Page 103 of The Royal Throne
“I guess he doesn’t care for you,” Rainer said. “Pity there is no one here to save you.” And with that, he swung his sword down, right toward Sabine’s neck.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Sabine squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the sword to strike her. Something large and solid hit her body, knocking her out of the way.
“Protect the queen!” Drew yelled, running toward the platform, too far away to do anything himself.
A loud thump resounded, and Sabine twisted her head to see Cutler lying next to her, blood pooling around his body, his chest carved open from Rainer’s sword. He heaved deep, garbled breaths as blood flowed from his body.
“Cutler!” Sabine screamed, understanding that he’d thrown her out of the way and taken the hit himself. He’d saved her life. “No! You can’t die.”
“It’s…okay.” His voice was barely audible. “I’ll…be…with…her…now.” He looked at Rainer. “I’ll…finally…have…her…to…myself.” His head lulled to the side as he took his last breath.
“He’s dead,” Sabine said, shocked. “You killed him.” She glanced up at Rainer who had straightened, lifting his sword again to strike Sabine. Rage filled her. This man took and took without a thought or care for anyone other than himself. He didn’t deserve to rule Lynk, let alone live. She rose on her knees, defiance lighting up her eyes.
“My queen!” Drew’s voice cut through the air.
Her eyes met Drew’s. He was still too far away to help. His face contorted in a mixture of fear and rage. He held up a dagger, showing it to her before throwing it her way. It landed right next to her hands, embedded into the platform, hilt up.
Right when Rainer started to swing downward, she grabbed the dagger, withdrew it and twisted, slicing his abdomen. Blood gushed from the wound. He stumbled, his sword striking right next to Sabine.
Before Rainer could lift his sword again, Drew finally reached the platform, jumping onto it and plunging his sword into the king’s back. Sabine shoved his body away from her, and he collapsed onto Cutler, dead.
The king was dead.
Rainer was dead.
Sabine started shaking. She was alive, and her husband wasn’t.
Images bombarded her. The first time she’d met Rainer, the two of them dancing together, him teaching her how to defend herself, their wedding at the castle. Then other memories flooded her. Him grabbing her neck, trying to strangle her. His cruelty to others.
She heaved in a gulp of air, tears filling her eyes.
Soldiers stormed onto the platform, surrounding her.
Voices filled the air.
“He just tried to kill the queen.”
“He killed Captain Cutler.”
“The king is dead.”
“Protect the queen.”
Her entire body shook violently.
“Your Majesty,” Drew said, coming to squat before her. “Are you harmed?”
She looked into his eyes. “Is King Rainer really dead?” she asked, her voice barely audible.
“He is.” He gently placed his hand on her elbow, helping her to stand. “Are you bleeding anywhere? Do you need a healer?”
The blood on her clothing was from Cutler, not her. “I’m fine.”
Drew severed her bindings. “Let’s get you out of here and get you cleaned up.”
She shook her head. While she wanted to be away from these bodies, she needed to address the soldiers standing here. There seemed to be too much confusion. Forcing her uncertainty and terror down, she rolled her shoulders back and stood tall.
