I had hoped Dimitri would still be tangled in the fabric, but he’s out and already going after Galinor. Dimitri is massive, but Galinor is skilled. Now that the initial shock has faded, he moves quickly and without hesitation. But as I watch him, I can’t figure out what he’s doing. If Galinor is trying for Dimitri’s neck, he’s doing a poor job. Horrified, I study his moves.
He doesn’t mean to kill Dimitri—he’s going for the chain the stone hangs from.
Around us, spectators and performers watch the fight with wide eyes. Several have gone off screaming that an ogre has invaded Triblue, but the others don’t seem to care where the ogre came from—they just want a good show.
Having decided the ogre form isn’t working, Dimitri changes again. He yells as he sprouts feathered wings and then leaps into the air. The crowd screams and backs away from the griffin. Several cheer, probably thinking this is a magnificent staged act.
Galinor watches patiently, waiting for Dimitri to strike. He seems more unconcerned about this form than the last. Dimitri finally dives. Galinor narrows his eyes, planning his attack, as he studies Dimitri circling in the air. When Dimitri is so close I think he’s going to claw Galinor’s eyes, Galinor’s blade meets Dimitri’s wing.
Dimitri falls to the ground, and Galinor stands over him, his sword pointed at the animal’s chest.
“Change back,” Galinor demands. “And fight me like a man.”
The crowd murmurs.
The insult is too great for Dimitri’s pride, and slowly the fur and feathers disappear as he transforms back to human. He clutches his arm and blood pools from the wound, more grotesque on the man than it was on the griffin.
Galinor motions for Dimitri to stand. “Get up.”
Dimitri’s face twists in rage, but with Galinor’s sword pointed at his chest, he has no choice.
“Someone fetch this man a sword,” Galinor says, his voice even but deadly.
It’s only moments before a man from the crowd deposits a sword in Dimitri’s hand. Galinor retracts his blade. “Do you know how to fight?”
Dimitri screams and charges Galinor. It’s what the prince expects, and he steps aside, leaving Dimitri stumbling into the air as the crowd laughs. Dimitri rights himself. Again, he swings the sword at Galinor, but Galinor easily blocks it.
The display goes on until Dimitri is so winded he can barely move. I’m almost embarrassed for him.
Finally, Galinor takes pity on the man. He knocks Dimitri to the ground and places his sword next to his throat. “It’s over. Give me the stone.”
Breathing hard, Dimitri scans the crowd. When he finds me, he shakes with fury. His eyes lock on mine as he takes the chain from around his neck. Galinor moves theblade away just enough Dimitri can remove the changeling stone.
I breathe a sigh of relief once it’s over Dimitri’s head, but then he smiles and grips the stone in his fist.
My blood goes cold.
“Dimitri, no!” I yell, but it’s too late.
The man I thought I loved smashes the fragile stone on the ground. I scream and fall to my knees. No one around me understands what he’s done—no one but Galinor.
Dimitri gloats in his victory, screaming a battle cry of glee even though he’s at the end of Galinor’s sword.
Galinor tenses, his muscles twitching as he fights to control his rage. Through clenched teeth, he says, “From this point on, you will stay away from Anwen.”
Dimitri leans over and spits on Galinor’s boot.
The crowd collectively gasps, and I stare at the men, wondering what Galinor will do.
The prince leans down, his sword still trained on Dimitri, and uses the man’s vest to wipe his boot clean. “You don’t want me for an enemy. Do you understand?” His voice is eerily calm, and even the hair on the back of my neck stands on end.
Slowly, he retracts the blade and sheaths it. He comes to me and pulls me off the ground. The crowd parts as we leave Dimitri bleeding in the Triblue square.
Chapter 18
Rosie gives me a big, awkward hug. “You’ll be all right?”
I nod and try to smile. She frowns, but she doesn’t know what to say any more than I do. The mandatory goodbyes are awful—just as going home empty-handed is awful.
