I nearly collapsed into Matthew, relief flooding my senses. We were still outnumbered, but our chances were better than ever before.
Helia had nearly ten thousand soldiers, and most had been deployed to these fields. With Angoria’s army and now Druiston, I estimated we had almost twenty thousand to The Horde’s thirty. Though my stomach turned as I thought about how many of those weremypeople, and how many would die today in this battle by my hand.
They were much better odds than before.
But I wondered what would happen if we cut off the head of the snake? Would the rest of them slither away to save their lives, or would they pursue in his name?
There was only one way to find out.
“Matthew, we need to find Lachlan,” I said, turning to him quickly. I knew he had been anticipating this, but dread pooled in his deepening evergreen eyes. He was worried about facing his father because he hated the thought of me being in danger with him.
There was no place I’d rather be.
We had told each other as much before we stepped out here, but I would not sit idly by while he confronted his demons, for ours were the same in many ways. Lachlan had haunted my nightmares for so long, but now I wanted to show him what it was like to be the prey and not the hunter.
He would hit where it would hurt the most, and with terrifying clarity, I knew where he would strike.
As if the same realization dawned upon Matthew, we both looked at one another and spoke simultaneously.
“Thepalace.”
Chapter42
Renai
The blade’s sharp edge dug into my skin, causing my breathing to accelerate. I wasn’t sure how the fuck someone had snuck up on me, but with all the noise and chaos around me, it was hard to discern what was a threat to me versus others.
With one hand on the grip of his dagger and the other around my chest, the man pulled me back to him until there was no space between us. His hot breath fanned my neck, and I felt nauseous as he leaned in and pressed a wet kiss to my cheek.
“I hope our master lets me have some fun with you before I carve up your pretty skin,” he whispered breathlessly.
“You better hope I don’t get free, or else I’m going to cut off your dick and feed it to you,” I spat.
The fucker only laughed, but little did he know I was being deadly serious. I had no sympathy for men that forced themselves on women. They deserved to die a painful, slow death, and I would deliver their punishment gladly, as if I was a messenger from the gods.
Arabella screamed, tearing and clawing at the man who held her. The only thing I noticed was a scar running down his face. Kalen’s eyes widened, filling with terror and dread as his head whipped between us.
“It would appear you have landed yourself in a bit of a predicament, General,” Lachlan said, putting his hands behind his back.
I spat at his feet as he stepped closer, dark eyes scanning over me greedily. “You would make quite a prize,” he said, running his bloody blade down my cheek. “There is so much fight in you. I could give you the world.”
“I would rather die than be your whore,” I said through clenched teeth.
He laughed. “That can be arranged as well.”
“Don’t fucking touch her,” Kalen shouted, stepping closer before stopping.
Lachlan turned back to him, taking his time with the torturous silence. I needed to get my knife; I always kept a small spare tucked away as a contingency, but I was trapped.
Luka and Ciena were above, but I knew they would never reach us in time. Even if they did, Lachlan would kill Arabella and me to ensure neither of us could be saved, or he would drain the life away from them for coming to our aid.
There was no way to win in a situation like this.
“Is she your choice, then?” Lachlan clicked his tongue in disapproval. “I had to admit, I thought you would choose your wife. Or do you no longer love her the way you once did? After all, you’ve been fucking your friend for comfort while she fell in love with you.”
Kalen paled, and a choked sob left my mouth. He wasn’t going to choose me.
I knew I was going to die.
