He sank to his knees, trying to stand but unable.

His vision narrowed.

Around him, Ironbloods uncurled themselves, looking at him in horror. But he could not make out what they said, nor did he care. Mellifare had the coordinates to her heart. They had tried to mislead her, buy Ana some time, but—not enough. It was never going to be enough time.

His fingers curled around the grass beneath him, blades springing between his fingers. He had been a part of Mellifare for months. How could he have let his emotions get in the way? The thought that they could defeat her? Outsmart her? It was never to be that simple.

He had been a monster. He should have thought like a mon—

“He saved us,” one of the Ironbloods said, helping her partner up. “The Emperor.”

Another said, “What did he just do?”

“. . . And he stopped the garden from falling! What is he? A Metal?—”

“—A monster—”

“He saved us.”

Slowly, he got to his feet again. He had to go after Mellifare.

“Jax.” He reached out a comm-link to the skysailer in question. “Mellifare is heading your—”

Suddenly, a lightsword slid between two of his metal ribs and came out the front, and a voice hissed in his ear, “This is for my mother.”

Robb

“NO!” Robb cried, his head spinning as he scrambled to his feet, but it was too late.

Erik wrenched his lightsword out of Di’s back, and the redhead sank to the ground. He twitched, sparks hissing from the wound, and then lay still. Erik sneered, flipping his sword the other way to thrust the tip into Di’s head—

When Robb slammed his shoulder into Erik’s side, tackling him to the ground. The lightsword went skittering to the edge of the garden and then tipped over it.

“What are you doing?” Erik hissed, shoving him away.

“You killed him!”

“I took revenge—more than what you could do!”

“He didn’t kill her! Mellifare did!”

“He stole my crown,” Erik snarled, his voice shuddering. “My throne—he stole everything!” Then he lunged at Robb, fist pulled back in a punch.

There was a split second between dodging and watching Erik stumble past when he did the wrong thing. He should have dodged the other way. He should have grabbed his brother by the coattail, he should’ve pinned him to the ground. But it was a split second in which Robb dodged, and his brother stumbled past and slammed into the railing. And by then it was too late. Erik lost his balance and went tumbling over the garden rail, but he managed to catch himself.

“Erik!” Robb cried, racing to the railing, and outstretched his hand. “Grab on!”

His brother, dangling from the edge, glared up. “I don’t need you.”

“Don’t be stupid—”

But then Erik reached up and knocked Robb’s hand away. “I said I don’t need—”

Erik’s fingers slipped off the rail.

Robb dove for his brother, snagging his gloved hand, and tipped over the railing, catching himself on the edge. His mechanical arm whined with the strain. No—he could hold on. He could definitely. It was a metal arm, for Goddess’s sake. It couldn’t—