Page 188 of The Shattered Rite
Not remorseful.
Just… waiting.
Her voice cracked like glass. “Why…?”
And that was what broke her.
Not the blade.
The betrayal.
Malric, who had guarded her. Spoken softly to her. Brushed her hair from her face.
Malric, who she’d thought understood what it meant to experience loss and a destiny not entirely his own.
She had trusted him.
Now he watched her bleed.
“I would’ve made it quick,” he said softly. Like he still meant it. “I didn’t want you to have to feel it.”
Her entire body shuddered.
Her thoughts splintered.
Vaeronth,she begged.I can’t—I can’t do this. I can’t fight back.
Do not give up,he growled.I see him. I see everything. You need to be brave.
Eliryn clenched her jaw. Swallowed the scream ripping up her throat. Her body burned. Her vision was nothing but smoke and dragon-sight and pain.
But she stood.
Somehow.
Bit by shaking bit.
She forced her body upright, blood sliding down her thigh.
Malric’s expression didn’t change.
That broke her more.
He stepped forward.
Eliryn ran.
Not with grace.
Not with strategy.
She just ran.
Staggering, pressing her hand tight to her ribs, stumbling into shadows made of blue fire and fear. She didn’t look back.
She didn’t need to.
She could hear him following.
