Page 23 of The Crown of the Dark Prince
Dear Gods.
A desperate surge of power exploded from me, slamming into the beast’s chests. It staggered back a step—only one. But it was enough. I scrambled up, ignoring the searing pain in my ribs, my hands flying to my thigh—
For my dagger.
But it wasn’t there.
I hadn’t gone to sleep armed. The weapon that had become like an extension of me was still sitting in my bedchamber, useless.
Panic flared in my chest.
“Thea!”
Rankor’s voice cut through the chaos.
I turned toward the stands. He was standing, his broadsword gleaming in the light as he held it high in the air.
Then he threw it.
Without hesitation, I reached with my magic, pulling the heavy blade through the air, into my waiting grasp.
The Hydraxan lunged again.
I planted my feet, twisted my hips, and swung.
Steel met flesh.
A clean, perfect slice.
A severed head crashed to the ground.
Blood sprayed in thick, hot arcs, coating the mud, the air, my face. The beast shrieked—another screeching, ear-splitting howl that sent the crowd gasping, covering their ears.
But before I could even catch my breath, the flesh moved.
The raw, mangled stump twisted.
The tendons rippled.
The blood stopped pouring.
And then—a new head regrew.
I blinked and a deep, sinking horror settled in my gut.
Of course, it wouldn’t be that easy.
The beast turned back toward me, its many eyes narrowed. Great. I pissed it off.
Anger and frustration ignited inside me, hot and wild. I roared as I launched myself at the creature, hacking, slashing, unleashing every ounce of magic I had. I fought until I couldn’t feel the pain of my injuries, until beads of sweat poured down my face, until my ears stopped ringing and all I could hear was pure silence.
And it didn’t matter. Every strike was useless. Every wound healed. For every head I severed, another, angrier version replaced it.
I was burning through power quickly, blood pouring from my nose. And the Hydraxan wasn’t slowing down.
My stomach churned. How was I supposed to win a trial that involved killing something that couldn’t die?
I glanced toward the royal viewing box, desperate for a clue.
