Page 235 of Red Ruin

I try to swing my blade, try to fight the lich’s pull, but the touch of death numbs my body and soul.

The sound of my teeth clacking wakes me up just enough to duck his reach.

“Hold her,” the lich says coldly.

Puppet Sentinels jump to obey. One grabs each of my arms. Kevan takes my left side.

In full lich mode, his head is pure skull. Cold, blue flames burn from the empty pits of his eyes.

My skin crawls from his familiar yet unfamiliar touch. With his silks blocked off from me, he’s the same as any other zombie.

The Sentinels present me to their king.

He reaches for my jaw.

NO.

I scream with every fiber of my soul. My aura surges with blue light, blazing across my skin.

Lich-Luca flinches.

For just a moment, his death energy flickers.

Kevan doesn’t budge—I can’t reach him anymore—but my sudden, mental attack knocks back the other Sentinel holding me down.

I can fight.

I can win.

I meet the lich king’s calculating gaze. “Don’t touch me.”

Feral roars echo.

I feel two energies surging toward me—disoriented but so fucking determined.

Vhex and Remy are coming.

“Powerful. Yes,” Lich-Luca murmurs, “A superior shell. I must have it.”

“Not a chance,” I growl, sharpening my silks into spears.

Soul-to-soul attacks risk damaging my silks. I don’t care as long as it hurts him worse.

There’s no ‘I’d rather die’ option here.

If I die, he wins.

I cock back my energy.

Before I can strike, two psychic screams shatter my focus.

Pain knocks the breath from my lungs.

Groaning, I fold like I’ve been stabbed.

“Stay back,” Lich-Luca barks.

Two jerky sets of footsteps stomp directly on my heart.

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