A Thousand Heartbeats

“Where would he have taken her?” I asked Palmer as we ran.

“My best guess is her room. But they could be anywhere.”

“Is he the informant?” Inigo asked. “Do you know?”

I appreciated that, considering everything that had happened, Inigo was immediately on board with me. He’d watched as I took Griffin’s life and still had grace for me. He’d helped me move Blythe to a safe spot—her pulse had still been steady when we left—and then fell into step behind me, along with Mamun. I didn’t know what Inigo’s motivation was now—the kingdom, his pride, security for Blythe—but whatever it was, I was thankful to have him by my side again.

“I don’t know. I hate him, and I suspect him, but I can’t prove it.”

Palmer led the way through the hallways that were still too new for me to know. I recognized some of the paintings as we got closer to Annika’s room, and we came upon it to find the door wide open.

Dear Nickolas was in there, all right. He had taken the poker from beside the fire and was swinging it at every breakable object in the room. Palmer tilted his head, looking at the pathetic display.

“Sir, restrain yourself. We’re in the middle of a battle,” he said calmly.

Nickolas pointed the poker at us, his eyes wild. He looked like an entirely different man.

“Which one of you took her from this room?” he demanded. “I locked her in here for . . . safekeeping, and now she’s gone!”

I scoffed, crossing my arms. “Did you forget that Her Majesty can pick locks? I certainly haven’t.”

He squinted at me. “Her Majesty?”

Palmer and I exchanged a look. In two words, I’d given away Escalus’s disappearance.

“The prince is dead as well?” he asked, a smile creeping onto his lips. That smile . . . it was the same one on Kawan’s face when my father’s body was identified. It was a smile that said an obstacle had been removed, that someone else’s tragedy was their victory.

I fully intended the wipe that smile from Nickolas’s face permanently.

Palmer stepped in front of me. “There’s no time for this. We need to find Annika.”

Nickolas brandished the poker again. “You,” he said, tipping his chin at me. “Why did she call you the king? What claim can a pathetic guard possibly have on this throne?”

“I wouldn’t be so arrogant as to insult a guard right now,” Palmer said. “There are three of us, and one of you. Plus, we have this very helpful chap who looks all too ready to rip one of your arms off,” he added, pointing to Inigo.

“I’m not opposed,” Inigo said calmly. I had to work very hard not to laugh.

“I’m not in the mood for games,” Nickolas snarled. “Who are you?”

I sighed. “Unfortunately, I’m not in the mood for games, either,” I said, pointing my sword at him and marching forward. “What exactly did Kawan give you in exchange for Annika’s life?”

Nickolas backed away, the poker still in his hand. “What?”

“Whatever he promised, I can assure you it will never come.”

“I have no business with your leader except to find him dead at the end of this night. The king is gone, the prince is gone, and now,” he said, holding up his left hand, “through marriage, I will get the crown that should have always been mine. So, whatever she promised you . . . that won’t be coming either.”

I looked at that ring, stunned. There was no possible way.

Unless.

If Annika had been threatened with something related to her brother—who was I kidding? If he had threatened her with anything relating to another living soul—she’d have given in. She’d sacrifice herself a dozen times over.

Well, then, I’d have to release her.

I went to brandish my sword, but I paused again when Nickolas spoke.

“Why is everyone asking about Kawan?” he asked. “Annika first, and then you as well.”

Inigo and I exchanged a glance. I looked over to Palmer.

“Where were you when everyone was stuck on the Island?” he asked.

Nickolas shook his head. “I do not answer to you.” He turned to me. “And I will never bow to you.”

He took up his poker again, swinging for my head. Mamun was in motion, and Inigo followed suit. Nickolas, it turned out, was quite the swordsman. He dodged both blades, swinging the poker with such force, he pushed them both aside. As if they’d been trained side by side, Inigo and Mamun split, surrounding Nickolas on both sides.

Dear Nickolas was left whipping his head back and forth. He shook his left hand out, and the light glinted off the golden band. It was just metal. Like a sword, like a lock. It could be broken.

I moved forward slowly. The worst parts of me wanted to take my time killing him.

But then, as if they were standing right in front of me, a dozen memories appeared before me. Griffin, seeming almost thankful to go. Annika’s mother. Countless recruits with no names for me to remember them by.

And then I couldn’t. I couldn’t hurt him.

I brought my arm down.

It was Palmer who noticed my daze.

“Lennox?” he asked.

At that, Nickolas’s head turned to me. His rage was still coming to the surface. “You’re Lennox?” he demanded.

His temporary distraction was all Mamun needed to drive his sword into Nickolas’s back. Nickolas’s rage drained from his face as he fell to his knees. Inigo pulled the poker from his hands, and he was left there, dying and defenseless.

I walked over and lifted his hand, pulling the ring from it. He was too weak to stop me, so I tossed the thing into the fire.

“I don’t know what you think you’ve accomplished, but you’ll get none of it,” I told him. “Not Annika, not a crown, nothing. You and Kawan are both too cowardly to win in the end.”

He shook his head, his mouth growing into a maniacal smile, blood trickling from the corner. “I know nothing of Kawan. But it doesn’t matter. She’ll fail. She’s far too weak. And, if I can’t have Kadier, it will serve her right to lose it all.”

“Annika? Weak?” I asked. “You’re the one dying while she’s saving the lives of her people and mine. She will be celebrated. And you? You will be forgotten.”

His smile faded as his eyes rolled back. He slunk sideways onto the floor, and, for as much as I hated that man, his death brought me no satisfaction.

This time, it wasn’t on my hands. I wanted to comfort myself in that small truth. It was difficult, though, after seeing the blank stare in Mamun’s eyes.

“Have you ever killed someone in battle?” I asked him.

He nodded weakly. “On the Island. But it was . . . it was a bit different then.”

I placed a hand on his shoulder. “Do not carry this. Such losses belong to the war, not to you.”

He looked up at me, his eyes more alert than they were only seconds before. “You seem a rather decent man. I see why she’d like you.”

I smiled. “Then help me find her.”