Guards closed in around the platform, their blades forming a steel ring that glinted in the sunlight. I snarled, flanked by Gavelle in firecat form, embers flickering in his smoke-dark fur.
The plan had gone well—until it started to fall apart.
My every instinct screamed to tear through that wall of flesh and metal, but one wrong move and Isi would pay the price.
Her father had recovered his grip, his arm locked around her throat, his blade pressed deep enough that fresh blood trickled down her neck in a crimson line that made my vision blur red.
That blood was mine to avenge, not his to spill.
The crowd watched intently, their earlier defiance draining away as hope died in their eyes. Some of the prisoners dropped to their knees, their faces crumpling.
I’d promised her the world. Freedom. A future where she wore a crown instead of a mask. And I couldn’t even keep her safe in this cursed square.
“Hold on, Minx,” I growled under my breath. “I’ll tear through them all for you.”
Then do it,Gavelle said, his voice a snarl of barely restrained violence.Now.
If we survive this, I wasn’t letting Isi out of my sight again.
Watching her father’s blade at her throat had made me want to burn this whole square to the ground just to prove no one touched what was mine.
The sky darkened.
Silence descended in the village square, and even King Cyril looked up.
My feral smile rose.
Massive shadows swept across the square like an eclipse, sunlight fracturing through beating wings. Our dragons circled overhead, their roars shaking the stones beneath our feet. They blasted flames skyward, and the villagers gaped up at them. Most of these people had never seen dragons outside of drawings. These beasts lived in their minds like legends.
The king’s mouth fell open. The blade at Isi’s throat slackened enough for me to move.
My realm’s fury descends for her. Watch them bow before my queen.
Pherin snarled and stalked toward the king.
Isi moved, twisting with the skill she’d shown me in every training session, her body moving with everything Thorne had ever taught her. The blade fell from her father’s grip and she caught it, reversing it to point it at his chest. She poked until blood trickled across the front of his pristine robe.
Her father backed away, his arms lifting and his eyes widening with the realization that nothing stood between him and his daughter’s rage.
His dignity crumbled and he stammered. “Amarissa, please, I’m your father?—”
Pherin rushed him, knocking him to the platform with a thud that rattled through the crowd. She pinned him down, her hot breath washing over his face as he whimpered.
I swore I could hear her voice through Gavelle.Bite off head now? Please?
A laugh barked out of me despite everything.
“Patience, little firestorm,” I whispered, knowing she’d hear.
Gavelle rumbled agreement, his ember eyes locking on her with shared hunger.
Soon, brother,I said.We’ll feast on his screams together.
At my cue, Gavelle bounded up onto the platform to guard Isi. His low growl rang out, promising violence to anyone stupid enough to threaten what he’d claimed as ours.
I strode up onto the platform, locking my eyes on the pathetic man who’d dared put a blade to my Minx’s throat.
“Behave, you sorry excuse for a man,” I said, my voice carrying across the suddenly silent square. “Or my queen will let her beasts feast. Frankly, I wish she would. I’d enjoy watching.”