“Brogan Ragnall,” I said in a low growl.
Brogan’s head snapped up, grief written in his face. “Your Highness. Please. Spare my children. The fault in what I’ve done is mine and mine alone.”
“And Madoc? Didn’t he slaughter my family too?
Brogan bowed his head. “No. He came to help me save you. I instructed him not to kill you. It was the only way we could convince the world that you were dead. But I never expected—” He gritted his teeth, his eyes red with tears.
I blinked at him, his words like soft blows against my numb heart.
It would be so easy for me to kill him now. To make him suffer as my family had suffered.
He deserves it.
“Rykr …” Seren’s voice floated through my head.
I couldn’t delay. She needed me now.
“Bury your wife, Ragnall. But you won’t die an old man. When I come for you, you’ll wish you had.” I turned to go.
“Your Highness?—”
I glanced back at him.
He shook his head, as though deciding whatever he’d wanted to say no longer mattered. “Thank you.”
I ignored him.
I have to find Seren.
Chapter 44
Seren
The Vangar that surrounded us in the tunnel beneath Emberstone were entirely from my tribe. Every last one of them. Including Seth.
Turned against me.
I cradled Ciaran’s head in my arms, my hands shaking as he struggled to breathe, blood flowing freely from the wound from Darya’s blade. My hands were pressed against it tightly, but blood seeped between my fingers, not slowing despite my pressure.
The only thing keeping me alive right now were Tara and Amahle’s bodies, standing shoulder to shoulder in front of Ciaran, Esme, and me. They didn’t have swords—they’d lost them when Haldron had waved them away—so they didn’t have a way of defending us. But I knew they’d give their lives trying.
“S-S-Seren,” Ciaran breathed, blood trailing from his lips.
“Shhhh,” I whispered, leaning down and pressing my lips against his. As if I could just breathe the air he needed back into his mouth. My tears fell onto his cheeks, leaving a trail on the dust there. “You’re not allowed to leave me, Ciaran.”
“Just surrender now, Seren. No one else you care about has to die,” Darya taunted with a smirk. “You’re trapped.”
She was right—the gate behind us held us in … and beyond that, fire and smoke consumed the Havamal. Smoke that was creeping slowly into the tunnel, making it harder to breathe.
And the only way farther into the tunnel was through Seth and the Vangar who had swords at the ready.
“I-I lov-ve you, Ser,” Ciaran whispered.
“I love you, too.” I kissed his mouth again, my voice breaking. “Don’t go. Please!”
But Ciaran’s breathing was shallower, his body growing limp. Ciaran tried to lift his hand to my face, but it fell back to his chest, as a wet, rattling breath wheezed from his lips. His mouth moved, forming words I couldn’t hear. His fingers curled slightly, as if reaching for me.
Then his face went slack, his eyes growing still.
