Page 2 of Dead

Eilam rolled off the attacker—and the king sent a burst of dark magic.

Which simply bounced off the attacker and vanished into the wall. Before Eilam could react, the assassin sent another burst of energy at the king. The king ducked seconds before the magic could hit him.

Half shifting, Eilam let his bear surface.

He clawed the assassin’s gut, ripping a hole into the man.

As the assassin slit Eilam’s throat.

The attacker fell to the ground as Eilam lifted a hand to his neck. Warm blood coursed out faster than his body could heal. He dropped to his knees and fell to the floor, the blood loss making his vision blur.

The last thing he remembered seeing was the king’s terrified face.

* * * *

The king lifted his hands, casting a healing spell over Eilam and watching it fade into nothing. “Help!” he screamed toward the door. “Help me!”

The door was shaking, had been shaking since the attack had begun. There must be a spell on it. He waved his hand—yet the door still wouldn’t open.

He’s going to die!

Summoning up all his strength, the king sent a blast, ripping the hinges off the doors. They flew through the air and landed a few feet from them. He held a hand to Eilam’s throat, panic setting in.

My magic doesn’t work on him… by the gods, he’s going to die on me!

He can’t die…

He can’t…

He held a hand there, trying to stop the bleeding as his guardsmen rushed in. “We were attacked. Eilam’s neck has been slit. He’s bleeding out.”

“Eilam! You listen to me, you bastard… you won’t die. Do you hear me? I don’t give you my permission. You can’t die.”

You can’t die… because I love you.

Healers raced into the room and took over. The king looked down at his blood-soaked hands… hands that could control the world but were worthless to save the man he loved.

He watched as the healers worked feverishly to save his life.

“I’ve lost a heartbeat,” one of the healers said.

The king stopped breathing for a moment.

“No, there… there it is,” the healer said. “Weak… very weak… but it’s there.”

“We need to get him to the hospital,” the first said.

“I’m going with you,” the king said.

“Your Majesty,” Theis said to him. “You must stay here… where we can protect you. What if there are others?”

“They got to me. In my private chambers… which I bewitched with my own powerful magic. Nothing should’ve ever come through here. Whatever’s coming for me is coming, no matter where I am. I won’t sit here and wait to die while Eilam’s dying in a hospital without me.”

Theis met his stare. “Then we’ll come with you. Wherever you go.”

The king nodded and followed his bear…as the man was rolled out unconscious on a gurney.

He has to live…

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