Page 91 of The King of Frost and Shadows

The world stopped as the realization of what I’d done slammed into me.

I’d killed someone, and not by accident.

I dropped to my knees, a sob building in my chest, and Lorne screamed, “Stop! Moira, no!”

I tried to spin around to see what was going on, but my body responded slowly. It was like a fog had engulfed me, and all I could sense was the agony of my injuries and the guilt from what I’d done.

“This charade ends now,” Moira replied. “And the only reason I’m not killing you is due to our years of friendship.”

Finally, I turned to find the dusky-haired Moira stalking toward me.

Her body glistened with sweat, but there was a faint smile on her face, like she was enjoying the fight. Something a skilled swordsfae would do.

“Stand up, sunscorched.” She waited. “Give me the benefit of not killing a weakling.”

“You won’t kill me,” Islurred as I rose, but I couldn’t stand up straight. I hunched over. Worse, I couldn’t lift my sword, no matter how hard I tried.

“I suppose this will have to do,” she rasped then lifted her sword.

My heart sank, knowing that my life had only mere seconds remaining.

30

TAVISH

Something in my chest squeezed tightly until my heart seized and I couldn’t breathe. Watching Lira fight … I wanted to take her place and ruin them all for daring to touch her. But every time I prepared to stand, Caelan’s hand landed on my shoulder, keeping me down. That wouldn’t have stopped me if not for Lira somehow fighting despite being attacked by two strong Unseelie who could fly and use their magic.

If she didn’t kill Bran and Rona, I would, gladly, and enjoy the life leaving their eyes as I got justice for my fated mate.

Fated mate.

Two words I’d been avoiding and definitely not connecting to her, hoping not saying them would dissolve the connection.

All the denial had accomplished was making me lose the few days I could have spent with her, making her mine in all ways.

She couldn’t die.

I wouldn’t allow it.

“Tavish, we talked about this,” Caelan muttered, pressing down on my shoulder harder. “You can’t stop the games, especially not forher. Your people won’t understand or approve. To save them, we need her blood, which means she has to die.”

My breathing turned ragged, but the longer I sat here and watched Lira struggle, the more clarity I found.

Moira used both hands to attack Lira, and I jumped to my feet as terror clenched my heart. I shouldn’t have waited, and now my fated mate would die because of me.

I was the one who had brought her here.

Blast all my people. Ruling them had changed me into someone I’d never dreamed of becoming, and now I had sacrificed my fated mate for them.

Then Lira surprised me again. Despite her injuries and blood loss, she contorted her body, avoiding the blow, then sliced the wildling’s head off.

A few boos came from the crowd, and I scanned around, noting who to punish when this ended. But what I hadn’t expected was the number of fae who seemed relieved that Lira hadn’t perished.

Strange.

“What a weakling,” Eldrin chuckled, pulling my attention back to the arena. “If the Seelie royals could see their daughter now, they’d be ashamed, especially if they knew she mourned the death of an enemy.”

My heart ached, and my tattoo warmed and pulsed, causing the yanking in my chest to take control. Lira was on her knees with her head hanging, devastated over the life of someone who’d been trying to harm her.

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