Thats right. The faintest touch. His calloused thumb against her temple. Winters whole body quivered. Come on. Im getting you out of here.

He started to pull away, but she dug her fingertips into his arms. You need to help Selene and Scarlet and the others.

No. Either shes winning or shes losing. My presence wont sway it at this point. But youI can take care of you. For once.

You always take care of me.

His lips tightened and his attention dipped toward her scars, before he looked away altogether. He was about to speak again when Winters eye caught on movement.

The servant in her apron had sneaked up on them and now had an empty look in her face. She raised a bloodied knife over her head.

Winter gasped and yanked Jacin to the side. The tip of the knife slashed through the back of his arm, ripping through his shirt. Snarling, he spun to face the attacker and grabbed her wrist before she could swipe at him again.

Dont hurt her! Winter screamed. Shes being manipulated!

I noticed, he growled, prying the womans fingers back until she dropped the knife. It landed with a clatter on the stone ground. Jacin shoved her away and she fell, collapsing on her side.

In the same movement, Jacin yanked the shoulder straps that held his gun and knife over his head and threw them as hard as he could toward the obstacle course of fallen bodies. Before they could be used against him. Before his own hands could turn the weapons against him.

I hope you dont think that will make a difference.

Whimpering, Winter pressed herself back into the doorway.

Aimery. He was standing in the streetnot smiling. For once, not even pretending to smile. Not smug or cruel or taunting.

He looked unhinged.

The servant girl, released from his control, scrambled away on her hands and knees and escaped as fast as she could into an alleyway. Winter heard her crawling turn into the hurried beat of running. Aimery let her go. He didnt even look at her.

Jacin placed himself between Winter and Aimery, though she didnt know why. Aimery could have forced Jacin to move aside with a tiny little thought. Aimery could toy with them as easily as pawns on the queens game board.

As you are useless with your own gift, Aimery drawled, dark eyes burning, perhaps you do not understand that we do not require guns and knives to do damage. When you have been given the power that I have, all the world is an armory, and everything in it a weapon.

Aimery tucked his hands into his sleeves, although he was lacking his normal composure. His expression was frazzled and angry.

You could be strangled with your own belt, he continued, still speaking slowly. You could impale yourself with a serving fork. You could plunge your own thumbs into your eye sockets.

You think I dont know the sort of things you can do? Jacins body was taut, but Winter didnt think Aimery had taken control of him.

Not yet.

But he would.

There was Aimerys nightmare smile, but it was crossed with a snarl. You are as inferior to me as a rat. His attention switched to Winter. His lip curled in disgust. Yet she still made her choice, didnt she?

Winters heart pummeled against her rib cage, Aimerys words echoing inside her frazzled skull. Strangle. Impale. Plunge.

He would. Not yet. But he would.

A chill crawled over her skin from the pure hatred she saw in Aimerys face.

You should have accepted me when you had the chance, he said.

She tried to swallow, but her saliva felt like paste. I could have, she said, but it would have been no more real than the visions that plague me.

So you chose a pathetic guard.

Her lips quivered. You dont understand. He is the only thing that is real.

Aimerys expression darkened. And soon he will be dead, little princess. He spat the title like an insult. Real or not, I will have you. If not as a wife or a willing mistress, then as a possession to be displayed in a pretty bejeweled case. His eyes took on a hint of madness. I have waited too many years to let you go now.

Jacins back was to Winter, his shoulders knotted. A line of blood curled down his elbow and dripped along his wrist. Splattered to the ground below. He was powerless to do anything but stand there and say cold and callous things and hope no one detected how afraid and frustrated he really was.

But Winter knew. She had lived her life with that fear too.

Aimery looked pleased as he focused again on Jacin. I have been waiting for this since you were brought before the court. I should have watched you bleed on the throne room floor that day.

Winter convulsed.

That must have been such a disappointment for you, said Jacin.

It was, agreed Aimery, but I do think I will enjoy this moment even more. His cheek twitched. How shall it be done? By my hand? By your own? His eyes glistened. By hers? Ahhow inconsolable she would be then, to be the instrument of her own beloveds death. Perhaps I will have her bash in your skull with a rock. Perhaps I will have her choke you with her pretty fingers.

Nausea rolled over her.

Jacin

Jacin.

I rather like that idea, Aimery mused.

Winters hands stirred. She did not know if they would be strangling or choking or bashing or impaling. She knew Aimery had her now and Jacin was in danger and this was the end. There was no gray area. There were no winners. She was a fool, a fool, a fool.