Page 190 of Blood Curse

I watched Mara’s hand inside my coat.

Her fingers trembled around the wrapping. She couldn’t release it, but she was crushing my torn shirt into her grip, making every inch of the commanded movement harder.

Bryony watched her rather than looking at me.

That steadied something ugly in my chest. She wasn’t waiting for me to sacrifice myself or trying to read permission from my face. She was tracking the weapon and the hand carrying it. Whatever chance appeared, she intended to use it.

I trusted her with the danger.

The Crown mistook that trust for passivity.

Mara’s fingers found the wrapping. She closed them around it, then caught the fabric of my shirt as well. The command pulled her arm back. My coat tore before she let the dagger come free.

The broken blade remained covered. Its warmth reached my ribs through the cloth.

Bryony’s eyes locked on it.

The Crown made her speak again.

“Elias Ward will hold Stellan still until the dagger reaches my chair.”

The second command struck.

Elias surged upright.

The pale band around his shoulders dropped to his arms. It drove him towards me while Mara was still turning away.

There was the gap.

Mara had to bring the dagger across the hall. Elias had to reach me before he could hold me. The Crown named both results and forgot the space between them.

I stayed on my knees.

The crowd command kept that part of my body locked. My right arm still moved.

I caught Mara’s wrist.

Her body jerked forwards under the order. I didn’t try to take the dagger back. I used her momentum, turned her hand and drove the heel of my palm under the wrapped blade.

It flew from her grip.

Elias caught my shoulders a heartbeat later.

His arms clamped around me from behind. The new command froze my chest against his hold, but it was already too late.

The dagger hit the stone.

It landed on the flat of the broken metal, bounced once and skidded across the red-lit floor.

The Crown made Bryony lean towards it.

Mara wheeled after the blade. Her command was still active. She had to bring it to the chair, even though it was travelling there without her.

I hooked one foot over her ankle.

The kneeling order let me move my leg as long as my knees remained down. Mara stumbled. She caught herself on one hand, snarled and reached for the wrapping.

The dagger slid beyond her fingers.