Page 138 of Savage Crown

But she is also angry.

And anger makes you sloppy.

I feint left—she falls for it.

I twist, my blade sinking into her side.

A sharp gasp.

A stumble.

She looks down at the blood spreading across her gown.

And then she laughs.

"You think you’ve won?" she breathes.

Her voice is weaker now.

She presses a hand to her wound, staggering slightly.

But she still smiles.

She always has one last move.

Her eyes lock onto mine, fierce, alight with something unreadable.

"I didn’t want the treasure, Rylan," she murmurs, voice soft now, edged with something cruel. "Not the gold. Not the riches. Do you really think Nhilian is that simple?"

I still.

Something in my heart goes cold.

"What are you talking about?"

Her smile widens.

"Your father’s magic," she whispers. "That’s the real treasure."

The world tilts.

The air goes razor-sharp.

I feel Seraphina tense beside me.

Lartina’s breath comes in shallow gasps now.

She sways slightly, but still—she smirks.

"He was trying to cheat death," she breathes. "And Nhilian wants his secrets."

No.

I don’t want to listen to this.

I don’t want it to be true.

But it makes sense.

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