Page 34 of The Stars are Dying

Her chuckle was so dark and dry. “You’ll have to make a better offer before this spears your throat.”

“I’d expect nothing less from our esteemed Selected.”

“Please just go,” I said, barely a whisper, the only pathetic soul in this confrontation. I was unworthy of the deadly conflict that was only because ofme.

“I have this place surrounded,” Hektor drawled as if boredom became him. “You wouldn’t get within five feet of the door without my signal stopping you at every turn.”

“You’d have to be alive to make that signal.”

I shuddered at the sudden intrusion of Calix’s voice from behind. Hektor hissed in my ear, and I tried to turn just enough to see him.

Instead I met eyes with Zath, whose gaze flashed down only for a second, and mine widened in remembrance. My fingers flexed around the handle of the black dagger I’d almost forgotten about in my numb, frightened state.

I could use it. I could do this.

Until my pulse raced and my fingers clutched tighter because I was too late.Foolishly,cowardlytoo late.

Hektor’s hand trailed the length of my arm, over my clenched fist, and he raised our hands until the dagger was pointed at Zath. “How did you get this? My study is across the manor,” he mused.

“The only way out of this…is you.”

I tensed at Nyte’s echo in my mind.

Hektor’s touch went to unfurl my fingers.

“Be your own savior.”

I blinked against a wave of adrenaline at what I was about to do.

My hold released and the dagger fell, only to be caught in my other hand. Without drawing another breath, I twisted my wrist, and the stomach-churning resistance of my blade submerging through flesh only lasted for a second before Hektor’s cry snapped me to my senses. I whirled, and the sight of the crimson dripping from my blade only struck me with horror for a moment before Hektor fell to his knees. His green eyes shot up and he reached to grab me, but my blade struck again.

With two hands my vision came true, both wrapped around the blade I’d plunged into his chest.

We locked wide-eyed, bewildered stares.

He would have come after me.

Worse, he would have killed Zath and Calix, possibly Cassia, for what I had done.

Hektor had to die, though his dark grip on my soul didn’t relent at this knowledge.

Rage turned to agony as I stumbled back, still clutching the blade, not knowing what else was happening.

What have I done?

“We need to go.” Cassia’s voice jerked my stiff body, barely a drowned whisper while ringing filled my ears at Hektor’s strained chokes of pain as his life faltered.

“You have no idea what you’re doing,” he rasped. “I kept you safe. They will kill you as soon as they know.”

I couldn’t feel the hands gripping my shoulders, but they forced me to turn away from the man I’d thought I loved. The man who had given me shelter and safety, whose life I had taken in return. Calix motioned to Cassia down the hall. Zath guided me, but I felt no more than a ghost on a leash. Their lips moved, but I couldn’t make out words.

Then I looked for him—Nyte—certain I had heard his voice, but no eyes of dawn were revealed.

I didn’t get time to dwell on my storm of confusion as I gave over to the force driving me.

“Astraea!” Cassia’s urgency sliced through me, and only then did sensation return to my skin. “You’re in shock, but Ineedyou to hold it together until we get out of here.”

“There will be an alert soon,” Zathrian said. “I’m going to stop as many of them as I can. Take her with you.”

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