I jumped back, barely avoiding his grab as adrenaline hammered through my veins. I couldn't let this happen, I couldn't.

Glaring at him, I gritted out, “You won't get this power.” In a moment of desperation, I grabbed a fallen soldier's blade. Silas scoffed, watching as I swayed in place.

“Come now, Nikolas, you can't even stand properly. You must know that you can't beat me.”

Ignoring his taunt, I pressed the sword to my neck and watched his smile slide off his face. Vicious satisfaction bloomed in my chest, and I swallowed past the knot in my throat. “I can't beat you, but I can ensure you never get your filthy hands on this power.” My determination bled through every word.

I didn't want to die, but wouldn't let him use me to cause more suffering. I'd already caused enough.

Silas must have realized how serious I was, because he raised his palms placatingly. “Now, now. Don't do anything rash. You'll regret it if you do.”

I pressed the blade closer until a sting pinched my throat and a thin trail of blood slid downward. Silas hissed, and I met his glare head-on.

“If it keeps this power away from you, there's not a damn thing I'll regret about killing myself.”

I'd already messed up in every possible way. If taking myself out of the equation was the only way to prevent worse…so be it.

But instead of bargaining or desperation, Silas's eyes darkened with cold amusement. “Two can play that game, boy.” Before I could blink, he looked toward Maya and ordered, “Grab your father's sword and put it to your throat.”

Her eyes bulged as her body obeyed against her will. With the blade at her neck, Silas faced me again, raising a brow.

“If you kill yourself, do so with the knowledge that you're also killing her.”

Damn it all, could I not get one break?!

Silas smiled again, stepping toward me with a knowing look. “Now that you're restrained, let's finish this.” He reached out, palm inches away from my face.

Instinct screamed to life, demanding I get away. If I let him control me, he'd rain down hell, and it would be my fault. The blood of those who suffered under Fast Forward would be on my hands.

I couldn't let that happen, but…

Maya's tear-streaked face lingered in the corner of my eyes, keeping me still. After everything I'd cost her, I couldn't be the reason she died too.

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The choice was impossible, tearing me in two directions. Save thousands and kill a child…or spare the child and risk countless lives. My stomach rolled the longer I thought about it.

His palm moved closer, his body heat brushing my head as my heart thundered against my ribs. I was out of options and out of time.

Wait…out of time. Inspiration struck like lightning, and Karma's words rang in my ears.

You'll get along great with Time too, I know it!

Time was the answer. He should have been here by now, but I'd put off trying to contact him out of fear. No more.

Maya would survive this mess. One way or another.

Staring dead into Silas's eyes, I shoved aside my unease and screamed, “Time, I know you can hear me, you fuck! Get down here and help me!”

Was it wise to curse out the spirit who probably didn't like me? Perhaps not, but my shoulder burned, exhaustion dragged on me like chains, and I was done.

He could kill me for all I cared, as long as he made sure that fucking king died too, I'd go with a smile.

Silas stopped, his hand just shy of touching me as disbelief tore through his manic smile.

“You truly think Time himself will bother to step in on your behalf? How stu–” He froze, mouth open and eyes unblinking. Everything around us skidded to a halt, from Dominicus steady breathing to the tears rolling down Maya's cheeks.

The air charged with raw power and the hair on my arm stood to attention. Magic built, blanketing the area until my teeth ached from the pressure. Just as it felt like my head would explode, a figure appeared a few yards away and the crushing power eased.

But only enough for me to breathe.

A man stood where there had been open air, arms crossed, and a diamond-hard scowl cut into his face. Long black hair draped over his shoulders, and when I finally met his gaze, ice surged through my veins.

His eyes were dark like Karma's but they lacked her warmth and life. His stare promised pain, suffering, and death to any who crossed him.

And I'd just cussed him out.

Ignoring the urge to hide or run screaming, I sucked in a breath and forced myself to speak. “You came.”

Relief shook my words, but it didn't last long. Time tipped his head, his narrowed gaze never leaving me. The intense feeling of being a bug under a microscope drilled through me, but before I could speak to break the tension, Time beat me to it.

“Yes, out of curiosity, if nothing else. It isn't everyday a mortal calls for me.” His gaze darkened. “Least of all with such disrespect.”

A chill worked down my spine but I forced it aside to speak my case before he could do anything drastic. “Sorry, but as you can see, things are a bit of a clusterfuck right now. I'm not exactly concerned with propriety and manners.”

Some of the weight of his stare lifted, and he hummed, considering Silas and Maya with a frown. “Obviously. Still, I don't take Chosens because I don't want to be summoned.” He squinted and made a low noise of understanding. “You bare the essence of my wife, Karma. You must be her Chosen…” He ran a finger over the blade still poised at my throat. Pressing it down, he continued. “So why did you not call for her?”

A bark of hysterical laughter wrestled out of my lungs, and I snapped. “What do you think I've been doing the past day?! She hasn't answered and–”

In a blink, the sword fell to the grass, and I was in the air, Time's hand wrapped securely in my shirt as he brought us nose to nose.

Old instincts and memories of beatings rose, tangling and twisting into a frenzied knot in my chest. Half of me screamed to run, hide before the threat could do any harm. The other half burned to fight, to lash out and take the element of surprise.

Through it all, one clear thought rang through me.

I knew this was going to end badly for me.