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A horn sounded. Shouts of warriors echoed over the small camp. More blood fae were coming.
“Halvar!” Valen’s voice carried. “What are you doing?”
Davorin’s eyes lifted to the Northern king. A grin split his face. Valen had his arms hooked around the neck of a warrior—one highly ranked by the craftsmanship of blade in his grip—and Elise and Herja had a woman with pale hair pinned to the ground.
“Night Folk!” the woman hissed, she kicked and spat. Her vitriol aimed at the warrior. “You’ll be buried in the quarries, close to the hells where you belong.”
The Night Folk warrior fought against his king. His eyes were dark, his lips a sickly shade of blue. He wanted her head. “Release me, you bastard! She’s a Raven, Valen.”
“Halvar.” Valen struggled to pull him back. “She’s your damn wife.”
Bleeding hells.
“I enjoyed my time with the Night Folk the most,” Davorin’s silky words blew hot in my ear. “A land divided with prejudice, slavery, distrust. Gods, it was intoxicating to watch the ice folk raid the fae. I swear to you, keep fighting me, and I’ll enjoy unraveling your golden king’s folk best.”
A fierce burn of protectiveness ran through my chest. These people, they’d been Ari’s rivals, then allies, then his family. There was no trust for me yet, but I wouldn’t watch them be torn apart.
I rammed my knee into Davorin’s side. When he flinched, I took the bit of space to claw the dirt with one palm.
Heat thrummed in the handfuls of dirt. I slammed the soil against the sides of Davorin’s face. The dull clumps flashed in red and boiling orange, like each pebble and grain of dirt became dying embers.
Davorin flung himself off me, swiping at his scorched flesh.
I scrambled to my feet, sword in hand, and raced toward Valen.
“Niklas,” I cried. “We need to take them in.”
The Falkyn finished blinding a wild fae with one of his powders. He wiped his lips and followed my finger toward the two warriors in the grip of the king and queen. I didn’t know them personally, but the way their royals fought for them, I could assume they were valued.
Niklas quickened his steps and ran with me.
“Let him go, Valen,” Niklas said. “Give him to me; I have what I need to help him.”
The Northern king hesitated, but stepped back once Niklas had a sweet-smelling oil in his hand.
“Hang on, Hal,” The Falkyn said, winking at the furious warrior. “We’ll get you right again, so you and Kari can make another little soon enough.”
The instant the oil dropped into Halvar’s eyes, he slumped back, asleep. Niklas rushed to the woman trying to fight off her queen and did the same. He carried her in his arms and laid her next to her husband.
“Saga!” Davorin’s voice shook behind me. His face was twisted and speckled in red burns. He was out for blood, not mine, no—he’d destroy anyone I might love.
I lifted my gaze to the king and gripped Valen’s arm. “Get your people off this land.”
Valen’s dark eyes glistened. He saw his unconscious warrior, a pained look on his face, he took in where his wife fought with his family, his people.
“We’re going, king.” Valen didn’t make the call. It was the Nightrender. One brow dripped in blood; his shoulders heaved as he lifted his arms. “We fight later and take this bastard out when the bleeding Norns are on our side.”
A wall of darkness split like a rolling storm through the trees.
“Pull back!” Kase shouted. He shoved a few of the warriors into the darkness before stepping in himself, fading from sight.
“Go!” Eryka’s wispy voice was close. Gunnar fought against a Borough guard whose fingertips were blackened like soot stained his skin. The star princess pushed against Gunnar’s mother, sobbing. “He won’t lose you again. He won’t. Go!”
Admiration for the young princess’s love for her thief prince had no time to take hold. A shudder of unease danced down my spine.
Eryka’s movements drew the attention of Davorin. He studied her for a moment, then the horrid twist of his smirk played over his lips. He closed his eyes for a few heartbeats, no commands, no words, but a dozen of his corrupted fae turned on the princess.
“Eryka!” I shouted. It was obvious Davorin wanted the princess, and I didn’t want to find out why. “Behind you!”
