Page 102 of A Warrior's Heart
When James learned I wasn’t Lorcan, he would have no use for me. It went without saying that I wouldn’t survive the night.
Malik accepted the ring and clenched it in his fist before kissing me again.
“We have to move,” Reif said, his gruff voice raspier than usual as he looked at me. “Whatever you plan to do needs to be now.”
“No,” Malik softly whined as I tried to leave his arms. And damn if that didn’t cause a crack in my chest. He buried his face in my hair. “Please don’t do this, Troy. We can fight our way out.”
“The mission comes first, right?” I nuzzled his jaw. “King Triton told you to retrieve the trident and return to Avalontis. You can’t do that if you die here, Mal.”
“Damn the mission.”
“Then do it for Lorcan.” I met his watery gaze. “You swore an oath long ago to protect the prince. To guard him with your life.”
“Mylife,” Malik growled. “Not yours.”
“Lose me or lose us both. Those are your only choices.” I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him hard on the mouth before pulling away, tears slipping from my eyes as I did. I went over to Alek. “Hurry.”
Alek squeezed my shoulder. “Thank you.”
“Lorcan is too important to fall to the enemy’s hands.” I looked over at Lor and grabbed his hand. He was crying. “Win this war for me. Make this bastard pay for what he’s done.”
Lorcan choked on a sob and threw his arms around me.
Memories of our childhood flashed through my head. He had been a brother to me. Anytime I was scared, he held me. He and Malik both. I was doing this for them.
Alek’s eyes glowed as he ran his hand over my hair. The light brown strands lengthened and turned silver. Like the moon. He then touched my face. I didn’t feel any different, but when I looked at Lorcan, his eyes widened.
“It’s like looking in a mirror,” he said.
“I’m nearly done.” Alek focused on the stick I held. His jaw clenched as he waved his hand over it. The wood transitioned to gold, and it felt heavier in my grip. It would pass for the real thing. At least until the people I loved were far enough away.
“Will the illusion hold once you’re gone?” I asked.
“It should,” Alek answered. “As long as I stay focused, it doesn’t matter if you’re in my sight or not.”
I turned around and met Malik’s heartbroken stare. Words failed me. Saying goodbye to him… how would I even begin? He was the love of my life. Regret gripped my heart. I should’ve told him how I felt sooner, so we would’ve had more time. More kisses. More everything.
Holding his gaze, I took a step back, then another. When he stepped toward me, Reif held him back. Finally, I tore my eyes from him and took off in the other direction.
“Troy!” he called after me, his voice cracking.
Tears blurred my vision as I turned the corner and ran right in front of the enemy soldiers.
Chapter Twenty-One
Malik
I couldn’t stop him.
I stared after Troy with a hole in my chest.
“Don’t let his sacrifice go to waste, brother.” Reif touched my arm. “We have to move. This is our only chance.”
“There he is!” one of the soldiers shouted in the distance as they spotted Troy. “He has the trident. After him!”
Troy led them away from the water and into the woods. With my vision blurring, I stepped that way, prepared to follow him. Even if it meant my death.
“Now’s our only chance,” Reif said before springing forward.
