Page 209 of Royal Rebel

Fang said nothing. He didn’t even turn. He cut off one of Sahvi’s fingers.

Desfan’s stomach roiled. This had to end. “Fang—”

A blade was at his side, pressed deep enough that he hissed.

A voice he didn’t know spoke harshly in his ear. “Give me Liam Kaelin, or die.”

Desfan shot a look to his attacker. He was maybe a couple of years younger than Desfan’s twenty years, but his brown eyes looked older. His expression was uncompromising, and his hold on the knife against Desfan’s ribs was steady. His hands were badly scarred—even his fingers carried marks. White lines covered his hands, perhaps from a blade—and burns?

Desfan met the young man’s hard gaze. “Who are you?” He didn’t think it was one of Fang’s men, and he wasn’t with Sahvi. Had he come from the shadows themselves?

His lips curled. “I’m the one holding the knife poised to split you open, Serjan. And I demand that you let Liam Kaelin go.”

“You can’t have him. Sorry.”

“I think you—”

Desfan spun and kicked, and the blade sailed through the air.

Unfortunately, the young man just whipped out another. His eyes darkened, and then he struck.

Desfan engaged, because he didn’t have a choice. His opponent might be younger, but he was an adept fighter—and he stood between Desfan and Sahvi.

The fight was brutal, with fast swipes and powerful jabs. Sweat beaded Desfan’s brow, until finally he found his opening. The young man dropped his guard, just a fraction, and Desfan slammed his blade into his shoulder.

He screamed and jerked back from Desfan.

From across the room, there was a roar. “Akiva!”

Desfan’s eyes widened when he saw Liam lunge for the injured young man—Akiva, apparently.

Liam snagged Akiva’s good arm and yanked him away from Desfan. The prince’s eyes blazed as he locked on Desfan. “Don’t you dare—”

Karim came up behind them. His arm snapped around Akiva’s neck and he jerked the young man back until his spine hit Karim’s chest.

Akiva scratched ineffectually against Karim’s arm, his eyes popping wide as he struggled for breath.

Karim’s other hand gripped a knife, which rested against Akiva’s side. “Get away from Desfan,” Karim snarled at Liam. “Or I’ll kill him.”

Liam spun. A dagger wavered in his hand. Then he took a deliberate step away from Desfan. “Let him go,” Liam said, his voice oddly hoarse. “Please. He has nothing to do with this.”

Karim’s hard expression didn’t alter. “Throw down your weapon. Now.”

Liam did.

The second the blade hit the ground, Desfan turned toward Fang and Sahvi—just in time to see one of Sahvi’s men grasp Fang’s shoulder and shove a blade in his stomach.

Fang gagged and collapsed.

Sahvi ripped the blades from his hand, cursing harshly as he cradled the bleeding mess to his stomach. “Retreat!” he bellowed. “Retreat!”

Desfan twisted to go after him, but he halted when a Mortisian man stepped behind Karim.

When Karim stiffened, Desfan knew a blade was at his friend’s back. “Release the boy,” the man rumbled darkly.

Karim’s arm tightened. He looked to Desfan.

The moment felt surreal. All around them, men blurred as they fought. Guards and criminals—Fang’s men and Sahvi’s. Fang was on the floor beside the table, bleeding out. Sahvi was lurching toward the door, his men huddled around him in a human shield. The perimeter guard wasn’t here yet.Why weren’t they here?

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