Page 139 of A Blightress of Wrath
Anorange spark knocked his face back, sending him sidelong on the floor.Helifted himself in another laugh of malice, spitting more blood that pooled from his lip.
“Youhave a death wish, it seems,” my uncle spat, glaring down at the man who had been aRunnerjust minutes ago, now nothing more than dead or a prisoner.
“Youare all fools,”Mavrynchuckled, wiping at his bloody face. “We’vefought this war for nothing.”Hepointed a finger at me.Isaw the tremble in his hand as he continued. “Thatfucking bitch should have been knifed in her mother’s belly, and this never would’ve?—”
Thedagger flew straight and true, slicing through his black shirt, piercing the left side of his chest.Igasped, grabbingThevin’sarm still outstretched, his aim unmatched and deadly.
Mavrynslumped over in silence, no more than a corpse as if theBlightresshad predicted he would be before long.Thecrimson pool flowed quickly, joining the blood already spilled from this man.
Iturned to my uncle first, swiftly taking a step in front ofThevinas ifIcould protect him from any damning repercussions of killing in cold blood. “Hewanted to die!Youheard how he spoke, uncle, please don’t.Thevinwas only trying to protect me.”
“I’mnot going to punishThevin,Saelyn.”
Idropped my shoulders, but still stood in front of him as ifIcould take any of my love’s blows for myself.
TheKingstared over my head, watchingThevin. “I’mgoing to get rid of this body, and we’re never speaking of this again.”
IfeltThevin’shands at my waist, attempting to push me behind him, butIwouldn’t budge.Iplanted my boots solidly on the floor, ignoring his insistent tugs.
Aglowing cage of orange light flickered over what was left ofMavryn, enveloping the corpse in a shield of flame.Wesaid nothing as all three of us watched the swirling power radiating from theKing, burning fast and hot.
Thevinwrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me toward him as the fire receded, and all that was left of theRunnerwas a pile of dark ash across the ruined tile of the castle floor.
Chapter58
Thevin
Ikilled a man.
Theworst kind of man.
Itdidn’t matter that he seemed to want to die,I’dgiven him that end without hesitation.
Istared up at the pale blue stone that madeSaelyn’sceiling in the castle ruins, one hand tucked behind my head, one wrapped around her as she still slept on my chest.Dawnwasn’t far away based on the dim light of the room she’d been given to use, next to theBaron’s.
KingPhiliushad forced us to leave as soon as the body had burned.Hehad ushered us up toSae’sroom, saying food would be sent, and we were not to leave until he retrieved us in the morning.Ididn’t know what excuse he’d made, but based on the dark circles underSae’seyes and the bruise forming at the base of her neck,Ididn’t resist his orders, knowing a quiet rest would be good for us both.
Wehadn’t discussed it.We’dtaken a few bites of mutton and fell into bed, both of us asleep within minutes of lying together, holding onto one another as if we’d never get to do this again.
I’dslept next toSaebefore, but never like this, whereIcould feel her breathe.
Ididn’t know how the rise and fall of a chest could be so exquisite, but there it was in her.Sheslept on her stomach, one arm draped across me, one sprawled through the white sheets.Herblack hair spilled over me in beautiful waves of a tangled mess, andItook a minute just to pretend.Pretendthis was our cottage in the woods.Pretendthere was a leak in the thatchI’dneed to fix that morning, and that the potatoes were ready for harvest.Pretendwe had planned a walk through the woods to gather mushrooms, andI’dgather bread and cheese and a blanket so we could picnic.ThenI’dlay her down on a soft bed of grass somewhere, loving her asI’msure we were meant to do.
Itwas the futureIimagined for us.Itwas the futureIwasn’t sure we’d ever see.
Tomorrowwe’d descend into theBlightLine, andSaewould be used to lure theBlightressto our forces and theWieldwrynswould act.
Aswith most things in my time as aRunner,Ididn’t want to do it.
Withjust one word from her,I’drun away, findLanna, and leave all of this.Wewere young.Wewere born into this fight we didn’t deserve to have to see.
I’dkilled a man.
Theworst kind of man, but still,Ihad taken a life.
Ilet that settle with me asIfelt the tears fall down my face.IknewIwould kill him all over again, but there it was, the hardest point to face.
Ilived my life as aRunnerin theFour’sarmy.
