“Wait–” She tugged his hand back. “The Shards.”
He stopped. Stared at her.
Is she serious?
“Kara, we don’t have time–”
“I know where they are. They’re being moved soon. If we don’t get them now–”
“I’m getting you out first,” Sebastian said.
“No–”
“Kara, I need you safe,” he pleaded.
She shook her head fiercely. “But Vallenna–”
“Vallenna wants you dead,” he snapped, the words cutting her off.
“Draknor are still coming,” she pressed.
That fire, the stubborn set of her chin. It’s what made him notice her in the first place. Right now though? It was infuriating. This impossible, fearless girl. They’d been about to burn her alive – and she wanted to save them anyway?
She looked at him, face resolute. “We have to try.”
“No, Kara, we don’t,” he said firmly. “I will not risk your life again.” He pulled her forward. He’d carry her out if he had to.
You are making it out of here, Kara.
One word undid it all.
“Please.”
He turned. Looked into those green eyes that saw through everything. They were wide and full of trust. She really believed he could do this. Fight his way to the Shards. Keep her alive.
What is she doing to me?
He exhaled through gritted teeth. “Godsdammit. Where are they?”
She glanced down the corridor. “The vault upstairs. We’ll have to move fast.”
He turned again, sword still in hand, leading them through the twisting corridors.
This is a bad idea.
The next hallway stank of blood and burnt magic. It was the way he’d come in. Sebastian registered the scent. Knew what was coming.He hadn’t held back. There hadn’t been time. He felt the hesitation before he saw it. Kara’s grip slackened slightly in his hand.
The bodies.
Three soldiers lay broken across the stone floor, dark red blood in thick pools. One wall was scorched black, magic-charred. A fourth body slumped against it, with a perfect blade-shaped wound through his chest.
Sebastian didn’t stop. But she did.
He turned back just in time to catch her expression – staring down at the bodies, horror-struck. She could see it all – the precision of the strikes, the speed of it, the ruthlessness he was known for. When she looked up at him, her free hand lifted, hovering at her side like she wanted to reach for something.
A weapon? Her magic? A wall to put between them?
Right then, he hated himself.
