Page 135 of Akarnae

Run!she thought to D.C., hoping her eyes communicated her urgency.Get out of here! Get away from me!But her friend just stood there and stared at her.

Then D.C. jolted out of her shock, but she didn’t try and struggle in Gerald’s grip. If anything, she seemed more determined to hold her position. “Stop, Alex! Don’t let him control you like this! You have to stop!”

I can’t!Alex wanted to scream. She watched in horror as her arm lifted into the air, raising the dagger into an attack position.

“Fight him!” D.C. yelled. She was clearly terrified but still she didn’t try to break free from Gerald. “You have to fight him!Please!”

I CAN’T!Alex screamed in her mind. She fought desperately against Aven’s control, begging her limbs to resist the kill order, but his grip on her was too strong. She felt tears roll down her face while she tried to battle her body into compliance, but it was no use. It wouldn’t listen to her.

Three steps to go.

“Stop, Alex, please!” D.C. begged.

Two steps to go.

“Don’t do this.” D.C.’s voice shook with fear.

One step to go.

“Please,” D.C. whispered, tears falling down her cheeks now. But still she didn’t try to escape, even when Alex pulled the dagger back further, ready to strike. The princess had meant what she’d said before—Aven would have to go through her if he wanted to get to Meya.

In the moment before she attacked, Alex wished that D.C. was less worthy of her crown.

I’m sorry!Alex screamed in her mind as she watched her arm slash forward through the air.

Forty-Three

Time slowed down in themoment before Aven’s blade pierced flesh.

Out of the corner of her eye, Alex could see the Meyarin smirking, certain of his victory. Gerald was also grinning gleefully, even with the fingernail gouges still dribbling blood down his face.

And then there was D.C., ready to surrender her life for her people, no matter how lost the cause. She was staring at Alex through watery tears as the blade moved straight towards her heart.

“Alex,” D.C. mouthed, one final time. It was a plea, perhaps. Or maybe it was an offer of forgiveness. Either way, the emotion in her eyes ripped through Alex like nothing she had ever felt before.

NO!Alex screamed in her mind.NO! NO! NO!

She felt something inside her snap.

“NO!”

The word tore out of Alex’s throat and echoed loudly in her ears. She reclaimed control of her body and wrenched her hand away from its intended path. She was too late though, and she recoiled in horror when the blade sliced effortlessly through skin.

Gerald’s tortured screams filled the hallway. He released D.C. to grab hold of the blade that was now lodged deep in his bicep, dropping his own knife in the process.

D.C. wasted no time in tackling him and knocking him to the ground.

Hoping her friend could keep Gerald contained, Alex launched forward to pick up his fallen knife and turned to face Aven. She held the weapon in the air defensively, but her hand trembled when she saw the look on his face.

“I told you tokill her,” Aven ordered, emphasising the words. Her palm burned like liquid fire, but she wasn’t under his control anymore.

“And I saidno,” she returned, holding the knife tight and ignoring the burning sensation.

He snarled at her and she had to force herself to hold her ground despite the terrifying expression on his otherworldly face.

“Youwilldo what I command!” he roared.

“I’m not your puppet anymore!” she yelled back. “You don’t control me!”

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