Her sister let out a warrior cry. Perfect, beautiful Krysta. With that fearless heart of hers. She had come to save Helaina.
Dolion lay on the ground, struggling to breathe, blood pooling in his mouth.
Her sister scrapped and fought, each grimy twin holding an arm behind her back.
“Let her go!” Helaina screeched.
“Run, Laina! Run now!” Krysta barked.
Dolion convulsed on the ground, reaching for his chest. In the torchlight Helaina saw what had brought him down. The Crestonian blade, the gift from Krysta’s betrothed. That bejeweled handle sparkled, blade sunk to the hilt, straight through the chest of Helaina’s first love.
The twins didn’t show an ounce of concern for their fallen leader.
“I wouldn’t make it harder on yourself, sweetheart. If you run, we’ll have to chase you, and you won’t like what happens when we catch you.” One of the twins licked his lips, letting his eyes roam over her body.
The other grinned at his brother in agreement, then smiled at Helaina through rotten teeth. “I don’t know, I kind of like the idea of running her down.”
“You will not touch her!” Krysta spat in one twin’s face, while she writhed between them. The other took his free hand and whipped it across her face, causing her neck to twist at an unnatural angle.
“Stop!” Helaina pleaded.
Dolion gurgled on the ground. Blood bubbled through his lips. He turned to Helaina. Those eyes locked in on her once more, freezing her in place.
“Helaina! Get out of here!” Her sister’s voice was already hoarse from her screeching.
Helaina couldn’t focus on that... because Dolion was moving, wrapping his fingers around the blade. He pulled it free from his chest, with a smooth motion that was agonizing to witness.
Krysta’s eyes mimicked her sister’s as they both stared unbelieving at what should have been a corpse.
With the knife free, Dolion’s chest wound swallowed any remaining blood. The skin Krysta had severed grew back together, forming a scar, and then that scar faded into nothing. Even the scratches Krysta had clawed into his face vanished like they were never there.
Both girls froze in horror, watching a man that should have been dead rise from the ground.
“Oh, Krysta...” His features were filled with menacing fury. “I thought you’d come after her. The assassination attempt, though, that was unexpected. I didn’t think you had it in you.”
Krysta’s fury matched his in every way. Like all hell’s creations were bursting forth through her very being. She was fighting—but not for her own life, not for her own safety.
“I don’t care what or who you are... you will burn if you lay a hand on her. I swear it on any gods in existence, do not fucking touch her again.”
Dolion approached Krysta as she continued to struggle. Helaina shot up from the ground, sprinting for her. He turned as quick as a lightning strike and with one hand gripped Helaina’s throat, lifting her off the ground. She choked for air. His strength was inhuman.
He brought her close.
“I’m going to enjoy this. Then we can be together, like you always wanted.”
“Put her down!” Krysta screamed.
“Gladly.” Dolion launched Helaina back with that impossibly strong arm. Her head collided with a nearby tree. She remained conscious, but she felt dazed. The trees were all blurring into a puddle.
“So brave to come out here all alone.”
“I’m not alone. My brother’s coming with his guard,” Krysta declared. “You won’t make it off the grounds.”
Dolion paid her threat no mind. Helaina’s vision cleared enough for her to witness Dolion leaning into a helpless Krysta.
“You know, I did always find you to be the more... alluring one.” He got nose to nose with Krysta, clutching her chin in his palm.
Helaina could hear the sounds of disgust from her sister.
