heaved, and not from the run, but from the adrenaline flowing through my veins as I stood face-to-face with my enemy. There wasnomistake.

Andras was the enemy.

Of me.

Of Ian.

Of all of Brookmere.

“You have no idea what’s coming,” he said. The grin on his face worried me, but I refused to acknowledge the emotion long enough to give it merit. “You being magicless is the least ofmy worries. Brookmere is ours. The kingdom will belong to the darkness forever.”

“Not if I have anything to say about it,” I said, whipping a dagger from my boot.

He laughed at the sight. “There’s nothingyoucan do. Casimir is hunting down the king now, and soon this will be an incredibly unfair fight when he has the king’s magic.”

“He willnotget it from him,” I said, gripping my dagger tightly.

Andras remained unarmed and undeterred. It would take one dive if I could get close enough to make him bleed. Although he may heal fast, he couldn’t heal if I kept stabbing him.

“You worthless girl. Foolish and predictable,” he said. “Do you think because you made some powerful friends you can do anything to stop what’s been in motion for years?”

I kept my mouth shut, not understanding what he admitted.

“Your precious father is dyingthanks tome.”

I stumbled back a step, but kept my dagger raised.

The candelabras in the hallway flickered as if reacting to the news as well.

“I’ve been poisoning him for years,” Andras hissed. “I gave up on our little sessions and moved onto the better part of our plans.”

Our?He hadn’t done this alone.

“He’s been fighting me so fiercely. But even he is no match for the power of the darkness.” He tilted his head to the side, studying my surprise. “When Casimir finds him and drains his magic, there will be nothing anyone can do to prevent me from invading his mind. The darkness will win, and with the king’s powerful magic under his control, there will be nothing anyone can do.” He stalked forward, pointing at me. “Especially a weak child with no magic in her bones.”

“You’ve been doing this to your King? You’re atraitor,” I shouted, slowly taking a few steps toward him. I couldn’t startle him, or he’d run.

No, I wanted his blood dripping down my blade for what he’d done.

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