Page 167 of Fearless

“Don’t do this, Kitt—”

A sword sings as it’s pulled from a sheath.

Kitt’s responding growl echoes through the courtyard. “Get out of my head.”

His blade sinks into my father’s chest.

I blink and the world spins to a sudden, jolting stop. Blood gushes from the wound in Calum’s chest as his king callously yanks the blade from his body. I watch those blue eyes widen on Kitt, then flicker with fleeting life.

My hand lifts toward the jaw I’ve dropped above. This is not the first time I’ve lost a father. This is not even the first time I’ve lost one to a sword through his chest, or an Azer brother at the other end of that blade.

But this death is different. Watching this man die feels like a relief.

Calum is the reason for my true father’s death, and this is the retribution I have searched for since Adam Gray died in my arms. The blood of every Resistance member is on this Fatal’s hands, and he deserves to meet this brutal end.

Kitt staggers back, letting Calum slump to the stone steps. Blood drips from the king’s sword in a way that makes him suddenly resemble his Enforcer. I step carefully beside Calum’s crumpled body, ensuring the growing puddle of blood oozing down the stairs does not stain my pure attire. His blue gaze falls sluggishly to mine as I pry my dagger from his fingertips. Then I lean in, letting his dwindling power pluck words from my mind.

This isn’t a goodbye, Father. Only a good way to say bye until we meet again. Because I will haunt you in every lifetime. A shadow of the woman you loved, trapped in the body of an Ordinary you hate.

I smile. His eyes widen as though the torture has already begun.

Until then, Father.

His blood drips from the blade of my dagger, and I wipe it off on his tunic before standing. As soon as I have slipped the knife into its sheath on my thigh, Kitt is turning me toward him with a heavy hand on my shoulder. “Paedyn, did he say anything about me? About my father?”

I open my mouth—

“What the hell happened?”

My gaze lifts to the top of the stone steps where the Enforcer scrutinizes the scene below him.

King. Queen. Dead body.

Kitt’s grip on my arm slips away beneath his brother’s stare. “The better question is where the hell have you been?”

Kai joins us beside the cascade of blood. His raw knuckles don’t go unnoticed. “Sorry I missed the ceremony.” His eyes flick to me. “Congratulations. Now, what the hell is going on?”

The king turns to me, urging a quick explanation from my mouth. I recount my interaction with Calum, all that I discovered and all he told me. A dark shadow crosses Kai’s face when I speak of what the prior king had done, but it’s a shade of recognition I see when mentioning Calum’s true identity.

“He always looked so familiar,” Kai mutters. “I must have seen him pass me in the halls growing up. And at that battle in the Bowl, I knew I recognized him. I should have known—”

“It’s not your fault,” Kitt reassures. “He was manipulating all of us. Paedyn thinks he was a Dual, and it makes perfect sense.”

Kai’s attention falls to me. “A Dual?”

“I think he was a Controlleranda Mind Reader. Look,” I say in a rush, “I know it’s rare, but whatever he says always goes. Kitt had no intention of marrying me until Calum said so.”

“She’s right.” Kitt shakes his head. “He always had this… pull. Like, I couldn’t help but do what he wished. Either way,” he sighs, “Calum was a danger. A liability. So, I did what I had to do.”

Kai blinks. “You killed him?”

I stiffen.

He thought it was me.

“I did,” Kitt says simply. “Like I said, he was a danger.”

Kai stares at his brother, even as Easel approaches timidly. I had nearly forgotten our wide-eyed audience. “Your Majesty, I must insist that we head to Loot for the second ceremony.”

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