Page 76 of When Storms Ruin

I had survived Nik’s betrayal.

I would survive this, too.

I set my chin, resolute. I didn’t want to be responsible for killinganyonein this war, but there was no way I would make it out without getting my hands bloody. Fletcher would either kill me or bring me back to Donika.

It was kill or be killed…and I was a survivor. A fighter.

I was the rightful heir to the throne of Istmere, and I would not fall in battle today.

I spun, my auburn hair cascading around me as I kicked Fletcher in the side, my blade slicing through his chest as he staggered back. I grunted as I kept coming without mercy. I was lucky he hadn’t chosen to wear armor today, whether it be arrogance or stupidity, I was thankful. I came at him again.

I kicked out once more, pushing him back. Stormslayer sang through the air and sliced his arm, Fletcher pulling back with a hiss. I pushed him back again.

Again.

Again.

A wild expression clouded Fletcher’s features as he fell, his dagger sliding away from him into the rubble of what had once been the safe house. His eyes were wide as I heldStormslayer over my head with both hands, poised to bring it down.

One moment my vision was filled with smoke and ash, Fletcher’s body kneeling in the rubble before me. In the next, a vision passed before my eyes.

Donika standing before my mother, her sword poised over her body. Her eyes were dark, bottomless. She smirked, bringing the sword down with all her strength.

“Diana!”

Nik’s voice cut across the battle and my eyes came back into focus, searching for him. My grip on the dagger relaxed ever so slightly. Nik was racing towards me, soot and dirt smeared across his face, his blue eyes wild and terrified. He cut down a Nightshade soldier in his path with nothing but a thrust of his sword as he pushed through the crowd of bodies.

In the moment I had glanced away, the moment the vision had flashed before my eyes, Fletcher had found his feet again.

And his sword hand was empty.

He looked at me with…was that pity? His eyes almost… sad. No, that wasn’t right. My brow creased in confusion. I didn’t understand.

Not until I felt the searing pain in my chest where his dagger was buried.

My mouth fell open as my arms dropped to my sides, Stormslayer clanging against the ground as it fell from my grip. Fletcher’s dagger was buried in my left shoulder, so close to my heart. My eyes snapped up to his, and I shrunk back at his expression, his teeth bared in an angry snarl. Hot blood pooled against the material of my tunic. I reached upand grabbed the dagger with both hands, sliding it free as I ground my teeth against the pain.

The dagger tumbled to the ground as I fell to my knees, a cloud of soot whirling through the air around me.

“Diana!”

Nik’s voice was in my ears again, but my vision swam before me.

I couldn’t find him.

I couldn’t see anything.

I blinked back the tears that clouded my vision and Fletcher peered down at me as my hand went to my chest to stop the bleeding.

I could hear another voice, calling out my name, but I couldn’t place it. I heard it over and over as it came closer, and Fletcher bent to pick up a sword among the rubble.

Where was Tess? Puck?

I wanted to close my eyes, the pull so strong that I fell forwards, barely catching myself with my other hand. I pressed against my chest firmly, but the blood wouldn’t stop…it just kept coming. It dripped onto the stone beneath me, and I startled as it began to pool there.

I was dying.

I reached into the core of my magic, needing it desperately in this moment, and felt it whisper back softly.

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