Page 92 of The Sins of Silas

Emerson trembled before me. “This is what you support?!”

“You beheaded his wife!” I hissed. “You came here and attacked!”

Emerson's panicked look went back to the Warlock, who was on the last head. “Retreat,” I snarled. “Take what is left of your men and go.”

He hesitated, breathing heavily before he gave me a hateful glare. Ultimately, he conceded, yelling, “FALL BACK!”

I glared at Emerson in contempt as he rushed away. I hated that I had killed his son, but he and my father were the ones who allowed his child into battle and who put him up against me. What did they expect to happen?

The remaining soldiers from the outside had managed to break the ice block enough for soldiers to escape. Leroy was still blood-hungry, still full of rage, running after and killing any Otacians he could before they had all fled the kingdom.

Chapter Twenty-Five

LENA

The aftermath of a battle was something I never would grow used to. The smell of blood and death surrounded me, and I took a steadying breath as I willed my electricity down.

After Leroy had chased out the last of them, he slowly turned, shifting back into his human form.

As he faced his kingdom, everyone frozen as they stared at him, his lip trembled as he whispered,“Revelare.”

His glamour faded, his pointed ears and milky-blue eyes on display for the whole kingdom to see. But just like at The Freak Show, the residents showed no disgust, no fear as they held three fingers to their hearts.

Leroy didn't address his people, didn't say anything as he wandered back inside his castle.

My eyes slowly slid to what remained of Emma's head, and I squeezed them shut as I felt the burning pain behindthem.

I never got to meet her.

When I opened them, I caught sight of Elowen, Taira, and Viola—now shifted back to Mage form—rushing to the injured soldiers, quickly working on their injuries. The human healers began working on those with lesser wounds.

Merrick was hurrying into the castle.

I needed to be healing people as well. My magic was significantly weakened; I could feel it, but I could still offer my services.

I quickly caught sight of Silas, whose blood was spilling on the ground beneath him as he clutched his arm.

I hurried to him. “You’re bleeding.” I gripped his arm, examining the wound. I swore colorfully as I took in the nasty gash, then looked him in the eye. “We need to heal this.”

Silas frowned as he attempted to tug his arm away. “I’ll be fine,” he snapped.

Oh, so we’re playing this game.

I nodded to a bench a few feet away. “Sit your ass down, Your Highness.”

He was hurt, which I had learned meant he would be stubborn. He gave me a cruel smile. “Make me.”

“You think I’m not capable of doing so?”

He narrowed his eyes at me, and I squeezed his arm tighter, causing him to hiss.

“Sit.”

He hesitated, then huffed as he plopped himself down, removing his vambraces and gloves.

“We need to take off your shirt—”

“No,” he said sharply as he removed his pauldron. “My shirt stays on.”

---