“When they brought Estevan Rhodipus to his knees,” he whispered. “I saw fear in the great warrior.”

“You lie.” Hot tears burned her eyes.

“Callum.” One of the other rebels said in warning. “Let’s just put her out of the palace.”

“No.” Callum’s grip tightened on Helena’s wrist until she feared it would break. “She should hear what happens to those who betray Madra. Then you can go into the city and tell others what their disobedience gets them.”

She ground her teeth against the pain. “You’re the traitors.”

Callum shook his head. “Oh, you should have seen it. The princess… we always knew she must have a pretty face beneath that mask, but she looked like an angel as her own brother took her life.”

The words ricocheted through her mind. The princess? Every word they said was a lie. They had to be. Maybe Stev and Kass were okay after all.

White-hot rage rose from the darkest pits of her soul, burning out every bit of mercy she had inside her. She twisted her wrist so suddenly he released her.

Without hesitation, she lunged for him, burying her knife in the soft flesh above his collarbone. Blood gurgled from his lips as strong hands pulled her away and shouts erupted.

Callum stumbled back before falling against the wall and sliding to the ground. He didn’t move again.

Astor wrapped an arm around Helena’s neck while the other guard drew his sword. The rebel who’d arrived with Callum bent to check his pulse.

“She killed him,” he said, surprise tingeing his voice.

Helena strained against Astor’s hold, jerking her head back to crack it against his chin. His arms only tightened as a curse left his mouth.

The second guard closed in as he brought his sword up to press the tip to Helena’s chest. All breath left her as the seconds ticked by.

She lifted her eyes to meet her captors’ in defiance. If this was how it ended, she would not make it easy. The other plain-clothed rebel watched with eagerness flashing across his face.

Was this a game to them?

Did the rebels take joy in destroying everything her family had built?

She kicked her heel back, connecting with Astor’s leg above his kneecap.

“Dammit,” he growled, his warm breath blowing across her neck.

The next words that left his mouth were so quiet, she almost thought she imagined them.

“Trust me.”

Trust him? Trust him?

He had to be kidding.

“We’re not killing the girl,” Astor said.

The rebel stood and backed away from his dead friend on the ground. “She killed Callum,” he growled. “Are you telling me her life is worth more than his?”

Astor paused, frozen for only a moment in time, before he shoved her to the side, knocked away the other guard’s blade and pulled his own. “I’m saying it’s worth more than yours.”