I nod.
Inhaling, I count to four.
“You think you will be the one to end me?” He cocks his head to the side, his eyes roving over me. The familiarity of my father’s face slips. He would have never made a face like that.
“I do.”
I charge at him, swinging with all the hatred, anger, and frustration I have felt the past year. He will die by my blade,by my father’s blade.His jaw goes slack, and for the first time—genuine fear widens his eyes.
My sword cuts through the air. The point of it slows as Julius raises his to block. He squeezes his eyes shut, bracing for the impact.
But my blade keeps cutting. The strength behind my swing shatters his sword.
He jumps back and out of the way, holding half a blade in his hand.
“It’s not possible!” Terror has his golden skin blanching.
“This was my father’s blade,” I say, swiping low at his unprotected stomach.
He lurches back, falling against the throne. His stomach is split wide open. The silvery red blood pours from the gash. He collapses onto his stomach and crawls away.
His hands and knees slip against the bloody marble beneath him.
I stomp a boot upon his back, shoving him face down onto the cold stone. His face makes a loud whack sound as it collides against the stone.
The black-as-night hair shifts back into his original blonde.
His form slides into him again.
Which makes what I’m about to do much easier.
I thumb my dagger from the thigh holster. The sapphires glow in the light from the chandelier, swinging from the ceiling.
Gripping a handful of his blonde hair, I pull his head up. He moans as his blood puddles beneath him. I lean down to whisper in his ear.
“I didn’t say up yet.” With one steady motion, I slit his throat.
Ear to ear.
A dragon roars in the distance. The sound rattling the crystal chandelier above us.
Silence settles upon the room, like it was dropped underwater. All the sounds of the outside world are muffled.
“Key,” Lachlan murmurs.
His breath caresses my face as he grabs my hand. I peel my eyes from the body below me. Glassy eyes gaze upon the still throne room. His heart beats no more.
I killed him.
The thought doesn’t relieve me like I thought it would.
Bile rises in my throat. Burning and clawing its way into my mouth.
I swallow it down, slowly turning my head to peer at Lachlan.
“Odessa isn’t back yet. Eira and Balthasar went to find the gods, too. But the giants have almost broken through the doors.”
His words slowly register and I step over Julius’ body. Wrenching my axe from the throne, I strap it on my back as I race for the hallway. Over the piles of bodies.
