Page 79 of The Shadow King's Brother

She collapses against me like a broken bird. Her body trembles, a low, continuous vibration that resonates through me. Her sobs are silent, muffled against my chest, but I can feel the tremors racking her body.

"Did he… did he put something in you?" I look at the door, expecting an army to show up any minute.

She points down to her side and whimpers, "There's something under my skin, he—cut me open while I was sleeping."

Fuck, Eddie was telling the truth.

I hold her tighter. My cheek rests against her hair.

"We need to get you out of here. Get that shit out of your system," I murmur, brushing damp hair from her face. "Can you walk?"

She tries, but her legs give out beneath her. Before she can hit the ground, I catch her and lift her into my arms.

She raises a trembling hand, like she wants to say something, then lets it fall.

"What, Nica?" I urge, my chest tightening.

Her breath shudders. "Are we still—still…" A cough racks her body, weakening her even more. "Getting married? Was… was t-that all a dream?" Her voice barely holds, her eyes flickering in and out of focus.

Fuck. She tears my heart out with those words. How could she even question that? I know it's not her. It's whatever they did to her. But still.

I tighten my grip, staring into her eyes. "There'll be a wedding. You're my bride. I love you more than life itself, Nica. I always have. There was never anyone else. Never. I love you so much it's like a physical pain." My voice is rough, raw. "Yes, I asked you to marry me, and I'd do it a thousand times over."

She exhales, her body going limp against me, her glow fading.

Not good.

Her lips barely move, but I hear her whisper, "Good… then—'cause I l-love you."

"You better, 'cause I'm marrying the shit out when we get home," I say. "Let's get you out of here."

We leave the room, Nica's limp body in my arms, my shoulder screaming with every step. Blood soaks through my shirt, warm and sticky, but I don't care. She's too pale, her breaths too shallow. My heart slams against my ribs as I move through the warehouse hallway. I need to get her out. Get help.

Then—

Footsteps. Fast. Aggressive.

I skid to a stop as Eddie and two men round the corner, guns already raised.

"Not another step," Eddie says, voice cold, smug. In one hand, he’s holding his half-shattered phone. But there’s a small light still blinking on the screen.

Shit. It’s still working.

I don’t hesitate. Twisting, I shield Nica with my body, my back pressing against the cold concrete wall.

This isn't good.

"You think you can just walk out of here?" Eddie sneers, tilting his head. "You're good, Elio, I’ll give you that, but you're bleeding. And you're outnumbered."

"I should have killed you when I had the chance," I hiss.

Eddie smirks, unfazed. "Yeah, you should have." He takes a slow step forward, his confidence dripping off him like oil, slick and toxic. "But you didn't. You're soft, aren't you? Not the leader you need to be. Not the kind of person who does what has to be done to protect their family. You’re no Shadow King. More like a scared little prince playing dress-up in daddy’s crown."

My blood turns molten. "Fuck you."

He chuckles, shaking his head like he's disappointed. "That temper of yours—so predictable. That's the problem, isn't it? You act tough, but when it counts, you hesitate. You blink. You leave loose ends." His gaze darkens. "And loose ends get you killed."

His words crawl under my skin like barbed wire—tightening, cutting deep.

---