CHAPTER TWELVE: Shadows of betrayal

"You will not kill me, Rowan."

Before his sword rested at my throat, I hardly had time to breathe.

Once glowing, Rowan's eyes were dead cold now, like a man drowned in his own darkness. Stronger, his motions deliberate like a predator preparing to strike; he was faster than before.

Try me, he said, his voice like ice.

Lucian hissed, his whole body raging. "Your heart will rip out if you touch her."

Laughing from Isolde reverberated around the chamber. Hello, Lucian. always very dramatic.

Rowan's fingers were pressing into my wrist, his grip tightening on me, so I hardly registered her words.

Look at me, I said softly.

His jaw tightened, but for the smallest instant doubt fluttered across his features.

There he is. The actual Rowan is

"You know this isn't you," I pointed out. "Whatever Isolde did to you—" She did nothing." His voice was harsh, nearly urgent.

Then, why are you doing this? I persisted.

"Because I have no choice!" he shot. His sword drew near, a delicate sting of agony flowering at my neck. "You seem to be looking for this. You believe I wanted to turn on you?

My breath paused.

Then fight it, I urged. "Come back to us".

Rowan's whole body rocked. His hold was weak, just enough.

Lucian lunged.

He tackled Rowan, sending them both smashing onto the stone floor—a flurry of silver and fury. Rowan's hand fell off the blade, which slid across the floor.

run, calla! Lucian yells.

"Negative!"

Just as Isolde turned to face me, I seized the dropped knife.

She said, "Ah, ah, ah," her lips twisting in laughter. "Do you actually think you can stop me?"

I started to grind my teeth. "I will try."

moaned Isolde and shook her head. Such a waste.

She then swung.

From her hands, a flash of dark energy burst into my chest. Pain splintering through my ribs, I flew back and landed hard.

The chamber echoed Lucian's furious yell.

You'll regret it.

Isolde merely grinned. " dubious."

The fighting was anarchy.

Each hit Lucian and Rowan delivered rocked the chamber like beasts fighting. Every second seemed like it may be our last; magic buzzed, shadows twisted.

" Snap out of it, Rowan!" Lucian hissed, sidestepped a forceful blow.

Rowan didn't respond. His motions were too exact, too under control.

He was struggling not only physically.

He was doing what orders called for.

"You're making this too easy," Isolde said, twitching a dagger between her fingers.

I pushed myself, agony shooting through my ribs. I looked at Isolde; hate searing in my chest.

" You did this to him."

She raised a brow. "Correction—I guided him toward his actual calling."

"You brainwashed him."

Semantics.

My hold got tighter around the knife. "undo it."

"Or what?" ask me. She raised a smile. "You'll kill me?"

I replied nothing.

since I had no idea.

I could murder her.

Would me?

Rowan knocked before I could decide.

Lucian hardly avoided. Blood flowed from his arm, and for the first time I noticed something flutter in his expression.

Stillness.

"You don't want to do this," Lucian said.

Rowan's jaw contracted.

Stopped me, then.

And Rowan pushed his blade, straight for Lucian's heart, one last motion.

Rowan's blade flies forward, but someone walks between them before it can ground.

One flash of silver. A cry of suffering.

And finally—darkness.