Page 10 of A Crown of Tears and Treason
I wouldn’t allow anyone, especially my cousins, to risk their lives for me. I was ready to marry Fabrian and I’d face this Dragon, too, if I had to.
I stepped forward–I didn’t get far.
Fabrian’s mighty arms coiled around me, yanking me back into his chest. Then my “beloved” fiance and my supposed savior did the most stupid thing imaginable.
He pulled out a dagger and held it to my throat.
“One move and she dies.” His breath reeked of booze and spite.
The mighty Clan heir, hiding behind my skirts, threatening his blushing bride to shield his own miserable hide.
“Bastard,” Allegra hissed. “We all swore not to bring weapons today.”
She radiated rage. But it was nothing–nothing–compared to the darkness crowding the prince’s gaze. The sharp lines of his face shifted, turning more angular. A predator ready to strike.
My cousins tensed their shoulders, narrowed gazes promising revenge.
Fabrian truly was stupid. Not only had he angered The Dragon, the deadliest Clan heir on the continent, he’d pissed off my cousins, too.
Fabrian was not walking off this island alive.
But I would be the first to draw blood.
Chapter
Four
EVIE
Imight’ve spent most of my life shielded from Clan violence, but, before I was whisked away, grandpa Constantine had taught me the most important skill of all.
Survive.
Slow enough that Fabrian wouldn’t notice, my hand rose. Shaky fingers slipped past the jewels weighing me down, right toward the small pocket in my corset. I knew how to patch my own clothes–and how to unravel them.
The loose thread came apart easily. The steady handle of my trusty switchblade, the one present I still had from grandpa Constantine, felt like freedom in my palm.
Like Fabrian, I’d sworn not to be armed today. We’d both lied.
I had blue, cold Protectorate blood in my veins and it roared for justice.
Before Fabrian drew another fetid breath, I flicked the switchblade open. Nothing but relief rushed through me as Istuck the blade straight through his meaty, miserable hand that had probably taken countless lives.
Fabrian staggered back with a pitiful cry, and fell to his knees. He cradled his mangled hand, one of his snakeskin lapels soaking up the blood.
The Dragon took a menacing step forward. Allie lurched toward me and grabbed my hand.
The biggest vase near us, made out of cerulean ceramic and adorned with white lilies, shattered.
Allie had been standing right there a mere breath ago. I only had a fragment of relief she’d moved just in time before the arrows began to rain down.
Dozens, maybe hundreds of them darkened the skies, flying faster than my eyes could track. The Blood Brotherhood had brought hidden attackers to my wedding?
No, they hadn’t. Because the arrows hissed at everyone, not caring which body they impaled.
Protectorate, Blood Brotherhood, Serpents.
All of us became targets.
