Bite Of Winter (Page 21)

Gareth lets out a pained cry and keels forward in front of Kyrin.

“I’m afraid not.” Para pulls her knife from Gareth’s back and grabs Kyrin’s reins.

“Gareth!” I scream, my insides twisting as his blood turns the snow crimson.

Beth scrambles off Sabre and runs toward Gareth as I climb from Kyrin.

“What are you doing?” I pull the obsidian blade from my fur and hold it out. “You swore allegiance to me!”

“I did.” She wipes at her nose as blood drips from it. “And I will pay for breaking my oath.”

Cenet creeps from the trees behind her, his face hard, his eyes on me, and his sword drawn.

“Why?” I keep my blade up even as Cenet advances. “Why?” I demand.

Beth screams and cradles Gareth’s head in her hands.

“I already made another deal. Before I met you. Before—” Para drops to her knees, blood spilling from her eyes, nose, and mouth as her oath breaks. Regret coats her words. “There was no going back. There never has been. Not for me.”

Cenet advances into camp, his steps sure, his demeanor triumphant.

Para gasps, her silver eyes darkening. She blinks as they go gray and then black. “I’m sorry, Taylor. I’m sor—”

Cenet strikes Para, taking off her head in one stroke, and then he stalks to me. “Your father would like a word.”

I swing the obsidian blade at him, but all I hear is his hissed command – “Sleep, princess.”

I drop to my knees in the cold snow, and darkness falls as the sun rises.

The final chapter of Leander and Taylor’s story, Beyond the Mountain: Fae’s Captive 4, is available for preorder. After that, the story will continue for Beth and Gareth, and then the rest of the Phalanx (including plenty of appearances from Taylor and Leander.)