Page 130 of A Queen This Fierce and Deadly

His body began to slump backward, his hand releasing my hair.

I could hear someone screaming in my head. Someone who sounded a lot like my grandmother. Thescreams were wordless, horrified, enraged.

I made it to my feet. My head spun. And against all of my best interests, against all sense of logic…it wasmyturn to begin screaming. For a healer.

Distantly, I was aware of several healers rushing toward Zathrian. But I was already turning, desperately looking for…

Lorian was covered in so much blood, it took me a moment to recognize him. The soldiers had stopped cheering at some point, and a hushed silence had claimed the arena.

Soltor opened another deep cut along Lorian’s neck. It poured blood. He didn’t react, but I knew it had to be hurting him. Weakening him.

Eadric laughed. “No longer the Bloodthirsty Prince. Now you’re just bloody.”

He slashed out with his sword. Lorian stepped to the side, the movement casual, inconsequential even. But it was still breathtakingly fast. Fast enough that Eadric stopped laughing.

He waved his hand, and Soltor slashed out at Lorian again.

A cold, unrelenting rage slid through every inch of my body. Freezing my bones. Numbing my skin. Dancing across my nerves.

I picked up one of the knives Eadric had dropped.

And threw it at Soltor.

I had none of Asinia’s power. None of my own. But it was as if the gods themselves guided the blade.

And lodged it straight into Soltor’s neck.

His eyes met mine. “That’s for Cavis,” I said.

Soltor gaped. The light left his eyes. And his body hit the ground.

Something tight in my chest unraveled, and it felt as if I could take a full breath once more.

Lorian looked at me. His wounds were likely agonizing. But he waited.

Yes, I’m fine.

His eyes glittered with joy and relief. And he turned back to Eadric.

Eadric barreled at Lorian, his face a mask of loathing. Lorian stepped to the side again. The movement easy.

And I understood.

He hadn’t finished with Eadric yet because he’d wanted to make an example of him. He’d wanted every hybrid watching to see that even with Soltor cheating, Lorian would refuse to use his own magic.

Because he didn’t need to.

He slashed with his sword, his speed and aim breathtaking as the tip of his sword cut a path across Eadric’s face. Eadric screamed, clutching one hand to his ruined cheek.

“This is also for Cavis.”

As Lorian carved into him, again and again, the way Soltor had cut both Cavis and himself, Eadric’s words played through my head, his voice a low taunt.

“You’re sitting there, half drugged, clamped in fae iron, yet you’re actively planning my murder, aren’t you?”

Lorian sliced Eadric’s arm. Eadric roared and launched himself at him.

“You just don’t know when to yield, do you?”

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