Page 91 of The Kingdom's Reckoning
"Oh, you’re going to regret that," the man spat.
Metal crashed against metal, each man grunting. Insults passed between Laurince and the assailant as they battled. But Myra was still blindfolded. She couldn’t see anything. She couldn’t tell who was winning or losing. Frantically, she scooted back, ignoring the weight pressing against her side. She shifted, sliding her head against the bark. The blindfold didn’t budge. Allher frazzled movements did was irritate the lump on her skull and snag her hair.
Someone hissed in pain. Her stomach lurched. She could have sworn it was Laurince, the sound all too similar to when he fought Mynhos in Ardentol.
Her movements became more frantic.
Myra ignored the pain lacing the back of her head, the heat emanating from the rope, and the warmth seeping into her clothes. She tried to wiggle free of the restraints, twisting and yanking. She attempted to saw through the restraints using the bark of the tree. Every time she moved, though, her right shoulder screamed in protest. Still, she forced herself to push through.
Then she heard it: a gut-wrenching, wet sound of a sword sliding through someone’s chest, the crack of ribs, and the squelch of blood spilling onto the ground.
Time stood still.
She didn’t know if she was breathing or if she even could. She could have sworn her heart stopped as she thought of Laurince lying dead on the ground, of his sweet smile forever fading into the distance, never to be seen again.
She was going to be sick.
She was going to?—
Her blindfold was yanked from her eyes, and the sun blinded her, blurring her vision. She peered through water-stained eyes. The figure before her was too foggy and bright to see clearly. Then he spoke.
"I got you, Haze."
The sob ripped through her.
Laurince wiped away a stream of tears with his thumbs, the pads rough yet gentle against her skin. The gesture was useless, though, as more tears came. Her anxiety and fear were an unstoppable flood.
Hushed words spilled from Laurince’s mouth, but Myra barely heard them. She absentmindedly felt him reach around her. She faintly heard his blade slice through the rope, setting her free.
Unable to control her body, Myra crashed against his chest. She melted into a puddle against him, the pain of her shoulder, the wound on her inner thigh, and the burn around her wrists barely even a second thought. Tears rocked her entire form, but she didn’t care how much of a mess she must have looked, not as Laurince wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer to his chest.
"You’re safe with me. I promise," he whispered. Weaving his fingers through her damp hair, he cradled her head in his palm.
Myra hissed on contact, the bump on her head still sore.
"Shit, Haze. I’m sorry," Laurince muttered, instantly removing his hand. "If they weren’t dead already, I’d kill them again."
Myra pulled back slightly. At the bottom of her vision, the grass was stained red, her trousers splattered with blood.
"No, don’t look over there." Laurince said, guiding her chin back toward him. "Look at me." His eyes danced across her features as he caressed the side of her face. His thumb slid across her cheek tenderly. A million unspoken words seemed to cross his face. His lips parted, but then snapped shut.
He had killed them.
He had ended their lives to savehers.
She didn’t know how to feel about that. Her sense of morality, which, granted, was tainted, told her she shouldn’t have been relieved. Yet when she considered the other outcome…
Shaking, Myra asked, voice hoarse, "Where’s Rian?"
Laurince stiffened. His hold on her loosened, and his thumb halted its calming movement. "He’s safe, too. Don’t worry," hesaid, dropping his hand. The space where his hand had been instantly grew cold. He leaned back, putting distance between them.
Myra silently cursed, realizing her mistake. Still, she didn’t have the energy to correct herself.
"He wanted to come, but I told him not to." Laurince stood, brushing the dirt from his knees.
As he did, Myra nodded but stopped when her vision blurred.
"Good," she said, chewing her bottom lip. "That’s good. They…" Myra’s gaze instinctively slid toward the man’s body, but Laurince moved, shielding her from him. It was a small gesture, but one she was grateful for. She had seen death before, but it always shook her. "They were after him."
