Page 97 of A Rose Among Snakes

“No, stop,” Velian panted, but I ignored him.

Leoro curled his lips, bearing an alarming resemblance to a wolf. “And if I win?”

“You get to do whatever you want to us.”

“Mihrra!” Velian yelled.

“Shut him up,” Leoro commanded. I didn’t look over, but my stomach clenched when I heard Velian grunt as a booted foot made contact with his ribs.

“What’s to stop me from doing whatever I want to you right now?”

A throat cleared behind him and he swung his head around as an elderly priest cloaked in white robes stepped out from behind the throne.

“Forgive me, Your Majesty, but the law in Clavo is firm. A duel must be accepted and the outcome respected.”

Leoro faced me again with a sneer, holding my stare for several moments. I could practically see the wheels turning in his head as he weighed his options.

“It seems you get the better end of this deal.”

“Are you afraid you’re going to lose?”

Please take the bait. Please.

He gave the guards a signal to let Velian up, and the sound of Kezara’s released breath matched the relief lightening the weight on my chest. Leoro gestured for a guard to hold Kezara, and after handing her off, he took the sword from the guard’s sheath. Twisting the weapon in his hand and examining the blade, his black eyes slunk across the room to meet mine.

“I accept.”

He motioned for the guards to release me, and they let me go with a shove. Stumbling, I turned around and glared at them. I grabbed the nearest sword on the ground, weighing it in my hands. It was heavier than I would have preferred, but I didn’t have time to find the perfect one. Leoro’s eyes narrowed as I stepped toward him.

We circled each other, Leoro crossing one foot over the other while I shuffled my feet to keep my stance open and balanced. Swords pointing at each other, Leoro flicked his wrist, hitting my blade. I kept my grip firm and easily parried his swat. He stepped back, then repeated the movement three more times, adding more strength each time, testing me. Still, I didn’t cave.

His lip twitched in frustration and I grinned at him, masking the fatigue already pulling at my arms from the weight of the sword. Aside from grunts of effort and the clashing of metal, the room was silent.

Leoro lunged at me and I stepped aside, causing him to stumble and catch himself. He wheeled around with a growl and lunged at me again. The ferocity of his swings changed and it grew difficult to keep up my charade of nonchalance. He began driving me back and the glint in his eyes told me he was no longer playing by the rules.

He was trying to kill me.

Ice tingled through me, my arms either numbing from meeting his bone-rattling strikes or the reality of the grave mistake I’d made. I was sure he’d never had any intention of letting me win, but the curl of his lip told me he hadn’t expected to work so hard for it. He was swinging so fast and strong I was unable to launch an attack of my own, only able to focus on defending my life. I shuffled back and my heel hit the step of the dais, knocking me off balance, and I fell backward, dropping my sword just out of arm’s reach.

“Mihrra!” Velian yelled, but I didn’t dare take my eyes off Leoro as he loomed over me, his continued advance confirming this wouldn’t end with a simple disarming. Above me, Kezara kicked out at him and he glared at her, practically hissing as the guards hauled her backward.

“You know,” he chuckled, “your father was in this same position when he died. When I killed him, that is.”

My rage had dissipated as I focused on survival, but his words rekindled the flame. Leoro thrust his sword forward and grazed my cheek, drawing blood. I gasped in pain and Velian cried out and thrashed.

Panting, I asked, “Why?”

“Your father was a traitor!” He spat, his cool mask slipping. He reined in his temper and continued, “He didn’t approve of my plan to send Ziffem to the villages on the outskirts, like Roben where hispreciouslittle family lived. He threatened to incite a rebellion, and I couldn’t have that.”

I watched him pace back and forth in front of me, still crossing his feet one over the other.

“What would your dear father think if he knew you were involved with Velshan Blaise’s son? He would be so disappointed in you, Mihrra. Why, he’s probably turning over in his grave—or should I say the ditch where he was dumped for scavengers to pick his bones clean?”

I kicked my foot out, and in one swift movement, I swept his feet from under him and pulled the knife from my boot. Leoro fell on the steps beside me, freezing as I pressed the knife to his throat.

“Tricky girl,” he said, his soulless eyes boring into mine. I sat up, keeping the knife in place. I shifted my focus to grab my sword from the ground but was not quick enough as Leoro rolled out of reach and snatched his sword up.

I got to my feet first and lunged at him, forcing him to defend himself from the wrath renewing my strength. There was no erasing the conjured image of my father lying on the ground, beggingfor mercy, and this monster in front of me running him through with a sword.

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