Page 39 of When Storms Ruin

The creatures body slid to the ground and disappeared in a cloud of smoke. The figure deftly jumped to the ground and rolled, never losing grip of their sword.

I raised my eyes to theirs, my brow furrowing in confusion.

What was he doing here?

He had saved my life. He could easily have let that monster consume me…but he hadn’t.

And I wanted to know why.

“What are you doing here, Tyr?”

“You’dbetter start talking, or it will beyourhead that is sliced clean off next,” Nik seethed, his sword pointed at the back of Tyr’s neck.

Tyr lifted his arms and turned slowly, meeting Nik’s furious gaze.

“I just saved her life.” He gestured towards me where I still lay in a heap on the ground, covered in the black, thick liquid I believed to be the blood of those creatures.

“And you almost lost it once before. Talk. Now.”

Nik’s tone brooked no argument. Tyr glanced between the two of us before deciding he had a better chance of reasoning with me. Nik never lowered his sword.

“I came to warn you, but it appears I almost didn’t make it in time. Donika sent these creatures after you. They’re the product of her blood magic, they are dark, magical beings. And they aren’t the only ones, she is working on more,” Tyr said.

“Why would you come to warn me?” I asked, my brow furrowing in confusion.

I got to me feet and dusted off my pants, now ruined with blood and grime. I bent to retrieve Stormslayer, securing it back to my thigh.

“We got off on the wrong foot…” Tyr started.

“That’s the understatement of the century,” Puck replied as he joined us, grabbing Tyr around the back of the neck and motioning for Nik to lower his sword.

Tyr was far outnumbered.

“What I mean to say is, I amnotan ally of Donika. I never was, and I never will be. I didn’t go to her willingly with the information that you were in Istmere,” Tyr explained.

“That doesn’t explain how she got the information, then, does it?” Nik asked, cocking his head to the side.

“She tortured it out of me.”

Tyr met Nik’s gaze with a cold glare of his own.

“And you sold out your cousin to die at the hands of that psychopath, it was that easy?” Nik replied, taking a step closer.

Puck shot him a warning glare, his grip still firm on Tyr.

“No, it wasn’t that easy. I didn’t want to tell her. She threatened my mother, she threatened my family. I never wanted to betray Diana. I have feltawfulabout what I have done.”

“I’m sure you have,” Puck replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

“I am telling the truth. I heard things, when I was at the castle. Things about the creatures she is creating. Themoment I was free I came straight to find you, which proved quite difficult.”

Tyr wiped the sweat from his forehead and turned to me with a pleading gaze. “I never meant to hurt you, Diana, I support your claim to the throne. I came here to warn you as soon as I could.”

“Bullshit,” Nik spat, taking another step closer, his grip on the hilt of his sword so tight his knuckles were white.

“He saved my life. We at least have to bring this decision back to Isaac and Liss,” I offered, my palm out as if to stop him. “The council has a say in this.”

“And I am a member of said council,” Nik pointed out, his eyes narrowing.

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