Page 106 of Of Stars and Lightning
Thirty Four
TO SURVIVE
THE FIRST THINGSol could think to do was elbow Ezra in the stomach. She put her entire, adrenaline-fueled strength into the move, then let herself fall to the ground, hoping the sudden shift in weight would throw the man off balance.
As he released her, Sol made a mental note to give Leo the biggest hug whenever—if ever—she saw him again, for teaching her basic self-defense skills during their childhood.
She crawled away from the Earth Caller and swirled to face him. Ezra’s clothes were singed and smoke-stained, even after the quick but fierce deluge Cade had called.
Now, in the silence after the storm, Sol stared at the man, calculating her best chance for survival. The wind had slowed, rolling into soft caresses. Dirt swirled in tendrils around them, sending leaves adrift within it. She stood, unwilling to seem small before him.
The cliff they stood on wasn’t wide enough for her to back away without the threat of falling, and Ezra cleverly positioned himself before the opening to the exit.
He angled his head, the motion mixed with the mess of blood and ash on him making him an utter terror. “I was planning on taking us to the end, you know.” He chuckled humorlessly and sheathed his sword. “But seeing your attitude, I think I’d rather just get rid of you and take the benefits of a Semmena court mate instead.”
Sol shrugged, trying her best to seem calm between uncontrollable tremors. “You’ll likely fit in better there anyway.”
His eyes flashed. “Careful, Princess. There’s no one to save you here.”
“Good.” A smile pulled at her lips, ignited by vengeance. “Because if anyone is going to put you in your place, it’s going to be me.”
Bold words, dove.
Sol flinched. She looked down at the palm that held her dagger. The scar there flared red, and she could feel the blood pumping beneath her skin.
“What the??—”
The distraction cost her.
Ezra slammed into her, throwing her down to the ground with merciless force. All the air left her as her back collided with the rock, the distinct taste of copper filling her mouth.
Breathlessly, she spit it out. “Coward.”
Ezra laughed. “You would’ve made a terrible Queen, just like Irene.” He retrieved a dagger from his belt, pressing it against the center of her chest. “Such a shame.” He pinned her with a straddle, pressing his inner thighs to her hips, making her unable to shift beneath him. “A waste of a pretty face.”
Panic gripped her as she fought to breathe and escape him simultaneously, especially as his eyes glazed over in a way she knew all too well.
Ezra replaced his blade with his palm. “The only thing I regret is that Xanthos won’t be here to watch.”
Fight, Soleil.
Again, the disembodied voice echoed in her ears, as if it was both within her and around her all at once. Her hand burned. Realization struck that she still held her dagger and Ezra had underestimated her, so she crushed it into his exposed side.
Ezra fell from atop her with a yell, frantically pulling at the blade as Sol rolled sideways and away from his grasp.
“You bitch.” The clatter of her blade on the ground was enough to tell her the injury was nothing crucial, and she was now withouta weapon.
Still, she stood and faced him. She would fight, even with just her fists.
For Zeri, who had no chance to.
Let me in, dove, the voice sang. Let me end him.
This time, the voice was familiar. Slightly different, but clearly Lora.
Sol pressed her hand to her chest, not quite knowing if to respond or if she was in such a stressful situation she had merely gone insane.
She barely saw Ezra lunge again, this time bringing his dagger forward at a ferocious speed Sol couldn’t completely avoid. The blade slashed her exposed chest in a diagonal gash across her collarbone. Biting her tongue to keep from screaming, she evaded his next maneuver, landing on her stomach nearly at the edge of the cliff.
