Page 69 of The Sorcerer's Thief
“He’s not my father.”
Who’snotJulian’s father?
“We’ll see about that when I deliver you to him in chains.” Tauren steps back. “Guards, Rune, take them.”
A flash of orange is all the warning we get before the cell is an inferno.
The guards scream and flee. Can’t blame them. No one would stay to be burned alive, regardless of who ordered it.
But Julian and I are safe within his shield, much stronger than my own, and holding against the fire. Rune’s eyes are positively alight with it, glowing yellow and gleeful with rage.
I refuse to be afraid of the fire. I know the element likes me, as I like it. Under my breath, I whisper, coaxing it to my side, “You’re magnificent. A true beast roaring in my ears like a wild cat after a kill. Very well done.”
“Shut up, you little twit.” Rune advances, fancy dagger in hand. Julian’s dagger? I know not. I haven’t seen him with one before now.
I continue flirting with the fire, in my mind now, blade forward.
I know you don’t want to hurt me. I’ll only need a moment. Can you spare us for the span of breath?
Julian grabs me in an attempt to put himself between me and Rune. “The shield. It won’t hold. We have to run.”
I duck under his arm.
Rune lunges, aiming for my neck.
I plunge my blade into his thigh. Chaos erupts. The fire, Rune’s wailing, the coin ringing sharply.
I ignore all of it and follow through. All my strength into one final blow. The center of his chest while he’s off-balance. A fierce stab.
Julian’s shield disintegrates, but we don’t burn.
Rune falls. A dark scarlet bloom wets the red and gold silk of his tunic. His yellow eyes are wrenched open. His mouth is twisted in pain. Death comes for him, but I don’t need to stand around while he comes.
The dagger is still clenched in his fingers. I shove my own into the sheath in my boot and snatch this one in case it really is Julian’s, and he wants it back. But for now, it’s mine.
Julian is frozen, gaping.
“Come on.” I grab his arm. I knew he couldn’t face the reality of killing. He’s not made for such things. But me? I’ve always done what needed doing.
And Tauren is next.
Chapter 24
Julian
I’m in awe. There’s no other word for it.
Cricket is a wild thing, fierce and vicious.
A bright red splattering of blood paints a diagonal line across his chest. His hair has come undone from its tie, flying all over the place. He bares his teeth, nostrils flaring, lungs working overtime, and he sucks in air while we run.
The coin is hot in my hand. Not that it matters because Cricket seems to know exactly where we’re going. He got in here somehow, so he must know his way out of the stone labyrinth too.
My only remaining goal is to protect him. I don’t care about Rune bleeding out on the cold stone floor. I don’t care about Tauren running for his life.
I care only for Cricket, my hero, who came to save me when it was the last thing I expected after abandoning him in Willowood.
I don’t deserve him, but if we make it out alive, I’ll spend the rest of my days trying to prove myself worthy of his affection.
