Page 139 of Shadows and Roses

Fool. She'd been an absolute fool to trust this man. Dying under his blade would be the lesser offense. Though it sounded like he wanted something other than her death. She should be afraid, but her senses were too dulled for even that feeling to rise.

She blinked, her eyes closing for a second too long. His blade sliced and she couldn’t block. It was over. She’d lost.

Damon hesitated.

"Get away from her."

Anais didn't dare take her eyes off Damon, but she knew that voice intimately, even with rage twisting it into a growl.

Castien stepped into view, a nearby practice sword in his hand.

"Castien, no. He's better than you with a sword. Don't—" she mumbled, blinked again, losing her thought. Her weapon clattered to the ground and she wavered, stumbling back. The room started to spin.

Castien stepped closer to a sneering Damon.

"Castien," she murmured, frowning as her eyes struggled to focus.

"Shut up, Anais," her Escort said softly, but not unkindly.

"Lover-boy here to save his Queen?" Damon lunged before he finished speaking, but Castien caught and deflected the attack. "Why? How can you care more about this monster than your friends, Castien?"

"You know she's not like them. But you are. You hid it well, but you're worse than most of her court."

Damon laughed. "I don’t live in a dream! A wonderful, caring world is just that—an impossible dream your foolish girl is chasing. Reality is harsh and must be met with harsher actions. Your Queen is too soft."

"You wouldn’t last a day on her throne," Castien bit out while barely dodging a slice.

"Her pretty little ass can sit where it wants. Anais! Surrender to me, and I won't kill your pet."

Castien stepped back. "You're truly willing to kill me? Damon."

The rebel scoffed. "You’re broken, lordling. After Nadraken, you’re hardly different from them anymore. And you wouldn't be the first." He glanced at Anais. "Did you ever consider that Kevam might have shoved youtowardthe wolf that night? He felt guilty about it later, once he grew to like you. He was going to confess. I couldn’t have that."

“You… You killed Kevam? How could you?” Castien shuffled back after defending against a rapid flurry of strikes. He was outmatched and would be lucky to survive another minute.

Damon's words registered in her foggy mind once Castien was in the clear.

This man had killed his friend. He was capable of worse than she thought.

"Yes. He was just another expendable idiot. And they were all getting too friendly with the Queen and the army; I had to remind them that they’re all monsters." He addressed Castien. "You of all people—don’t you see that? Isn’t it obvious the day they’re born with those unnatural, beastly claws?"

Castien didn’t respond, too busy concentrating on not being skewered. In a desperate defense, he blocked with the bracers on his left wrist. The blade twisted at the last moment, slicing through leather and leaving a shallow cut on his arm.

Anais gritted her teeth. "Escort, stand down. He won't kill me, but he will kill you. Please, Castien."

"No, I'm not trusting— Damn it, Anais, stop distracting me." Another line of red crossed the same arm, higher on hisshoulder.

Castien was tiring.

Why had she let Damon send the guards away? The first time Castien spoke to her like a normal person and he was going to die right in front of her. Her heart would bleed, she knew, if her thoughts weren't so hazy, if the world wasn't half-muffled.

Their shuffling footsteps seemed to echo all around her.

Moments passed. No more ringing, clashing steel.

"Put down the sword, Damon."

Faint words from a new voice. Her vision darkened around the edges. At least she had found a wall to lean against. Sitting would be better. She winced as she hit the ground ungracefully.

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