Page 171 of A Kingdom This Cursed and Empty

The captain ignored that, his gaze flicking between Asinia and me. He focused on me, likely recognizing my description.

“We slaughtered everyone in your village, HybridHeir. The only thing you’re the heir to is death.”

If suffering had a sound, it was the choked noise that left Thol’s throat.

This was it. I had to summon my power. It had to work for me. The iron guards were fresh, with access to stolen magic. We’d been down here for days, slowly weakening.

Reaching for my power, I glanced at Lorian. He nodded. I could buy them a few seconds. It would have to be enough.

Please. Please don’t fail me. Please just give us some time.

My power was nothing but the smallest ember inside me. Barely burning. Demos stepped forward, breaking the circle. He cut me a single look and said something pithy to one of the iron guards. Buying me a few moments.

Next to me, Thol shuddered with repressed rage.

I reached deeper. The cave disappeared around me. Pain exploded inside my head. I took the few threads I could find andyanked.

“Go,” I choked out. My vision cleared. The guards froze. Our people jumped into motion. The world dissolved into a gray cloud of agony, cocooning me until it felt as if my head would burst right here.

I fell to my knees.

The threads of my power disappeared. I raised my head in time to see three of the iron guard falling. Lorian, Demos, and Asinia had each taken one, while Thol was still running toward the captain. The man who’d taunted me about our village. Thol was enraged. Not thinking clearly.

“Lorian,” I choked out.

His eyes were wild as his gaze found mine. He swung that gaze to Thol and ducked, shoving the other man, protecting him from the iron guard and the knife swinging toward his chest.

It found Lorian’s shoulder instead.

I screamed.

Lorian ripped the knife free and threw it at the other guard. Demos and Cavis pinned the guard between them, their swords clanging as they drove him toward the back of the cavern.

“You’re weak,” the captain hissed at Thol. “The gods will punish you for associating with the corrupt.”

Thol swung his sword. I’d once thought he was a great swordsman. Now, after just weeks of training with the fae, I could see his lack of form. Could see the way each of his movements foreshadowed his thrust.

The captain swung.

I reached for my power, pulling deep. Time slowed.

But it didn’t stop.

Lorian launched himself toward Thol, his own sword swinging toward the captain.

The threads were nowhere to be found. I dug deeper. “Please…”

Lorian couldn’t have heard me. But I caught the slight tilt of his head as if he had. He flew across the cave, leaving himself wide open.

The captain’s sword thrust into Thol’s chest.

Lorian shoved his own sword into the captain’s throat.

Time sped up once more.

Thol sank to the ground. I launched myself across the cave and dropped to my knees next to him. Demos and Cavis must have killed the final guard because they were suddenly there, holding their hands against Thol’s wound.

It was useless. Blood spilled out over their hands. Behind me, Asinia choked on a sob. Lorian dropped next to us.

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