Elara went next, and Nik followed.
“We have to stop the fighting,” Elara said.
“There’s only one way to stop it now.”
Fernand took off, disappearing into the battlefield. In the direction of the Counseil caravan. Of Lafontaine.
Elara ran.
Nik grabbed her.
The world faded away like it had in his kitchen when they sipped tea quietly. When she leaned her head against his shoulder and trusted him with every beautiful nerve in her body.
Four years ago, he’d let his mother go to his father.
She’d died for it.
Nik could’ve saved her if he’d been less selfish, because the truth was, he’d wanted her to make Lafontaine happy. He’d wanted a father more than he’d wanted his mother to be safe.
But he had to tell her. He would be selfish enough to carve out a single moment for himself because he couldn’t die if Elara didn’t know the full truth.
“I didn’t—”
“I know.”
She stared at him, then slowly threaded her fingers with his, tightening her grip.
It was all he needed to know this was right. Elara trusted him. And now she needed his support more than ever.
If he stood in her way, he was no better than his father.
He memorized the feel of her heartbeat beneath his fingertips one last time.
And he let her go.
45ELARA
For the first time in her life, Elara was running toward something, not away.
She had to dive between sweat-soaked, warring bodies and dodge knives, bludgeons, and gunfire to get there, but she made it to the caravan. Fernand was already there. Quickly, he buried a knife in the guard watching the caravan and tossed his body aside.
Gabriel and Tremblay cowered behind their thrones, begging for mercy.
Lafontaine drew a knife and clashed against Fernand.
Elara watched them struggle.
Fernand landed enough blows to turn the sleeves and sides of Lafontaine’s white gown red, but he didn’t get them for free. For every strike, Lafontaine landed his own. Cut for cut. Blood for blood.
Elara turned a circle, taking in the battlefield The Market had become. It was supposed to be a place for fellowship and commerce, but it was now a scene fromElizabeta the Brave.Except there was no one upon a hilltop with an army to save them.
Elara understood Fernand now. Understood her mother.
War didn’t end with desperate plans or destructive bombs.
But those things made people pause.
Made them listen.
