And I could not break the seal of dragon’s blood above me.
I was shattering, breaking into a thousand tiny pieces, and Ryan coughed weakly, blood dribbling down his chin. He looked up at me as Ruv took a step back. His teeth were stained red, and when he said, “Sam?” all I could think about, all I could remember was the day Morgan took me away from the slums by the hand, and how I’d looked back just once and saw the boy named Nox standing on the road behind me.
I had waved at him.
He’d waved back.
And then I rounded the corner and Nox was gone, and I didn’t think about him again until I sat beside a knight I loved next to a fire under the bright, bright stars on our way to rescue the Prince from the clutches of a dragon, and he’d said You’ve never been turned to stone, Sam? It’s an interesting experience to say the least.
Nox Ashford.
Ryan Foxheart.
I loved them both.
Because they were the same.
So, yes. I screamed for him.
I begged Ruv to let me out.
He ignored me, eyes only on Ryan.
I pleaded for Lady Tina to help him.
She stood shocked, face pale, lips trembling.
I cried for Caleb to make it stop.
He had a smile on his face.
“Sam?” Ryan said again, sounding like he was choking.
“Shh,” I said, face wet. “Don’t talk. It’s okay. It’s okay, sweetheart. It’ll all be okay. I promise. I promise you, okay? You just gotta give me a moment. I’ll get us out of here.”
“Hurts, Sam.”
“I know,” I said, voice breaking. “I know it does. But I need you to be brave for me. I need you to be strong.”
“You… can’t… I…. Sam.” His head rocked back as more blood spilled from his mouth. “Sam, Sam, ah gods, Sam.”
“You bastards,” I bellowed at the others in the room. “I’ll kill you. Do you hear me? I’m going to fucking kill you all.”
“What have you done?” Lady Tina whispered.
“What was necessary,” Ruv said with a sigh. He stretched his neck from side to side.
“You… you promised me,” she said, taking a step back. “You told me that Ryan would be safe. That he would be free.”
“He’ll be dead soon,” Ruv said. “Free from the shackles of this life. And his death will be the catalyst needed to send this world spiraling into darkness.”
“You promised me!” she exclaimed shrilly. “You said—”
He had her pressed against the fireplace, hand around her throat, before she could continue.
“I grow weary of the sound of your voice,” Ruv said, nose trailing along her cheek. “There are much bigger things at work here than your precious games, little girl. Things that you couldn’t even possibly imagine. If I were you, I would be on my knees thanking the gods that you still draw breath.” His fingers tightened, and she whimpered. “Now. Because you have provided such a valuable service in assisting the downfall of Sam of Wilds, I will spare your life. Leave here, without another word, and you will live to see another day. One peep from you, my dear, and you will join your beloved Knight Commander with your blood on the floor.”
He took a step back, hand dropping from her neck.
Lady Tina sobbed quietly. She looked at Ryan, who was losing his battle with consciousness, then at me.
“You don’t want me to get out of here,” I told her, voice hoarse. “Because I will come for you.”
She nodded.
And then ran from the house, the door slamming shut behind her.
“Sam.”
“No,” I moaned. “Save your strength. Please. Just—”
“Need you… to listen. You remember? What I told you.” He coughed weakly. “At the top of the keep.”
I shook my head. “Don’t you do this. Don’t you fucking say goodbye to me. You hear me? Ryan. Don’t you fucking do this!”
“I told you… that I wished for nothing… more than you.”
“Ryan.”
He smiled a bloody smile. “Still mean it.”
And then his eyes slipped shut, his head slumping forward.
I threw my whole weight against the barrier again and again and again.
Ruv clucked his tongue. “Truly a waste.” He shook his head and turned away from Ryan back toward me. “You might as well save your strength, Sam. You’re going to need it.”
Again and again and again.
He turned his attention away from me.
“Leave us,” Ruv told Caleb. “The time has almost come. Do not return to the castle, as they will soon know something is amiss. Wait for my word.”
“I want to watch what happens to Sam—”
“Leave us,” Ruv hissed. “I will not tell you again. He approaches, and he will not be pleased if you are still here.”
Caleb’s eyes widened a little at that. He looked as if he was going to argue but must have thought better of it. His mouth thinned, and he nodded tightly. He glanced at me again before he too left the house, leaving me and Ruv and Ryan.
The only sounds were the dripping of blood on the floor and the grunts I made when I slammed my shoulder into the barrier, knowing it wouldn’t give but not caring.
“You know,” Ruv said finally, “in the end, I do feel somewhat responsible for what happened here.”
I ignored him.
“I told him that I could get to you, that if he just gave me a chance, I could do what was needed. You would choose me as your cornerstone, and I would eventually drag you away from the light and into the dark. I knew of Ryan Foxheart. Everyone in Verania did. But I figured once you tasted my magic with yours, you’d see. I regret that it didn’t work out like I had planned. I didn’t try hard enough. I went along with Vadoma, and I went along with you after that dragon in the desert. I thought you would just see me, see how I helped you, see how good I was, and in the end, you’d just… I don’t know.” He rubbed a hand over his face. “So yes, Sam. I do blame myself partly for this. And if he hadn’t failed right after I did, I do believe I wouldn’t be standing here. Because again, there’s just something about you that causes people to doubt what you’re capable of. You are stronger than you appear.” He shook his head ruefully. “We won’t be making that mistake again.”
“What do you want from me?” I said, trying to push through the haze that had covered my eyes.
“Oh, it’s not about what I want. I don’t know that it’s ever been. It’s about what he wants.”
“How could you? How could you do any of this?”
“Black and white, Sam. That’s all you see. There is so much more in between. Becoming a Dark wizard isn’t the scary story you’ve heard all your life. Morgan and Randall are so absolute in their magic that they leave room for no alternatives. No interpretation. Magic can go both ways, Sam. You know that. You showed me that in the desert. With the sand mermaids. And with him in the water. Do you really think you could have done that with both feet firmly planted in the light? No, Sam. Of course not. Part of you is in shadow. Morgan knows this. Randall knows this. Why do you think they’ve kept so much from you?”