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Crystal’s eyes widen as I surge forward, pressing the attack, refusing to be the prey any longer. We’re a whirlwind of violence, two forces colliding over and over again. She punches me, sending me reeling, but by some miracle, I stay on my feet, bloodied and pain lancing through my face.
I kick out, slap, punch, scratch. It’s all I’ve got until I can use the knife on her, but she’s quick. With her waning strength, she doesn’t fight like a guy. She is still just a girl pretending to be something she’s not.
Lashing out with the knife, I catch her at the wrong moment as she lunges for me, the world goes still as the jagged blade of my knife finds its mark. Crystal’s eyes go wide with shock, and then nothing. Blood blooms across her throat as the barbed blade slices through her flesh. She collapses without another word, her hands going up to her neck.
I gulp and stumble back, seeing Robbie’s dead eyes staring back at me, and I force down the urge to vomit.
Two.
Two people have died by hand, and many more because of me.
Someone crashes into me in their haste, and the world comes back. The remaining two members of Crystal’s faction scatter like cockroaches, fear propelling them into the dark woods surrounding us. They leave behind their fallen leader.
I stand there, chest heaving, knife dripping red onto the leaf-strewn earth. It’s done. We’ve won, through unity and raw determination, but at what cost? My men rally around me, bruised and battered but victorious.
Blood drips from my knuckles, mixing with the dirt beneath my boots. The taste of iron clings to my tongue, a harsh reminder of the fight we’ve just survived. As I scan the faces of Alistair, Ben, Charlie, and Damien, their own battle scars tell stories of resilience. We’re a mess, each of us marked by this war we didn’t ask for but had no choice but to finish.
“Damn,” Charlie breathes out, a lopsided grin under his split lip. “Nice work, queenie.”
Alistair steps forward and grabs me, pulling me into his arms. “You okay?”
I nod, not having the capacity to form words right now.
“Ever, you—“ Ben starts, pushing his tousled hair back, but he doesn’t need to finish. I know what he’s trying to say, even if the words get lost in the thickness of emotion choking the air between us.
Damien moves in closer and takes me from Alistair, shoving his hands into my hair as he holds me close. “This isn’t over,” he states, putting a real downer on the victory. “There will be more challenges, more enemies.”
“Let them come,” I reply. “We’ll be ready.”
Each lost in our thoughts of what’s been won—and at what cost. But there’s no denying the pride that swells in my chest. I am Ever, queen of the Four Cardinals, and together, we are the keepers of KnightsGate’s secrets, its protectors against the chaos that threatens to engulf us.
“I come in peace.”
We all turn towards the voice that resounds through the clearing, and Alex’s twin sidles into view, his hands up.
“You,” I hiss, pushing past Damien to stride over to him. “What the fuck is your name?”
He snickers. “Nathaniel Harcourt. Nate.”
Alex marches over to him, breath ragged as he draws back his fist and smashes it into the face that looks exactly like his. “That’s for putting Ever in a dangerous situation, you fucking prick.” He kicks Nate in the ribs while he’s down, causing him to groan. “And that’s for having my face.” He bunches his fists in Nate’s shirt and punches him in the face again. “And that’s for existing, you piece of shit.”
Exchanging a shocked stare with Damien, who stands by my side, I shrug. “Leave them to it?”
“Yeah.”
Taking his hand, I lace our fingers together and turn back to my guys. “Home. I need a bath and sleep.”
“And food,” Charlie pipes up.
“And booze,” Alistair murmurs.
“Don’t forget fucking,” Ben adds as we troop back to the tunnels.
“Wait! What about...?” I exclaim, pointing back to the clearing.
“Cleaners are on their way. Oh, they’re here now,” Alistair says with a charming smile as he takes my other hand and kisses my knuckles. “One of the perks of having the world at your fingertips.”
“I’ll remember that, Your Grace.”
