Heavy boots pounded. Fast.
Tedric was ripped from her. There was cold air where his grip had been. She pitched forward. Gasped. Choked. Coughed as her lungs scrambled for breath.
A pair of hands, gentle hands, caught her before she sagged.
“JingYi.”
He spoke her name like a prayer wrenched from the chest. The warmth of him surrounded her, the scent of spruce and steel.
“I’m here,” he murmured, his lips against her bloodied temple. “I’ve got you now.”
The whole world was edged in red. But she could feel him,reallyfeel him, his heart pounding where he held her close, his breath against her cheek.
“Everything hurts,” she croaked.
“I know,” Alexander said. “I know.”
She felt herself being lifted—strong arms gathering her up with impossible care. Instinctively, she curled against his chest, her fingers brushing the armour, warm from his body heat, her breath catching in the hollow of his throat.
His steps were sure, swift. She didn’t know how he moved so steadily with her weight and blood smeared between them, but she trusted it, trustedhim.
He knelt and eased her against the cold stone until her back met the wall. Voices whirled around her. She heard Alexander speak, low and urgent, to Adelise. Heard her breathless reply. Then Alexander again, calling for Darion. Footsteps answered, quick and certain.
And then his hand returned. A palm on her cheek—rough, warm, trembling slightly as it cupped her face. His lips pressed against her forehead. Just a moment. Then, he pulled away.
He rose. She blinked up through the blood in her lashes, watching him. His shoulders squared, hand gripping his battle axe.
He turned toward Tedric.
CHAPTER 55
ALEXANDER
Alexander’s hand closed around his axe, the leather-wrapped handle biting into his palm. His lungs were filled with the scent of his wife’s blood and set his vision ringing red. He stopped himself from looking back at her—at the blood smeared down her cheek, at the way her body sagged in Darion’s arms. If he did, he wouldn’t be able to leave her.
Across the gallery, Tedric rose, like a snake disturbed. One hand dragged across the floor, leaving a smear of red in its wake. Her blood. The scum had the audacity to touch her and now wore it like war paint.
Their eyes locked, and Alexander took one measured step forward.
“Who are you?” he asked, voice as low as a growl.
Tedric scoffed as he pushed to his feet, rapier scraping against stone before lifting into a lazy guard. “Wouldn’t you like to know.”
Steel flashed. Tedric lunged first—a testing thrust toward Alexander’s ribs. The point slid past his guard, slicing through leather and flesh. Alexander grunted but didn’t slow. He turned into the blow, caught the blade on the haft of his axe, shoved it aside and advanced.
“I welcomed you in my House,” he growled. “You broke bread with us. Swore loyalty to my banner.”
Alexander swung in a brutal horizontal arc. Tedric ducked—the axe cracked into a column behind him, stone splintering. Alexander ripped it free, ignoring the fresh ache in his ribs, and swung lower. Tedric leapt back, then darted in close. Alexander pivoted and drove his shoulder into Tedric’s chest, slamming him back. He brought the axe down in an overhand strike. Tedric twisted, but not fast enough—the blade grazed his side, tearing cloth and flesh.
They moved apart. “And then youhurther,” Alexander growled. “You think I’m going to let you walk away from that?”
“Enraged, aren’t you?” Tedric swayed but kept on his feet, one hand pressing his ribs. Blood welled between his fingers. He chuckled anyway, breathless. “But you hurt her long before I did. Remember the annulment letter?”
Alexander drove forward, axe sweeping low. Tedric vaulted the blade and landed light.
“That was you, then?” Alexander reversed the arc, forcing his opponent back toward the railing. “You broke into my study and stole the letter.” The axe carved the air where Tedric’s chest had been a breath before. “Easier to abduct her if she was away from Parandor?”
Tedric slipped left, blade flashing low. The rapier’s tip skimmed Alexander’s hip—a line of fire. Blood ran warm down his leg.
