Lumen flashed in his hand. The men attacking Nic saw him coming and scattered.
Collin fell to his knees beside his friends. Nic was dazed, bruised, but conscious. Clive was motionless. Collin yanked at the ropes but couldn’t undo them.
“There’s a knife,” Nic croaked, voice hoarse. “My pocket.”
Collin dug it out. The blade was small, but sharp. He worked the knot, fast, clumsy, frantic.
Behind him, smoke rolled low and acrid. The air burned. Shouts echoed from the square—Owen’s voice rising as new guards charged in.
Dragonfly appeared with Uriah, both bloodied. Aries and Lekyi closed in behind them.
The square was a battlefield now.
As Collin sliced the last knot free, Dragonfly dropped beside Clive. “How long has he been out?” she cried, flipping him onto his back.
Nic winced. “They hit him hard. It’s my fault. Logan—he distracted me.”
They all turned toward the burning cabin. Logan still knelt, weeping. Niall stood in front of him like a sentinel. Tate stepped back—but Owen had arrived. Sword in hand.
The smoke parted like a curtain. The fire cast flickering shadows behind them, painting the square with the glow of hell.
Collin rose to his feet, heart hammering. Something was wrong.
“Kill him,” Captain Owen snarled. “That’s an order. Kill him!”
Collin staggered forward, Lumen clenched in sweaty palms. Nic tried to rise beside him but faltered.
Niall lifted his sword—high, defiant—then let it fall at Owen’s feet. The clatter rang out like a bell, sharp, heart stopping.
Nic lunged again but collapsed. Collin caught him.
Voices screamed.
Owen raised his blade. Niall didn’t flinch.
And then—it happened.
Collin felt it like his own flesh being torn.
Owen’s sword plunged into Niall’s chest.
Niall jerked. Blood surged from his mouth and wound. Owen yanked the blade free. Niall dropped to his knees, eyes already distant.
Aries and Lekyi rushed forward—but too late.
Collin moved on instinct. He ran.
Lumen struck the back of a guard, biting deep. Blood sprayed. The man screamed and fell.
Aries collided with Owen. Blades sang. Aries fought like a man possessed, all fire and fury. Owen was methodical, precise—ruthless.
Lekyi met Tate head-on. Solus wailed with him, each strike echoing rage and grief.
More footsteps thundered. Collin turned—another guard.
He didn’t think. He attacked. Blade against blade, sweat and smoke blurring his vision. He drove forward, unrelenting, until Lumen found the man’s upper arm. With a cry, the guard dropped his weapon.
“Collin! Watch out!” Dragonfly’s scream.
