Page 189 of The Last Guardian

Footsteps followed closely behind, skittering to catch us as we reached a staircase.

We rushed, climbing down, again and again, the race knocking the breath out of our lungs as Zaid’s hand tightened around mine in a strong grasp. The stairs were endless, like the corridor of death leading us to our doom.

And when we finally reached the last stair, before I could ever sigh a breath of relief, a flash of steel struck us, and we jumped back.

Zaid’s hand tightened against his pommel as he drew his sword; the blade flared with black flames, and a clash of metal against metal echoed around us. Zaid charged at the creature—a mouthless creature.

I tried to reach for the power that had risen as flames, but in a heartbeat, someone grabbed me from behind, knocking the air out of my lungs.

Haedeon’s bony fingers curled around my neck, depriving me of breath. His nails pressed against my throat, already soaked with my blood—sucking my blood.

“Stop!” Haedeon snarled. His voice echoed in the cave.

Zaid stilled, taking the monster without a mouth by the neck, his black sword blistering on its throat.

Zaidkiel looked like death itself. “Release her, now!” he ordered. His eyes darkened, igniting the green with flames.

Haedeon laughed; the vibration touched my back. Even with all my might, no single drop of power came from my hands.

“You know, if she had chosen us, I would have no reason to kill her,” Haedeon said, his breath brushing my skin. “Isn’t that why you changed your mind about her? Because she can choose sides in this war, after all.”

Zaid’s eyes flickered, drifting between Haedeon and me.

Changed his mind?

My blood raced in my veins, drumming in my heart. “What is he talking about?” I asked, staring at Zaid.

Zaid didn’t look at me—his entire body went still. His knuckles around the pommel of his sword went white.

“Oh, she doesn’t know,” Haedeon suggested, his voice barely concealing a smirk. “Should I tell her, Assassin?”

“Why does he keep calling you that?” I insisted.

Zaid remained quiet once more. My chest tightened.

“Do you know about the mark?” Haedeon shifted his grip as he took my wrist. “What it means?”

My legs went weak as my eyes bored into Zaid, who said nothing. His jaw clenched.

Rolling up my sleeves to show the mark, Haedeon declared, “The Mark of the Order.”

My heart missed a beat. My legs trembled. My whole body shook, from my bones to my blood. I never⁠—

“I’m curious, though: how did the other members of the Order react when you decided not to kill her? They must have been disappointed, considering you all voted to end her life.”

Everything stopped.

My breath, my heart. Time. The world.

My gaze found Zaid the moment the words echoed. I shook my head in disbelief.

No.

No.

It couldn’t…

Everything came back in full force. The moment I saw Zaidkiel for the first time. Each time I had asked about the mark, his dismissiveness…