I was thankful for the darkness in the alleys as I made my way toward the edge of town. I’d had a second to message Nal to come find me, but he didn’t reply, and I couldn’t spare the time to keep checking. Maybe he was passed out drunk again. He’d had awful timing before. I was on my own.

Guards were rushing down the streets and alleys, speeding past me up to now, but I couldn’t keep up my magic forever. I’d already neared my limit for the night. From here on, I had to sneak around in the shadows like anyone else.

A crystal torch shined down the alley, its light landing on me. “There!”

I ran, weaving around corners until I lost the guards. But another patrol was coming in fast. Fuck it all. I sped down a narrow street, dodging late night drunks and outrunning more guards. I just needed to make it to Nal and make him get us out of here.

A guard the size of a fucking mountain charged out in front of me, and I skidded to a stop before darting to the left, but more guards came from that way. The giant barreled toward me, and I jumped out of the way, letting him run over his brothers. I ran again, but something whizzed through the air and stabbed into my lower back. I dropped to the cobblestones, which scraped against my cheek, and gasped a few breaths before I could get myself to try standing.

But the giant’s boot came down on my back, and he ripped the blade out as I screamed.

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“Got ya, son of a bitch.”

I couldn’t spare the time to catch my breath. Move! I drew my knife and stabbed his foot through the side. He howled and ripped his foot back, taking my knife with it, but I had an opening. I bolted down the street again, only for a circle of black smoke to open in front of me. Nal! Thank the damn gods. I dove through the portal, expecting to find him, but slammed into an old priest instead, knocking him down to a blue carpeted floor.

Oh, fuck.

I tripped over a covered body in a familiar room, catching myself against a cushioned chair. Guards had me by the arms before I could even turn around, and they dragged me out into the castle hallway as I kicked and struggled, ignoring the pain in my back and the fuzzy feeling growing in my head. No way in hell was I going down without a fight.

I had unfinished business.

Nal had been my partner, my friend, my brother.

I’d kill that fucking traitor.

I couldn’t get free of the guards’ grip, so I roared as I dropped my full weight to the floor like a ragdoll, taking the two down with me. I rolled to my feet and drew my sword, but something shattered against my back, right on my wound. Lights blinked in my vision, and I fell sideways into a wall.

“What did you do to Eujia?” a woman shrieked behind me.

What?

The guards tackled me again right as I regained my senses and ripped my sword out of my hand. A whole squad joined them, their own swords ready. I could barely get any breath into my lungs and just hung limp as the men hauled me away.

Whatever happened to Eujia, I was about to get it much worse.

I was, beyond a shadow of a doubt, completely fucked.

Thanks to that blond cunt I thought had my back.