Page 281 of The Sins of Silas

“What’s going on?” I hissed.

A soldier, one in Halstedian armor, replied, “The Princess here let us know of your whereabouts.” He gestured to her sitting frame. “We’ve been tracking you ever since.”

“What…how…” I shook my head, my watery eyes meeting Era’s apathetic ones as I turned to look behind me. “You didn’t. You wouldn't.”

“She did.” The man motioned to one of the soldiers, and the one holding a blade to Silas grasped his arm, pulling him to his feet.

“What are you doing?” I demanded.

They ordered him to sit in front of the altar at the head of the room. His golden eyes flitted to mine, a look I couldn't pinpoint as he stared at me.

“Why have you attacked us?” Silas asked, his voice unusually steady as he walked up the few steps and sat against the wooden altar.

“We have orders from King Ulric.”

I bared my teeth, and as I went to stand, the soldier holding me pressed his blade deeper against my throat.

“Do not move, Lena,” Silas ordered.

Tears filled my eyes as the man before him withdrew his sword. Dark shadows swirled at its tip.

We all gasped. “What are you doing?!” I repeated.

“Silas La’Rune, you are hereby charged with treason,” the man stated as he aimed his blade at him. “Your punishment is execution.” He tilted the weapon, the shadows moving as if there were life to them. “The Undead’s curse has touched this sword. No witchwill be able to save you.”

“NO!” I screamed, thrashing against the man who was detaining me. The sword pressed against my throat, drawing blood. “Please, please don’t do this—”

Silas went to move, and the man behind me quickly said, “Try anything, and we slit her throat.”

Silas's jaw tensed, and his back relaxed against the altar.

“Silas, no!” I cried.

“Don't touch him!” Roland barked.

“Don't!” Viola wept.

The person holding the cursed blade tilted it, examining the dark magic before his eyes flitted to the Prince. “May the Gods have mercy on your soul.”

Immediately, I began to panic and tried lashing out of the soldier’s grip, even as his blade pressed against me.

“PLEASE!” I begged. “Gods, kill me instead! I will take his place, please…” I cried. “Please, don't hurt him!”

But the soldier didn't listen to my pleas. He only smiled before plunging the cursed sword into Silas’s chest.

ChapterSeventy-Nine

LENA

The world slowed as the cursed weapon went straight through Silas's chest, pinning him to the altar behind him, a trail of crimson pouring out.

“NO!” I screamed as Silas choked, his eyes blowing wide. I flailed out, the sword at my neck digging into my skin.

I didn’t care if they slit my throat. I couldn’t live without him. I wouldn’t want to.

“You fucking bastards!” Roland bellowed, just as Viola broke into a sob, Edmund roaring in despair.

The soldier freed me from his grasp as Silas groaned in agony. I instantly rushed to him.

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