Page 168 of Savage Throne
“If he comes close to killing you, I am coming over there—”
“You will not leave the stands.” I scowled. “Do you understand?”
“I can’t sit there and watch you die.”
“Stay in the stands. Maybe, I’m not dying in that moment. Perhaps, I’m letting him think I am and then flip him over or something.”
“Or something?”
“Stay in the stands. If you come out there on the battlefield, I will be distracted. You will have all my attention and he will kill me without hesitation. Do you understand?”
Her bottom lip quivered.
“Moni?”
“Y-yes.”
“Stay in your seat. Don’t try to help.”
More tears left her eyes as she lay her head back down on my chest. "Fine."
“I love you.” I cradled her in my arms.
And there she shivered as she sobbed against my chest so much that her tears began to soak my skin.
Dear God, if I die, protect her.
I held her tighter.
My throat burned with unshed emotion.
I wouldn’t shed a tear or allow myself to be sad anymore.
I’d done what I needed.
I told her all the things that were in my heart.
Now it was time to harden myself for the battle ahead.
My mind could no longer think about love, marriage, or the future.
All I could ponder was death and blood as I tilted my head up and gazed at the starry sky.
Will I finally kill him?
Chapter twenty-six
A Feast of Blood and Flesh
Leo
The orchestra played hauntingly beautiful notes that soared and dipped like the mountains surrounding us.
Crystal glasses clinked softly amidst the murmurs of conversation.
The guests were dressed in their finest formal blues—midnight suits and gowns of pale periwinkle to cobalt.
Yet, despite the outward elegance, the atmosphere simmered with uneasy anticipation, as if the very space of the Sapphire Sanctum could sense the inevitability of bloodshed to come.
