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Whatever spells held me prisoner on the ground lifted. I shot up and my breath caught. The three men were leveled to the stone floor. Bile burned my tongue at the sight of them. The man with the fur cloak no longer had a bottom jaw—at least not in place. It was limp and hanging low, unhinged, split from his skull.
The two Kappi were disjointed; bones spurred from thighs, arms, ribs. They wailed in anguish.
Kage stormed into the hall, one fist clenched, eyes as fire. At either shoulder stood Cy and Asger, both holding daggers. Bright and cheerful during the dance, Cyland now looked as murderous as the prince.
Asger was the one who pulled me up and nudged me toward the arm ring pedestal, wordlessly nodding as though he wanted me to take hold of it.
Kage curled a fist around the throat of one Kappi. “You thought you could touch her?”
“No, My Prince.”
Cy chuckled darkly, drawing the side of his dagger across the cheek of the other guard. “I don’t know, my glorious sovereign, I thought I saw hisfingers on her.”
Kage grinned. Pure venom bled from such a smile. I should be frightened. I was exhilarated.
He gripped the guard’s jaw, and with the other palm, waved it over the guard’s hand. More cracks, more screams.
I covered my mouth when Kage peeled a shard of bone from the Kappi’s shattered fingers. The piece was painted in blood and left a streak across the guard’s bottom lip when the prince dragged the sharp end along the edge.
“Should your hands find her again,” Kage said, voice dark and sharp. “These broken bones of yours will be found lodged in the throat of your corpse.”
The man whimpered.
Kage lifted his gaze to me. “Take it.”
I hadn’t realized how close I’d gotten to the arm ring. Fingers trembling, I took up the ring. The power of it did not knock me back, but I did stumble. Until the force faded—more like absorbed into me.
I faced my would-be attackers, shoulders lifting in heavy breaths.
“What do you want to do, Wildling?” Kage’s eyes burned with violence.
This could be a grand moment, a villainous origin for me against a trio of bastards, but I did not know what to do, nor where to place any of the fire scorching in my body.
I looked to the prince, an embarrassing sting in my eyes. I wanted to prove to these men I was a mage. What a strange thought. Since coming, I’d never allowed my mind to accept the truth of this place, not entirely. Whenever I felt at home, I’d be quick to remind myself there was still the possibility of a comatose dream.
In this moment, a deeper instinct knew the truth, and I wanted nothing more than to prove it, but I did not know how to free the magic in my blood, let alone use it.
Kage gave me a nod. “Tell me what youwoulddo, and I will do it on your behalf.”
My heart swelled. He understood the struggle within. Where he could’ve mocked me, could’ve played into the uncertainty these men shared, he did not.
“If they would do this to me, then they would do this to another. Probably have,” I said. “I want to make sure they can never touch anyone again.”
Kage’s mouth twitched. “I’m rather inclined to agree.”
The prince, Cyland, and Asger gathered a man each. Blood from the snapped bones and torn flesh dripped along the stones when Hugo and a swell of other palace guards entered, eyes wide at the gory sight.
“These men assaulted Lady Ravenwood. They’ve been partially dealt with.” Kage turned over command of one of his victims to Hugo.
“Partially?” Hugo scanned the man’s shattered body.
“Yes.” Kage’s voice was as threatening as a storm. “I assure you, we’re not finished. Gwyn.”
I hadn’t seen her, but from the back of the guards, the same woman who’d dressed me stepped forward. She no longer looked like one of the servants of the palace. She was in a woolen dress with a leather belt on her hip complete with two knives.
“You will take her to her chambers,” Kage instructed. “See to it no one knows how to enter until Lady Ravenwood opens the door.”
Gwyn took my hand. “All right?”
