Page 206 of War Queen
Cyrus struck Mikael’s sword from his hand, and Mikael dragged himself farther backward, the arrow still protruding from his side.
Soren settled his sight on the Raelean king and steadied his breath to steady his hand.
“What are you waiting for?” she screamed from behind him.
He’d promised Salara he’d take the opportunity when he had it. And he had it. But he couldn’t. He couldn’t do it.
It gutted him.
“Stop him!” The terror in her voice was another dagger to his heart.
His hand burned to release the spear—the spear that would save his brother, the spear that would end it all. But it would also end Salara. He couldn’t do it.
“Soren!” she screamed. “Do it!”
Cyrus swung his sword above his head, and Soren bared his teeth as he wept, but he still couldn’t throw it. Anguish ripped from his throat.
Cyrus’s sword gleamed, as if celebrating its want for blood—celebrating that it was about to take the head of a king.
The Blood King held it high.
But it didn’t come down.
Cyrus wavered. Then he stumbled sideways, swaying.
Soren’s brows dipped. What was happening?
Then the Blood King staggered backward as he let go of his raised sword, and it fell to the ground behind him. He clawed at his chest, looking down as blood poured from underneath his ribbed breastplate. But there was no weapon. Nothing had struck him.
Cyrus sank to his knees.
Soren could only stare as confusion flooded him. There was nothing—
His heart stopped, and he glanced back at Salara.
He gaped in horror.
She stood unsteadily, with her hand wrapped around the hilt of a dagger protruding from just below her breast.
“No,” he mouthed as he dropped his spear and raced toward her. Then his voice broke with a thunder. “No!”
“Norah!” Phillip yelled, but he was still fighting back Raelean soldiers in the thick of the battle around them.
Soren reached her just as she fell forward to her knees, and he caught her in his arms. “Salara!”
Her mouth moved, but no words came out.
Stupid woman.Stupid, stupid woman. “What did you do!” he raged at her. “What did you fucking do?”
She frowned as tears stippled the corners of her eyes, and then she tried to smile. “I think you’re getting blind as you age,” she answered between gasps.
“I’m sorry,” he begged. “I couldn’t do it. I’m so sorry.”
She shook her head. “I should have never asked you to.”
Soren wept as he pulled her into his arms, ignoring the searing pain in his shoulder. He had to get her to Mikael.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
