Page 85 of To Bind a Dark Heart

But that he could not put his own happiness or her life above the lives of the thousands upon thousands who called Avalon home.

“Well…” Grinn tilted his head a little in thought. “Perhaps we are simply negotiating on price. You wish for me to spare her life, do you not?”

“Yes.”

“But not enough that you would sacrifice your own.”

Mordred would not dignify that with an answer.

“Very well. My next offer is this,prince. Give me Caliburn. Surrender your sacred sword, and I will let her live.” The monster smiled. It was an unnatural expression at best.

“What use do you have for a sword?”

“None. I simply do not wish foryouto have it.” Grinn laughed. “Anything to weaken you for the fight. Besides…how utterly embarrassing for you, don’t you think? Sacrificing the only thing Arthur gave you because you were outplayed by me? I think I will enjoy that for a very long time.”

If Mordred’s claws could have punctured his palms, they would have. As it was, the metal simply creaked at how very hard he was clenching his fist. The idea of giving up Caliburn violated every natural inclination he had.

But Gwendolyn…

What was he to do?

* * *

“You lying fucking piece of shit son of a bitch!” Gwen kicked desperately at Grinn. But she was hanging in the air by the chains around her wrist—whichhurt.“Put me down!”

“Shut up. He’s coming,” Grinn snarled. “Play your part. This is how I get Caliburn and how I am finally free of you.”

“You’re going to break my hands you motherfucker, put me down!”

“Fine. He’s getting close anyway. Keep your mouthshut, girl.” Grinn dropped her to the ground. Gwen grunted as she hit it, feeling both her ankles shout in protest as she toppled down. A second later, she was squished flat in the grass.

She could swear and shout all she wanted, but it wasn’t going to do any good. The demon weighed as much as a school bus, and he was currently parked on top of her.

All through the conversation between Grinn and Mordred, she tried to scream for Mordred not to do it. That the demon was bluffing. Not to give over the sword. But she could barely breathe, and after Grinn tried to crush her once, she decided she was going to just lie there and sob.

Eod was barking, snarling at Grinn, but he was smart enough not to get too close to the enormous demon.

“None. I simply do not wish foryouto have it.” Grinn laughed. “Anything to weaken you for the fight that is about to follow. Besides…how utterly embarrassing for you, don’t you think? Sacrificing the only thing Arthur gave you because you were outplayed by me? I think I will enjoy that for a very long time.”

Mordred was silent.

Don’t do it. Please, don’t do it. I’m not worth it—and he can’t kill me anyway. Please, Mordred!

“Very well.” Something thumped into the grass nearby. “Caliburn is yours. Let her go.”

The weight eased off her back suddenly. Gasping for air, she rolled onto her side in a coughing fit. That demon could seriously go get fucked.

“Trick—” she wheezed. “It’s a trick—Mordred—” But it was too late. She was too late. Her vision was a little bleary as she watched the demon step forward and pick up the sword in his palm. It looked ridiculously out of scale for him, like a grown adult holding a kid’s plastic toy sword. But he wasn’t planning on using it—not for that.

“Finally!” Grinn cackled. His long fingers began to glow a vicious, unnatural shade of red as he closed them around the blade. The sword itself crackled and seemed to fight back—a whitish-blue glow clashing against the red.

“No, stop—” She slowly managed to climb to her feet, wavering, but vertical. “Grinn, stop!” But the demon didn’t listen. She couldn’t say she was surprised. She took a step toward him.

It was too late.

The air began to taste like ozone as the power from the two snapped and popped, like electricity splitting the air. With one final roar, Grinn clenched his fist tight around the blade. The shift in the air around her was so strong that it made her ears pop.

Grinn dropped the broken, empty shards of Caliburn to the ground.

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