My friend had walked in shortly after Renai. He’d tried to speak with her, but she brushed him off, telling him they could talk once this day was over. I saw the war waging in his eyes as he let her go, but he acquiesced in the end.
I was unsure what was happening between them, but I understood it was more complicated than it appeared. Despite both of them adamantly denying anything but casual sex and friendship, I knew there was more lingering under the surface. But I worried Renai had fallen deeper than Kalen, and things were sure to escalate since he showed up with his wife.
We reached the bottom of the stairs, stopping just outside the doorway. I looked at Eva, conveying my need to wait just a moment. She nodded imperceptibly and stepped into a small alcove, just out of sight.
I pulled Kalen into a tight hug, catching him off guard. “We both know that I will be the victor today. I’ve already gotten a head start.” He laughed, pulling away and tucking a loose tendril of hair behind his ear.
“You men are adorable,” Eva purred from the darkness, stepping around the corner.
She looked between us, remembering the war waging outside and what we were ”
“You know,” Kalen drawled. “They say it’s impolite to eavesdrop on conversations.”
She shrugged her shoulders. “You started it.”
“And now I’m finishing it.” He squared his shoulders, shaking the tension out. “Now, let’s go make those fuckers pay.”
Chapter40
Kalen
We’d barely stepped into the city when the stench of death filled my nostrils. People clung to one another, their panic evident as they tried to push through the gate to the palace. Not that I blamed them; this was a horrible place to be.
Eva and Matthew had gone to the north gate, closest to the palace. Five thousand Helian soldiers waited for their orders and were tasked to keep The Horde out of the city. Given the monstrosity of his force, there was no telling how many people Lachlan sent.
But that was not my priority. Not as I had my own battalion to command.
We marched down the cobblestone streets to the eastern side. Damien’s men seemed to hold their own, considering he’d only wrangled fifty bodies to accompany him. But I wouldn’t let him sacrifice himself for the greater good. I wasn’t stupid; I knew he was playing the martyr. He thought the only way to get back in the good graces of those he hurt was to allow himself to die in the name of Helia, but he was so fucking wrong.
Maybe they couldn’t admit it yet, but some people felt pity for him—even those who hated him. Deep down, everyone knew Damien had no choice in the atrocities he’d committed, especially that day in the throne room. His mind and body had been taken over, and I’d go as far as to say he was just as much a victim as the others.
Now, how he acted beforehand was a different story. But I saw the regret in his eyes, knowing if he hadn’t pushed things with Eva, then there was a chance the following events might not have happened.
But there was no going back now. The only path was forward, and I’d be damned if I was going to let him kill himself over the lethal venom his mind had once spewed.
The clang of metal reached me, sending me into a dark place—one reserved for slaughtering my enemies. It’d been a long time since I’d gone there, and sometimes it took me days to get back out once the battle was won. Nevertheless, it was a necessity for survival—a way to end lives without a single ounce of remorse.
I broke out in a steady jog, dodging falling debris from collapsed houses and shops. The wreckage was no worse than I thought it would be, but anger coursed through me as I thought of all the livelihoods that had been needlessly destroyed by The Horde.
I wanted them to pay for each one by tearing it from their flesh.
As we approached the edge, I examined the carnage before me. Bodies were strewn everywhere. Some were ours, but most seemed to be sporting black armor. At least that gave me a slight sense of satisfaction.
As soon as we crested the hill, we descended into madness. The soldiers behind me would take no mercy—they were trained for such battles. I led the charge, feet pounding heavily against the stones beneath me.
Damien was near the front, battling a man rivaling my size. He stood a good four inches taller than everyone around him, and his tapered form emphasized the muscular build of his shoulders; however, Damien was giving as good as he got. He was tiring, though, and the man could tell.
The brute moved incredibly fast, unbothered by his stature. He feinted right, and Damien fell into the trap. Before I could reach them, he slashed his sword across Damien’s chest. Blood swelled to the surface as he dropped to his knees, staring at the wound in disbelief.
No, no, no, no, no.
With a sword in one hand and a smile on his face, the man standing above Damien muttered something I couldn’t hear. Whatever it was sparked Damien’s anger, because he quickly spat at the man’s feet.
His callous smile widened into something vicious, feral even.
I forced myself to move faster, hoping to make it in time to save Damien. He didn’t deserve this kind of end, regardless of his thoughts. And whether she would admit it or not, Renai didn’t want him to die, either.
I saw something more when the three of us had our encounter—maybe the beginning of some exciting journey, if only she’d be honest with herself. But she was stubborn as fuck, and I knew that wouldn’t happen anytime soon, and certainly not if Damien died.
