He yowls like a cat that’s just lost a fight, hands flying up to his bloodied face. He is lucky if all he leaves with today is a scar. I should kill him. I really ought to.

But already, there has been so much death.

And selfishly, I want him to live. I want him to know that he lost. That I won. That—

“Foolish girl.”

I whirl in place, dagger coming up, but it’s too late. Ana has crossed the room to get her sword back, and Cristobal had been left unwatched. Unattended. But not unarmed.

The iron poker slams into the side of my face so hard I know for certain something breaks.

My knees go out from under me. A boot connects with my side, right where the bloodied shift signals my weakest point. Gasping in agony, I fall backward, my head smacking into the stone floor.

A scream tears through me as Cristobal steps on my wrist. The pressure forces my fingers to twitch open, releasing my hold on the dagger. I am spared a collection of broken bones when Cristobal removes his boot from my arm long enough to go to one knee and pick up the blade.

“I was willing to let you live, you know,” he says, staring down at me as he levels the dagger’s point at my face. “Not her.” He jerks his chin toward Ana. She is frozen on the other side of the altar, sword in hand but too far to use it. “Not after she served her purpose. But now, I’m afraid you’ve proven yourself entirely too troublesome to be allowed to live.” He shakes his head, almost mournful. “You could have had it all, Eustaquia. It’s always a shame to see potential squandered.”

A mirthless smile stretches across his face. “I’ll simply have to find another way to get what I want. I always do, in the end.” And with that, he raises the blade.

CHAPTER 38

Ana

“Wait!”

Cristobal actually does wait, quirking one eyebrow at me, dagger held aloft, ready to deliver a killing blow. The brand burned on the side of his cheek is lurid in the dim light.

“Wait?” Cristobal actually smiles. “Whatever for?”

God, this asshole really loves the sound of his own voice. But I can work with that.

“Wasn’t this your grand plan?” I ask. “Marrying Kiki off to one of your sycophants to get your hands on her fortune? If that’s the case, it seems a bit of a waste to kill her now, don’t you think?”

With a pained groan, Kiki manages a short, “Thanks, Ana.”

Cristobal snorts indelicately. “I have all the wealth a man could need. I could spend a mountain of it every day and never burn through to the end.” He twirls the dagger around, admiring the way the blade catches the amber glow of torchlight. “I will find another girl. There’s always another.”