“As our enemy, not as our ally.” Tem tapped his blade in a taunting gesture along Darrow’s sword. “Augustus Norwood is the future of Okrith. All will bow to him.”

“How many long nights did you fret to me that the West was alone in this world?” Darrow’s brows dropped heavy over his eyes as he lowered his sword. “Did you really think Norwood would let you rule this Court? You swore your sword to Queen Thorne. The Gods will remember that. Put your blade down, Tem. You don’t need to die.”

“Don’t speak to me as if I’m a child,” he spat.

“You’re not a child.” Darrow shook his head. “You’re a coward and a fool. Now, put your sword down.”

Screams echoed from down the hallway; the others were nearly there. Darrow turned toward the sound, a fatal decision as Tem took one swift step and impaled his father through the chest. Darrow’s eyes bugged, betrayal filling his wide gaze as he stared at his son. Rivulets of crimson blood dripped from his gaping lips, and he coughed a spluttering, wet breath.

“The Gods will remember this too,” Darrow whispered, dropping to his knees.

Twisting onto all fours, Bri clambered forward, grabbing the dagger. The whoosh of a sword sounded beside her and she rolled, narrowly avoiding the strike as Tem’s steel clanged against stone. Pivoting in toward his body, she sliced out, stabbing into his thigh. He gasped and stumbled backward. Blood spurted from the wound, pouring down his leg faster than she’d ever seen a body bleed out, and she knew it was a fatal blow. The copper mist rained down from his thigh as he retreated, pressing a trembling hand to his leg to stanch the bleeding.

Bri scrambled back to her feet with a groan, watching Tem’s bloodless face as he tripped back against the wall and slid to a seat on the wet stone. He collapsed beside his father’s lifeless body. Bri knew that vacant look all too well. He was already one foot into the afterlife.

She turned just in time to see Lina delivering a killing blow to one soldier as another slammed the hilt of his sword into her wrist. Lina growled, her axe clattering to the floor as she clutched her arm. Retreating a step, she scanned for a weapon she could wield with one hand. Her eyes landed on the amethyst dagger set on the arm of her throne but it was too far away.