My breaths came out short and sharp as I ran, my hand grasping the banister.
I glanced over my shoulder, panicked, but the staircase was empty.
I paused for a second to catch my breath. And then I continued, a bit slower this time, my ears straining for any sound.
When I reached the bottom of the stairwell, I cracked open the door and peered out. A blast of cold air immediately hit me, and I shivered, my teeth chattering. The interior of the house was definitely temperature regulated because it wasfreezingoutside.
Stone pillars were the first thing I saw. The ground was a checkered slab of white marble and gray granite, and largecolumns towered at regular intervals on the outer edges. I peered up at the ceiling where a fresco of a battle scene was depicted in great detail. From what I could see, there was a courtyard beyond. It was empty.
I still didn’t know what I would even do if I escaped, but I’d consider it afterward.IfI managed to make it through the courtyard.
I steeled myself to make a mad dash for it.
I made it to the pillars before a set of arms wrenched me back and, quite literally, off the ground.
“Let me go!” I yelled. My words echoed off the columns and bled out into the vacant courtyard.
“Every decade, one of you tries to run,” Kilian muttered. “That onehas, in fact, become a bet. And I’ve had my money on you since I first saw you.”
I squirmed in his arms, grunting as I tried to free myself from his iron grip.
“What’s your plan?” His voice was at my ear.
“Like I’d fucking tell you.” I tried jabbing at his ribs but only met solid armor.
He snorted. “You can’t because you don’t have one.”
My fingers closed around the hilt of something strapped at his side. I couldn’t see what I was drawing out of its sheath, but it felt light enough to be a dagger. “I have a plan. It starts with killing you.”
I thrust blindly, aiming for whatever flesh I could find, and hitting metal instead.
Kilian’s hand clamped over mine and he twisted my wrist. It didn’t hurt but the angle loosened my grip, and he easily yanked the blade from me.
“With my own weapon, no less?” He tutted. “How original.”
“I’m making the most with what I have at my disposal. It’s called being resourceful.”
“Ah, I see. I imagine this resourcefulness will come in handy when you’re out in Lortan, struggling to find shelter and food that won’t poison you?”
“That’s my problem. Not yours.”
“I hate to break it to you, but once you accepted the oath, you became my problem.”
“So unlink us then. Problem fucking solved.”
“I can’t. It’s binding. You accepted it.”
“That was before I knew how invasive it would be. I had nochoice.”
“Semantics. It’s too late to back out now. Bad things happen to those who break oaths.”
I gave one more shove at his arms.
He released me.
I stumbled forward, clutching at the nearest pillar to steady myself.
Kilian passed by casually, dagger in hand. A glint of red caught my eye and my jaw dropped. “That’smydagger.”
