Page 122 of A Deception of Courts

The mass of Hunters had moved. Now, they waited in a circle around me. There wasn’t that many of them left, we’d been so close, but I was blinded by the need to protect Duncan from a fate that I couldn’t bear the thought of him falling to.

Death.

Aldrick was there once again, mud splattered up the wheels of his chair and sticky among the woollen blankets across his lap. Besides that, he was untouched. Unscathed, whereas I felt like my soul had been flayed from my body.

“I will admit, Robin Icethorn, you really had me for a moment. The glamour, the body, all of it. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t impressed.”

I pushed myself up enough that my chest peeled away from the wet ground. Gathering a lump of bile, I spat before him. “Fuck you.”

“Now,thereis the human lurking inside. Rough around the edges and flawed. It must have been so terribly exhausting playing pretend all this time. I would not be surprised if you have had enough. Here…” Aldrick offered out a hand, palm raised to the sky, still filled with the gryvern’s screams. “Allow me to help you rid yourself of the responsibility thekeygives you.”

I scanned the crowds, looking for a sign of Duncan. Erix. Althea. Gyah. Rafaela. Anyone who might help. While the sky was still a battleground for the gryvern and Draeic, everything on the ground seemed so still.

“What have you done tothem?”

“Does it matter?” Aldrick replied. “Give me what I want, and I will give you what you want. Seems like a fair trade.”

He was asking me to trade the world for the sake of a few people – and yet, they were my world.

“I’d rather die.” I stood slowly, hoping that Aldrick did not see my legs tremble. It was only the two of us within the circle. No guards protecting him. Only his daring, but that would do little to save him.

“I can arrange that. You die, and I take the key, or you give it freely, and I take the key. Cooperation is not something I am concerned about.”

I lunged toward him, feet slipping across the slick ground. My power had depleted, but that didn’t matter. I would tear his throat out with my bare hands. I was so close, my nails a hairbreadth from his wrinkled skin, when another voice rose from the crowd.

“Little bird.”

The wall of Hunters peeled away, allowing Erix to pass through. He moved awkwardly as though his legs were not his own. His face was painted with apology and fright; both emotions were in clear conflict with one another. “This is not me. I amnotdoing this.”

“Your guard does not lie to you, this is my doing.”

“Get your fucking hands off me,” Duncan screamed as he, too, followed out of the wall of Hunters. He was being dragged, his hands clasped behind his back, a blade pressed to his throat. Still, he fought, even with death a literal swipe away.

Duncan was forced to his knees, held down by a small group of Hunters. And I watched as Erix came to stand above him, claws grasping at his chin and neck. I saw his hand tremble with hesitation, but they didn’t move away.

“Mariflora.” Aldrick mocked me from my mind. Then he continued out loud so everyone could hear. “Highly effective when ingested by a mortal but rather useless to monsters. And look what you brought to the fight, one cut from both cloths.”

My lips parted, expelling a feeble gasp. “Erix, I command you to resist him.”

Erix’s silver eyes twitched, his mouth drawn in a pinched line.

“Robin,” Duncan said, demanding my attention to meet his. Our eyes met, his verdant gaze brimming with defiance. His chin was raised, his shoulders back as much as the bindings allowed. Muck coated his face, deepening the hollow of his cheeks and the etching of the scar down the side of his face. Now, more than ever, it looked like a permanent tear engraved into his hardened expression. “Let it go.”

I didn’t know if he spoke about my power or him. But knowing Duncan, he’d rather die than hand anything over to the very man who ruined his life.

“One thought, that is all it would take, and your beloved dies,” Aldrick grinned wildly at the revelation. “There is no more fight left. No more bloodshed. One thought, that is all it will take, and it is over for Duncan Rackley.”

I didn’t know where to look. I was being torn between Erix under his spell, Aldrick smiling and Duncan looking almost peaceful as he faced his end.

“Robin, don’t you dare listen to him. Do you hear me.” I recoiled as Duncan shouted at me. Spit burst out of his mouth as he snarled his own demand. “My death is not what matters. Ido notmatter!”

“You do,” I exhaled. “To me.”

I dared to look away as tears filled Duncan’s stare. He refused to blink and provide them with escape.

Erix fought against Aldrick’s control. His entire body shook like a leaf caught in a breeze. Yet, still, his claws didn’t retract from Duncan’s neck.

“The choice is yours,” Aldrick said calmly. There was something about his tone that reminded me of my father. It was paternal, as though used to trick me into doing what he wished. “Think wisely about your decision. The lives of those you care about rely on what youdonext.”

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