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"And when you wanted to leave…" His smile was like evil incarnate. "It couldn't have been sweeter. Finally, it was coming together. All I needed to do was end you and Sion. Sion was slippery; he escaped two of my attempts. The fool didn't know it was just a matter of time. In exchange for Lisna's life, I kept feeding the witch's changeling daughter. It was easy; the pack followed my instructions like sheep. It was a matter of sending one into the forest to collect herbs or hunt deer. It was a small sacrifice for my lifemate."

Fae's breath came shallow as he pressed the blade deeper, and a drop of crimson streaked down her neck.

" You sacrificed hundreds of the pack," she whispered, rage running through her like wildfire.

"I knew the changelings were getting restless," he continued as if she hadn't spoken. "And so was the witch. And I needed to end Blaidd, and you were the key..." He shrugged. "It would have all been over by now, if only you have cooperated."

The steel shifted slightly against her skin. She staggered away, but she couldn't get far. Her sickle was behind him.

"You should have stayed away, Fae. You would have lived a while longer."

His eyes were utterly cold now as he tracked her like prey.

"But now—" He tightened his grip on the knife. "Now, I have to finish what I started."

He advanced.

Fae stumbled backward, her shoulder striking the table. She reached instinctively for her wolf—

And nothing happened.

Panic seized her.

Maxen smiled faintly.

"I mixed something into the tea earlier," he said softly. "A suppressive potion. Your wolf will not answer you; she will sleep as I take your head and leave your corpse for Blaidd to find. He will not survive this."

Her blood ran cold.

Her sickle hung on the far wall.

She lunged sideways, trying to reach it, but he moved faster. The blade slashed downward, grazing her shoulder. Pain burst hot and sharp, and the coppery tang of blood filled the air. She fell to the floor, hard.

He loomed above her.

"I did not want it to be this way," he said almost apologetically. "I really like you, Fae, but I have to protect my family. My father always said we have to protect family."

She pressed back on her elbows, blood soaking through her tunic.

The blade rose for the final blow as he watched her like a cat watching a mouse.

For a heartbeat, the world narrowed to steel singing through the air.

Then—

Maxen's expression changed. His face smoothed and his mouth went lax.

His eyes seemed to flicker with confusion.

A thin red line appeared across his throat. It was so fine it might have been a shadow.

Then it widened, and blood welled, dripping down his front, soaking his tunic.

His mouth opened slightly, as though to speak.

The blade slipped from his fingers.

And then—