Page 123 of A Warrior's Heart
“Ezra!” Troy shot an arrow at the king’s head.
Even though it didn’t hurt Triton, the fact Troy had shot at him at all was enough to stun him. He gaped at Troy with sorrowful blue eyes.
“Kill him, Troy!” Ezra looked at Lorcan. “Put an arrow between his eyes.”
I understood the plan now.
Ezra had brainwashed Troy to hate us, to attack us, knowing it would be hard for us to return his attacks. Because we knew he was under some sort of spell. Because we loved him. That was how Ezra hoped to gain possession of the trident.
Clever.
But I wouldn’t let his plan unfold the way he wanted it to.
I got to my feet and approached Troy.
“Stay back,” he hissed, raising his bow to me. The tip of his arrow was aimed at my heart. “I have no qualms about putting an arrow straight through you, guard.”
“Malik,” I said, taking another step forward. “Notguard.”
“I care not what you’re called.” Troy’s arm shook as he held the bow. “I will kill you just the same.”
“No.” I stopped several feet in front of him. “You won’t.”
I didn’t know how deep the brainwashing went with Troy. For him to behave this way, Ezra must’ve tortured him constantly for weeks on end, conditioning him to be the perfect weapon to use against me. However, our connection went deeper than any spell.
I had to find a way to reach him.
To bring him back to me.
“Stand aside,” he said through gritted teeth, raising the arrow higher. I stared down the tip of it. If he released his hold, it would hit me in the head. Kill me instantly. “This arrow is for the prince.”
“You don’t want to hurt Lorcan,” I calmly said. “Ezra has tricked you. Put you under a spell.”
Troy’s pupils blew wide. He looked like a caged animal. Wild. Terrified. His arm shook. “Step. Aside.”
I took another step toward him. “Do you remember our first kiss? My heart started beating again that day.” I reached forward and touched where his hand rested on the curve of the bow. “If I am to die, your face is the last thing I wish to see.”
A tear escaped his eye.
And then he released his arrow.
It shot past my head and high into the air.
Troy lowered the bow, eyes watering. “I… I don’t understand. Why can’t I shoot you?”
“Because you love me.”
“You’re wrong. I… I hate you.”
I cupped his cheek and brought our lips together. He banged against my chest with his fists and shoved away, more tears streaming down his cheeks.
“Come back to me,” I said against his lips. “Please, sweetheart.”
Troy shoved me again. And then he threw his arms around my neck, crushing his mouth to mine.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Troy
