Page 120 of Kingdom of Today
“There’s no other way.” Determination mounting, I leaned over, plucked the dagger from Winslet’s grip, and sheathed it at my waist. Her eyes opened and met mine. “Don’t die believing a lie,” I told her. I had one last chance to reach her. Might as well give it my all, nothing held back. “The Madness came from Astan. He tortures innocent peopleto hide the truth and trains us to do the same. His only goal is the destruction of Soal, who helps us.”
The feeders applied enough pressure to crack the glass. Small lines appeared, but they grew longer and wider at a faster clip as the beatings continued.
“I won’t let you sacrifice yourself,” Domino vowed.
As if he could stop me. I’d made up my mind. “You should cheer me on. You’ll finally be free of our unwanted connection.”
“It was never unwanted, Arden.” He said nothing else, throwing open the door and jumping out. Swing. The sword of fire appeared, and feeders closest to him fell, making room for me.
I stuffed his words, and whatever they meant, to a hidden corner of my mind and followed him out, then shut the door behind me to seal Winslet inside alone and safe. Well, safer.
Side by side, Domino and I made our way forward. Through the bond, I knew when to duck and when to swing my own sword.
“Arden!” Cyrus’s voice cut through the grunts, groans, and thuds.
My heart leaped, as usual, but I didn’t let myself become distracted. I continued pressing on with Domino, fighting, fighting. Adrenaline pumped through my veins, heating me up. A welcome development. My damp gown offered little protection against the biting wind and swiping nails.
A massive number of glowers rushed past us, attacking the feeders before us head-on, creating a path. Domino yanked me forward. Together, we ran for the gate.
“I won’t let you sacrifice yourself,” he repeated.
Domino spun, ending a trio of feeders who slipped free of the fray.
Nearby, Ember called out orders. “Bark, shield Talon. Murphy, boost Brenna.”
Different glowers paired up, focusing on the force field, attempting different methods to get through it—and failing.
Almost there . . .
The ground. It shook so violently even glowers began to fall. What was happening? Feeders stumbled backward, losing their balance.
Thick, thorny vines broke through the surface, snatching feeders and glowers within tightening coils that slithered around them. Fire-swords snuffed out and vanished as those sharp thorns stabbed anyone who wiggled for freedom.
Inside me, dread mimicked the vines, winding and tightening. This was Briar Rose via Lolli, and these glowers were meant to be “fuel.”
I spun, ready to grab Domino and run. Too late. He roared with pain as a vine grabbed him. The sword vanished. Like the others, he couldn’t get free. I was the only glower left standing.
A path opened, and Cyrus appeared at the end of it, holding two bloody daggers. My heart lurched. He still wore the suit, but it was no longer pristine. Scarlet-stained rips littered the material.
I readjusted my pose, putting my sword of flames at the ready.
“I told you. You can’t win,” he said, as calm and smug as could be. “I’ve planned for every contingency.”
Lolli stood at his side, her head thrown back and her arms outstretched, her fingers twitching.
Lolli isn’t all powerful. Especially now. Her connection to Briar Rose is too new.Domino’s voice filled my head. His spirit might not be joined to my body, but our bond was stronger than ever.She can only funnel in what her body can tolerate. Soon, she’ll tire. All you must do is stall until we get free.
That, I could do. “Why not kill me while you’ve got the chance, hmm?” I demanded of Cyrus. “Or snatch me up with vines like all the others?”
He merely rocked back on his heels, silent. But then, he didn’t need to say anything. We both knew the answer. Cyrus was still in there, and he loved me.
Right now, Lolli was the bigger threat. I didn’t bother tossing a dagger at her. He’d only catch it. I was dealing with the host for a god, after all.
I looked at her. The vines. Lolli, the root. I followed the bark-heavy protrusions to the trapped glowers and swung. The tip of my sword sliced through dirt, severing a thick green coil. The high princess whimpered.
Exactly as I’d suspected. Take her out, and all the glowers would be freed. But I’d have to go through Cyrus to reach her.
“Don’t even try,” he snapped.
