Page 120 of Of Serpents and Ruins
I wanted Stella back so bad that I didn't trust that I wouldn't go in search of her. Powerful as my need for her had been before we made love, it had become an inferno after that night. Insteadof easing my torment, it worsened everything, like eating salt bread instead of drinking water when dying of thirst.
The hours were interminable, but at least they passed.
A heavy thud sounded outside the door. The scuffle of boots on stone. The metallic, sweet scent of blood.
I tensed.
A metal key scraped in the lock. The door creaked open, a dark masked form now standing in the doorway, wave blade drawn.
Tau's body slumped across the floor, blood running down his tattooed arm onto the smooth stone floor. Etano was likely dead as well. Rage boiled within me.
The assassin wiped the bloody dagger on his trouser leg.
A growl rose in my chest.
The insignia made it clear. This was one of the faction members. From the marking on his shoulder, he looked like one of the faction members who had tried to murder Stella in the valley.
Odd. To avoid civil war, most would insist on killing only Stella or myself. If he was here to kill me, then that meant Stella was likely safe. Something had changed over the past few days to make them change their mind. Something didn’t sit right, though.
"Today you die," he said, waving the blade at my face.
A snarl curled at my lips as I stared him down. At least this way I would die without hurting Stella. Her life would continue.
"You slew five of my blood," he said coldly. "You kuvasted one to death in two blows for daring to challenge you when he said that a new queen should be chosen, and that is aside from those whose lives were lost when Taivren fell and the legacy you threw away."
I met his gaze, unblinking. "If you are here to kill me, then do it." The thought brought a sick relief.
He drew closer, blade clutched in his right hand as he studied me, mask covering all but his eyes. Ihlkit. Those eyes…they burned deep red, like my own.
His eyes flashed at my words, his stance tightening. Slowly, he stepped closer, his boots light on the stone floor. "You humiliated them. Fought them and snapped their necks for all to see."
"They challenged me in open council. They formally demanded kuvaste," I said, not certain which of his kin he was referring to. There had been many who had attacked me over the years. "I defended myself, and if they died, then they died. They should not have attacked. If you wish to kill me for that, then do it."
"You showed the world that your power was greater than theirs. Now I will show the world that my power is greater than yours." The assassin growled the last words. "You are not worthy to be king."
"Do not unshackle me," I warned. "Unchain me after I am dead, not before, or else I will kill you."
His eyes narrowed, his grip on the dagger tightening. "You think you can threaten me, bound as you are?" He let out a harsh laugh. "Do you think I fear you, cursed king?"
It would be humiliating to die at the hands of this weakling.
I glared at him. "You should fear me."
He picked up the keys from the iron circle and dangled them as if to taunt me. "You will fight me in kuvaste, and you will die, and then we’ll take your queen." He chuckled darkly as he unfastened the first of the shackles on my arm.
"What?" My gaze darkened.
He scoffed as he moved to the second set of restraints. This idiot assumed I valued the honor of rightful kuvaste more than I did protecting my wife from myself. "We know where the queenis and how to take her. Our leader wants her for himself. Claims it’s his right, but we’ll all have our turn."
I seized him by the throat, lifting him off the ground with one hand. "You threatenmywoman?"
My muscles were stiff, my fingers clumsy, but rage coursed through me.
I dragged him closer, baring my teeth. "Who is behind this?" I growled.
His neck and spine cracked beneath my grip.
Ihlkit!
