Page 50 of Kiss the Filthiest King

He brings his hands to his throat, trying to close it.

"I'd help if I could," Caenan says. "But I can't physically be a part of this. Besides, I can't say I mind if he takes a long, long while to bleed out."

"Can I leave him like that, then?"

"Oh, yeah, he's dead. Just taking his sweet time about it." Caenan laughs heartedly. "That was clever, Rachel. Devious."

"Is that a compliment? It kinda sounds like one."

“I assure you, it is.”

She grins up at him. "It's just, when you said you'd be accused because you couldn't lie, I figured, hey, that's somethingIcan do, right?"

"It is. And I would have done it otherwise, so I owe you, likely my freedom, if your sister was feeling magnanimous. Possibly my life."

He steps over the still-spluttering, grunting, bleeding future corpse and offers his hand.

"We were on our way to get you when we heard you scream," Caenan tells me. "I didn't think it wise for Rachel to remain at the revel after you'd left. Now, I see she can take care of herself after all."

"Hardly. You did all the hard work, pinning him down. All I had to do was lift that very heavy sword."

She hands him back the hilt of the blade.

He wipes it over his sleeve, before putting it back in its sheath.

I only see them through the corner of my eyes, because I'm still watching Junis writhe on the floor, slower now, like a wounded animal, and the red, red blood staining the floor. I don't even move when it gets to my feet.

He's dying.

Of all the threats around me, he was the worst. The only one to have physically made me feel so weak and helpless and disgusted with myself.

I didn't expect to be rid of him until the end of the year, if ever. I thought he'd be a constant shadow.

But my sister freed me. Avenged our parents. One breath, one last shudder, and he's dead, dead, dead.

I bring my arms around Rachel's neck and sob, relief like I've never known overwhelming me.

She squeezes me right back, like she completely understands.

I don't know how long we remain here, standing in a pool of blood. Until Ryther's called and handled the body, before carrying me up to bed.

I'm asleep before my head hits the pillow.

23

KILLING YOU SOFTLY

Ryther

"Ryther!" I hear, from somewhere far, far away. "Ryther, stop!"

The voice is familiar and full of panic. I make myself focus, trying to get situated.

I was in Darina's chamber, both of us still dressed. I'd just dragged her to my chest and let her silently cry as she drifted off, the exhaustion of it all getting to her. I was falling asleep myself.

Then what?Think. Focus. Open your eyes.

It's an effort. I don't see anything. But annoying the voice is getting more and more pressing. I try to let that pull me away from sleep.

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