Chapter 41 · Blood on the Golden Seat

"Do not let it touch the throne."

Seraphina drove her sword through the abomination's shoulder and shoved with both hands.

The thing did not move.

Its arm came around, huge and plated in gold, and caught her across the ribs. She flew sideways, hit the marble steps, and rolled hard enough to crack one of the white tiles beneath her.

"Seraphina!"

"I'm standing. Kill it."

Raven ducked under a sweeping claw. The hooked fingers ripped through the air where his head had been, close enough to tug his hair. He came up inside the creature's reach and buried his ash-black blade in its knee.

The blade sank three inches.

Then the metal around the wound sealed itself.

Raven pulled free and backed away. "That is new."

"You noticed?" Seraphina pushed herself up with one hand. Her other arm hung close to her side. Blood had already soaked through the white-and-gold plates over her ribs. "I was worried you might be distracted."

The abomination turned toward them.

It had once been a holy guardian. Raven could still see the shape of a knight beneath the corruption: broad shoulders, a ceremonial mantle, a crown-like helm. But the thing had grown wrong.