“Not the choice I would have made, but I did give you the option,” I say before ripping the air from his lungs. At the same time, I will the grass under him to lengthen and wrap up and around his body, squeezing tightly. I leave him like this until his eyes water, then release the air back into his lungs. He heaves in a breath as he gives me a look filled with hatred. I only smirk before sending grass up his nose and water down his throat. I pick up a dagger from the ground with my magic, using it to make small slices over his arms and face. Tears stream down his cheeks. “Because I’m such a benevolent Queen, I’ll give you a chance to change your mind,” I coo, pulling all my magic back.

“The one. You least. Expect,” Krantz says between gasps for air.

“Be more specific,” I order, bringing an orb of water to his face in threat.

“You’ll find out soon enough,” he hisses. Then, before I can stop him, he uses the last dregs of his magic to pull the dagger I was using to him, slicing his throat before slumping to the ground with a gurgling noise. I sigh in frustration, then use my power to stop his heart, if only to spare myself from listening to him slowly die.

“Laurel,” Thorne says, and I freeze. Panic washes over me, fear that Thorne will only see a monster when he looks at me now. He’s seen me kill, but I’ve been brutal the last two days.

“Thorne,” I say, “I can explain…” He just wraps me in his arms, crushing his lips to mine in a kiss that tells me how relieved he is that I’m okay, that we both made it through this fight relatively unscathed. Releasing me from his lips, but keeping me pinned to his chest, he stares down at me, and pure, male lust fills his eyes.

“Aethers, you’re so fucking hot when you go all evil Witch Queen,” he whispers, and both of my hearts practically explode with emotion for this male, finally believing the words he whispered to me in the dark only two nights ago.

Allyssia stayed by Silene’s side during the fight, getting her free of the iron and even forcing some water into her unconscious body. I do what I can to heal the infection that’s started spreading from the wound, but it’s not enough, not without thayar concentrate and the shakiness I still feel from my battle with Krantz. Some of the color has returned to her face, but we need to get her to a healer.