Page 131 of White Raven

“No!” I struggled, feeling my reality slipping away, my body working against the terror pounding my heart. Don’t let them take you. Releasing all my fight, I went limp in the man’s grip as he tried to lift me, his fingers losing their grip. I hit the ground, the rocky dirt cutting into my knees.

“Fokking helvíti!” the man hissed. I dragged myself under the horse, crawling away. His hand circled my ankle, yanking me back.

A bearlike growl roared, and I twisted my head to see Bjørn swinging his double-bladed axe toward the guard. The hooded soldier quickly turned, fighting back, his attention leaving me.

Run, Wren!

I struggled to get on my feet, fighting the drug the man had forced on me.

“You are mine now.” A hand seized the back of my tunic. “The one who has you has all the power, right?” Glancing over my shoulder, I recognized him as one of Gavric’s high noblemen, a married man I met last night who kissed King Helvig’s ring and told us congratulations.

“Since you didn’t die last night . . .” His lip curled, dragging me toward the forest. “I’ll be the one who puts his seed in you first, becomes the new king.”

He was the one who tried to kill me?

“Some don’t want it healed . . . they like their power the way it is.”

He yanked me toward the edge of the clearing, his intentions clear what he’d do to me once he got me in the dense brush, away from eyes. I tried to scream, but nothing came out of my lips, the darkness creeping into my body and commandeering my mind.

A yelp came from behind me; the sound of flesh being sliced. I twisted my head over my shoulder. The man’s eyes were bulged in shock, the nobleman’s throat wide open, blood pooling out as he tried to claim a breath. He dropped into the dirt. A man with a knife stood behind him.

“Onyx.” A sob of relief barely made it out of my mouth, my legs giving out.

He dropped down next to me, his eyes scanning my figure. “Stay with me, kanin.”

“All this is for nothing . . . they are all dying for nothing.” My world hazed as I reached out to him.

“It’s not for nothing.” He gritted. “It is everything.”

“No, you don’t understand.” My mind and mouth no longer connected, my guilt peaking as people screamed out in death, their blood watering the dirt in sacrifice. “It’s all a lie.” I felt my head sinking into the ground, my lids drooping. Forms moved in behind him and I wanted to scream, to warn him, but nothing came out, except . . .

“The White Raven is already dead.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m not the real White Raven.” The confession fell from my lips with a weighty sigh. “Sarina was . . .” My lids shut, and the burden of my secret flew out of me like soaring raven wings, as I plunged into the darkness.

I had failed her.

“kanin!” His voice bellowed somewhere in the distance, but I slipped away.

Finally able to fly free.

To Be Continued . . .