KAELIX POV
The fire magic hit me square in the chest.
I staggered back, shadows flickering. Weaker than they should be. The curse was strangling my power with every spell I cast.
"Is that all you've got, Shadow Lord?" the assassin taunted. "You look like you can barely stand."
He wasn't wrong. My chest burned where the curse mark had spread further. Black veins crawled up my throat now. I could taste death.
But Elara was behind me. In my chambers. Vulnerable.
"Come on then," I growled, pulling darkness from the corners. "Let's see how brave you are."
I shaped the shadows into blades and sent them flying.
Two assassins fell, choking on darkness.
Six left.
"He's weakening!" one of them shouted. "Press the attack!"
They rushed me together. Light magic, fire, blades of pure energy. I dodged, countered, fought with everything I had.
Another fell. Five left.
"Why are you even protecting her?" one of them asked, circling me. "She's nothing. Just some half-breed mongrel."
My shadows flared with rage. "She's mine."
"Is she worth dying for?"
"Yes."
The word surprised me. But it was true.
I lunged, shadows wrapping around his throat. He clawed at them, fire sputtering out. I didn't let go until he stopped moving.
Four left.
"He's barely standing," one of them said. "All together!"
They attacked as one.
I fought. Pulled every scrap of shadow magic I could muster. The curse screamed in protest, black veins spreading faster across my skin.
I killed one more. Three left.
But I was dying. My vision was darkening. My legs wouldn't hold much longer.
The assassins knew it. They grinned, sensing victory.
"Any last words, Shadow Lord?"
"Yes," I panted. "Duck."
"What..."
Green light exploded down the corridor.
Vines erupted from the stone floor, impossible, but real. They wrapped around the assassins, lifting them off their feet. Thorns tore through armor and flesh like paper.
The assassins screamed. The vines kept tightening, growing, until the screaming stopped.
I turned.
Elara stood at the entrance to my chambers. Her eyes glowed silver-green. Wild Court magic poured from her in waves, the silver veins under her skin blazing like lightning.
She looked terrified.
And magnificent.
Then the magic stopped. She swayed, started to collapse.
I caught her before she hit the ground.
"I killed them," she gasped, hyperventilating. "Oh gods, I killed them. I didn't mean to...there was one in your chambers and the magic just...I couldn't stop..."
"Breathe," I commanded, holding her tight. "Elara, breathe."
"I'm a murderer."
"You're a survivor. There's a difference."
She pulled back to look at me, pupils dilated with shock. "You're hurt."
"I'm fine."
"No you're not." Her hands moved to my chest, to the curse mark visible through my torn shirt. "I can feel it through the bond. You're in so much pain."
I was. Every breath hurt. Every heartbeat was agony. The curse was eating me alive.
"Don't worry about me," I said.
"How can I not?" Her voice cracked. "If you die, I die too. The bond, remember?"
"I remember."
"So you weren't just protecting me. You were protecting yourself."
"Both. I was protecting both of us."
"How noble," she said with bitter sarcasm.
But her hands stayed on my chest. And warmth spread from her palms into my skin, her magic, untrained but powerful, soothing the curse pain just a little.
I hissed in relief.
"What was that?" she asked.
"Your magic. It's helping. Wild Court magic is life magic. Growth. Healing. It opposes death curses."
"I don't know how I did it."
"You will. I'll teach you."
"My lord!" Lysander and Ravyn appeared, leading shadow warriors. "Are you...gods, what happened here?"
"Light Court assassins," I said, still holding Elara. "About a dozen."
Ravyn surveyed the bodies, some killed by shadows, others by vines. Her eyes went to Elara. "She did that?"
"Yes."
"Impressive." Ravyn's tone was calculating.
"Though untrained magic like that is dangerous. To everyone, including herself."
"I know."
"We cleared the outer defenses," Lysander said. "But there are more coming. This was just the first wave."
"How many more?"
"At least a hundred. Maybe more. Full Light Court assault." He looked at Elara. "She's what they want?"
"Yes."
Ravyn crossed her arms. "Then maybe we should give her to them. One girl isn't worth starting a war."
Elara stiffened in my arms. I felt fury spike through our bond.
"She's not going anywhere," I said coldly.
"With respect, my lord, you're dying. You can barely stand. How long can you protect her?"
"As long as it takes."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only answer you're getting." I pulled Elara closer. "She's under my protection. Anyone who touches her answers to me."
Ravyn stared at me for a long moment. Then sighed. "You've bonded with her. Actually bonded."
"The ritual created a connection."
"I can see that." She looked between us. "This complicates things."
"Life is complicated," I said. "We deal with it."
"Fine. But we need to fortify defenses. Seal the palace. Call in every warrior." She paused. "And she needs training. Fast. That magic nearly killed her along with the assassins."
"I'll train her."
"You're dying."
"Not today. Today I'm too angry to die."
Lysander cleared his throat. "We should move to the defensible parts of the palace. Lady Seraphine will be here within the hour."
"Seraphine herself?" I asked.
"Leading the assault personally."
Of course she was.
We started moving. Elara walked beside me, still shaking from her first kill. Through the bond, I felt her fear, her confusion, her horror at what she'd done.
Also her determination. She wasn't breaking.
Not yet.
"Kaelix?" she said quietly.
"Yes?"
"Thank you. For not forcing me during the ritual. For stopping."
"You shouldn't have to thank me for basic decency."
"Maybe not. But I do anyway."
We reached the main hall. Through the windows, I could see them coming. Hundreds of Light Court soldiers in golden armor. At their head rode Seraphine, beautiful and terrible and insane.
She saw me in the window. Smiled.
Then raised her hand.
The assault began.
Magic slammed into the wards. The palace shook.
"Hold the line!" Ravyn shouted.
Shadow warriors took positions. Elara gripped my hand.
"What do we do?" she asked.
"We fight."
"For how long?"
"Until they give up or we're all dead. Whichever comes first."
A message arrow struck the wall beside us. I pulled it free, read it, then handed it to Elara.
"Return the Wild Court heir or every court will declare war," she read aloud. "You have three days. - Lady Seraphine."
She looked up at me. "Do we have three days?"
"I don't know. Maybe. If we're lucky."
"And if we're not lucky?"
"Then we make our own luck."
Another blast rocked the building. Elara stumbled. I caught her.
"Stay close to me," I said. "No matter what happens."
"The bond won't let me go far anyway."
"Right."
But we both knew that wasn't the only reason.
Somewhere between buying her and saving her, between trying to kill her and protecting her, she'd become mine to guard. Not as property. As something else.
Something I didn't have a name for yet.
The palace shook again. Seraphine's forces were relentless.
"Kaelix?" Elara said.
"Yes?"
"I'm scared."
"I know."
"Are we going to die?"
I looked at her. At this girl who'd been ready to die three days ago. Who'd killed for the first time an hour ago. Who was standing here now, choosing to fight beside me.
"Not if I can help it," I promised.
"That's not very reassuring."
"It's the best I can offer."
She nodded. Then, surprising me, she stood on her toes and kissed my cheek.
"Then let's fight," she said.
Outside, the army attacked again.
And inside, two unlikely allies prepared for war.