Page 87 of The Anointed's Paladin

His name clicked everything into place. He couldn’t return to hervile clutches. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to keep hold of the thought. It was important.It was worth the pain.

I blinked, my mind coming back to me with a sickening lurch as her charm slipped.

Terror seared through me as I looked up at her. Her eyes narrowed, but before she could do anything else, I summoned a burst of light, illuminating the clearing.

She cried out, stumbling back from the blinding flash.

I ran.

Shit.

Shit, shit, shit.

I needed to find Kaine, to warn him. She was here and she knew…everything.

I ran, heart pounding, unsure where I was planning on going. I just needed tomove,to try and find him.

The purpose shifted the dark clouds in my head, and I felt a new clarity settle over me.

Fuck the universe.

I knew what the next right thing to do was.

I couldn’t believe it had taken me this long to realise it.

39

Run away with me

Kaine

“Kaine!” called Talon, stumbling forward.

I slipped out of sight, scaling the nearby wall, my daggers gripped tightly in my hands. Fuck. Why was he here?

He peered around, trying to find me.

I rolled my eyes. Idiot. When would he learn to look up?

Run,I told myself,just leave now. He’ll waste time looking for you, and you’ll get your prize.

Of course.

That’s what I wanted more than anything.

So, why weren’t my feet moving?

“Kaine?” he called again, his voice breaking a bit. My eyes stung. It was hard enough without Nidori, and now this?

I clutched the daggers hard in my hands. A week ago, I wouldn’t have hesitated to pounce on him, slit his throat. Seduce, use, lose. But so much had changed since then.

I sheathed my daggers.

It had taken so much to walk away from him the first time. I couldn’t do itagain.

Idiot,I chided myself,you’re so close to freedom.

It wasn’t fair. How the universe—the fucking Gods—had put us together with the knowledge we couldn’t both win.

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