Page 149 of Blood Ties

STELLAN

The dagger remained pressed under her ribs. He kept her body between us, leaving no clear place for me to attack. The red restraints pulled at my knees while Bryony dug her heels into the stone.

“Take your hands off her,” I said.

Adrian pushed the blade hard enough to open her skin. Her blood touched the black edge.

Every muscle in my body strained against the order to kneel.

“You know what this dagger does,” he said. “Give me your heartblood and I’ll let her walk out of Harrowmere.”

The dagger could take my power only if I surrendered or the crowned heir commanded my blood to obey. Adrian needed Bryony alive long enough to force that command, then he could discard every promise.

“You murdered the last woman who refused you. Your promises have lost their value.”

Bryony’s fear struck the bond, followed by anger. She hadn’t surrendered, and I wouldn’t make a sacrifice she hadn’t asked for.

The swordsman moved behind me.

His broken ribs slowed him, although Adrian’s mark kept the blade steady in his hand. Lenora fought at the service passage with the freed guard beside her. The marked woman had risen near the main doors. She pressed one hand to the shoulder I’d injured and reached for her fallen sword with the other.

Adrian still had bodies to use.

“Stay back,” I told them. “I won’t kill you for his choices.”

The swordsman attacked before I could move.

I caught his wrist and turned the blade past my stomach. Red fire tightened around my arms. My grip failed before I could disarm him.

He drove his shoulder into my chest. I hit the floor on one knee.

The restraints seized the position and dragged my other leg down.

Adrian laughed as my other knee struck the floor. “There’s your king.”

Bryony stamped on his foot.

He swore and jerked the dagger away from her side. She twisted in his grip, shoved her elbow into his throat and nearly escaped before his arm closed around her again.

The distraction loosened the command.

I rose and drove the heel of my hand under the swordsman’s jaw. His head snapped back. I caught him before he struck the floor and lowered him hard enough to keep him down without breaking his neck.

The red mark kept burning while he lay unconscious. Adrian knew I wouldn’t slaughter his guards to reach him, and killing this man would support every claim he’d made about the Blood King.

The marked woman reached me as I straightened.

Her sword cut across my chest. The wound stayed shallow, but red light entered it and fed the cuffs. My arms locked at my sides.

She raised the blade again.

“Captain,” Lenora shouted.

The woman hesitated with the sword above her shoulder. Her eyes shifted towards the service passage while her body fought to complete Adrian’s order.

Lenora threw the black seal blade.

It skidded across the floor and stopped near my hand.