Page 80 of Blood Ties

Bryony raised the sword. “You murdered my grandmother when she refused to give me to you. You used Lenora’s blood because your own authority wasn’t enough to open the gate. I understand you perfectly, and I’m not taking lessons on royal law from you.”

The seal on the dais lifted. A thin chain ran from it into the floor. I pointed with the broken length in my hand. “The seal is carrying Lenora’s blood into Harrowmere. He’s using her oath to keep the command active.”

Bryony saw it too. “Is Lenora alive?”

“She was when he opened the gate,” I said. “He needs her living while he uses the captain’s seal.”

“Then how do we stop it without hurting her?”

I studied the path of red light. “Destroying the seal while her blood is in it could tear the oath out of her body and kill her. We need another target.”

“Break the line between the seal and the Crown.”

The line crossed the open floor. Bryony would have to leave the rail to reach it.

She tested the sword in her hand. “Cover me.”

I met her eyes. “Always.”

She came over the rail before the word finished. The chain at my throat jerked me towards the throne, but I drove my heel into the floor and caught the next length aimed at her. Bryony ran beside the white line. Red light rose around her boots in thin spikes. She cut through the first two without slowing.

A chain swept low from her right. I threw the broken length in my hand around it and hauled back. The force tore open my palm and dragged me to one knee. Bryony reached the dais.

“Now!” I shouted.

She drove the sword into the narrow red channel. White light burst up the blade and threw her backwards. I released the chains and caught her against my chest.

For one second, I held her warm body against mine. Her fingers closed on my torn shirt, and her breath hit my neck.

Then the Crown screamed.

The sound struck every restraint at once. My body locked. Bryony felt it happen and tried to pull away, but my arms closed around her without my permission.

“Stellan?”

“Move.” The word came out strained. “Get away from me.”

Her eyes searched mine. “You’re holding me.”

“I know.”

The Crown pulled my right hand towards her throat. I fought until the muscles in my arm shook, but my fingers kept moving. “The red command reached my collar,” I said. “Adrian found enough of the old sentence to make the Crown move me. He can’t hold it once you close the command.”

Bryony caught my wrist with both hands. “Fight it.”

“I am.”

Her grip tightened. “Fight harder. You’ve spent over a century refusing this bloody court. Don’t let Adrian turn you into his errand boy now.”

“Very helpful.”

“You’re welcome.” She shoved my wrist away from her neck.

I managed to turn my hand enough to miss her throat. My knuckles struck her shoulder instead, and the impact sent her stumbling out of my arms.

“Back to the rail,” I said.

“I can cut the collar.”