Chapter 28 · The Living Blood

"Move that spear," I said, "or I'll break the hand holding it."

The blackstone soldier didn't blink.

Its spearhead pressed harder against my throat. Cold metal kissed skin, stealing the next breath.

Behind it, thirty more soldiers aimed their weapons at me. Their stone faces stayed blank as their armor clicked in perfect rhythm and the ring tightened around us.

Rafe jerked against the chains of black light wrapped around his chest. Blood slipped from the corner of his mouth.

"No." His voice cracked across the throne chamber. "Lower your weapons."

Nothing moved.

He pulled harder. "I said lower them!"

The spear bit into my throat. A thin line of blood crawled down my neck.

"Rafe." I kept my eyes on the soldier in front of me. "Your army's got a hearing problem."

"Helen, step toward me. Slowly."

"With spears aimed at my ribs? Great plan."

"I'm not planning. I'm trying to keep you alive."

"Then stop wearing that crown like it belongs to you."

His jaw locked.

The hidden crown sat against his dark hair, almost invisible except for the black lines crawling from it down his throat.