Page 172 of A Queen This Fierce and Deadly

Someone was suddenly hauling me to my feet. My shot went wide, and I cursed. Demos’s face appeared in front of mine.

“It’s time,” he said. “We have to fall back. Most of the hybrids should be through the pass now. Herne made sure Tibris left earlier. When you get to the end, ensure any who haven’t made it to the tunnel are well hidden in the caves.”

I nodded. Then I froze.

“WhenIget to the end?”

“In this light, with the higher ground, a few good soldiers can hold that entrance for hours.”

Terror engulfed me, almost taking me to my knees. Clearly, Demos had designated himself as one of those good soldiers.

“I’m a good soldier,” I croaked out.

Demos’s smile was slow, wicked, and entirely inappropriate. “Youarea good soldier,” he purred.

I snarled at him. “I know what you’re doing.” Once again, he was attempting to distract me. But he couldn’t distract me from the thought of him standing just a few footspans into the pass, with an entire regiment attacking him.

The corner of his mouth kicked up. “It was always going to happen this way, Sin.”

I made a tiny, broken noise, and Demos pulled me into his arms. He didn’t give me any false assurances, though. Instead, he practically dragged me toward the pass. Clearly, he’d given up cajoling me and was movingstraight into pushy, domineering arrogance.

I wasn’t surprised. This kind of behavior came much more naturally to him.

“You’re going to do this, Asinia.” His voice was grim. “You’re going to live through this war. And if I’m not around, you’re going to find a man who makes you happy. You’re going to become a renowned seamstress and have children who look exactly like you, and you’re going to live a long life filled with peace and happiness.”

“You fucking bastard,” I choked out. “Howdareyou?”

Demos waited for a group of other archers to sprint past, and then he continued yanking me after them.

“I can walk,” I snarled.

He released me. “Good. Go.”

I couldn’t resist kicking Demos in the shin. His brows drew together, and he suddenly looked pained— as if my boot had been made of lead—but he pointed at the pass. My throat thickened until it felt as if I couldn’t take a full breath. But Demos was standing defenseless, watching me, and the Eprothan soldiers were still coming.

Without another word, I went.

My rage lasted for approximately three minutes.

I knew Demos well enough to know he’d planned for that rage to last for the hours it would take me to traverse the pass. He’d imagined I’d burn through that rage all night, using it to drive me forward.

If I’d been Prisca or Madinia, perhaps it would have.

But I’d spent most of my childhood carefully sewing perfect stitches in the corner of our main room, while wealthier humans sneered at the home my mother hadmade. While they talked relentlessly of how the corrupt would die.

If I’d allowed myself to bask in my rage, it would have burned me alive long before Regner ever got the chance.

I’d gotten very good at tucking that rage away to examine later.

So, I would do that now. But oh, Demos was going to be very unhappy when we took that rage back out to look at together.

Taking a long, slow breath, I focused on why he wanted me gone—to save my life—and what I needed to do to save his.

He’d been right about one thing. The mouth of the pass was narrow enough that only four or five people could walk side by side. Here, the mountains were so close, it felt as if I could reach my arms out and touch both of them on either side.

As I hesitated, a group of soldiers ran past me. I recognized one of them as the archer who’d called out for the woman who had died on the front lines. His eyes were red, his face swollen. And yet he offered me a gentle smile.

“I know you’re scared,” he said. “But you have to move forward.”

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