Page 155 of Esperance

Jayveh’s face was streaked with blood and tears, and she gripped the knife like it was a lifeline. “Please don’t do this.”

Regret slashed through him. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.

Tam twisted the knife again, making Argent grunt. “Follow us or try to stop us, and I’ll gut him in front of you.” She pulled him back down the aisle, and the last thing Amryn felt from Argent before he was forced away was a soul-deep peace.

It was buried in Jayveh’s grief, rage, and helplessness. “We need help,” Jayveh seethed. “Someone to stop her at the gate—she’ll kill him as soon as she no longer needs him.” She started moving.

“Wait!” Amryn snatched her wrist and held up the vial. “You need to drink this. The baby—”

Jayveh’s eyes burned. “I—I think the baby’s already gone. I was kicked, and . . .”

Amryn’s stomach dropped. She could feel Jayveh’s pain—her body was covered in it. But there, buried in her womb, was a gnawing, tearing pang.

The babywasdying. The poison had weakened the baby, and Tam’s knife hadn’t helped, but Amryn could feel the bruising already starting around Jayveh’s stomach. The kick must have been brutal.

That baby wasn’t going to survive. Even Amryn’s healing abilities wouldn’t be strong enough to keep that small soul in its tiny body.

Tears stung Amryn’s eyes. “Jayveh—”

The princess wrapped Amryn’s fingers around the vial, and her gaze was fierce. “If there’s only one antidote, Argent gets it—even if I have to pour it down his throat.”

Chapter 40

Carver

Carver bypassed the bodies strewnon the floor in front of the open library doors. He darted blindly into the room, heedless of the danger. He craved it.Neededit.

If there was someone to fight, it meant he wasn’t too late.

His gut was burning, and he was dizzy. The poison was taking its toll, but he shoved all that aside as he scanned the room.

More bodies were stretched out on the floor among the study tables, and Ford muttered a curse beside him.

He didn’t see Amryn among the dead. Or Argent, or Jayveh.

Or Tam.

“Spread out,” Carver ordered.

None of them made it far before footsteps pounded toward them.

Every guard tensed and looked toward the hulking bookshelves.

Amryn and Jayveh—both of them bleeding and disheveled—burst out from between the shelves.

Relief slammed into him.

Amryn spotted him first. “Carver!”

He ran to her.

As soon as he reached them, Jayveh snatched his arm. “Argent,” she gasped. “Tam has Argent. Did you see them?”

Panic cut him. “No, the halls were empty.”

“Is there another way out of this library?” Ford demanded.

“Y-yes,” a weak voice croaked.

---