Page 110 of Hellbound

The boy’s face lit up like the sunrise.

From his pocket, he produced a satchel of sweets, pressing it into Milo’s hands.

“Go on, share it with the others. You’ve earned it.”

Milo ran to the other children, who swarmed eagerly.

Karsan gave a light-hearted laugh as the children doubled back for more, producing a second bag when their small hands reached for him.

Ksenia’s stomach turned, and she could feel blood splotching her face.

Most of them were too young to remember. Too young to know he was the one who’d killed their families. To them, he was the kind king who brought sweets and remembered their names.

Once the children were placated, he turned back to the weapon rack and lifted the kingsword to the light.

He balanced the flat of the blade precariously on his index finger, enjoying the stillness of the moment before his hand disappeared from beneath it and deftly grasped the hilt from midair.

Ksenia’s breath was stifled in her chest. Karsan’s movements were so fast the blade hadn’t even moved.

He handed the sword back to Danika. “Make the next one out of Grastelian steel.”

Danika nodded. Her eyes met Ksenia’s for a fraction of a second before dropping to the ground.

Danika wouldn’t be able to.

Not alone.

The sun had set, and Danika paced in the empty forge.

A singular bondsmith did not make Grastelian steel–borne weapons. They always required at least two.

Aside from that problem, her normal bellows wouldn’t do, and she had called for a much larger one.

A young man and woman in waxed aprons carried the leather-and-wood instrument through the service doors held open by the guards, then set it down in front of Danika.

The young man brushed off his hands and strode away, leaving the woman behind, who slung a pack from her shoulders to the ground.

“Shall we get to it?” Tying her unkempt hair back, Ksenia looked Danika in the eye.

“Gods—” Danika startled backward.

Her eyes darted to the doors, likely to see whether any guards had heard and come running.

“What are you doing?” she whispered harshly.

“Helping you.” Ksenia lugged blue-gray ingots over to the furnace.

The amount she held in her hands could buy several houses.

Danika rushed over, snatching them. “You can’t,” she hissed.

“I can,” Ksenia gritted, turning on her heel to pick up another bar.

“You’re going to get caught.” Danika scrubbed the heel of her hand into her eyes.

Ksenia pulled away. “Not if we work fast and stay quiet. We both know Karsan won’t give a shit that you can’t do it alone, and the kids are nowhere near close to even attempting.”

Danika’s hand shook, then her jaw clenched.