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The royal druh the masses like wildfire Stop Patara! Stop Patara! Stop Patara! The crowd that had felt like an ocean, like a storry and violent swarether Stop Patara! they shouted Stop Patara!

And finally, so voice above all the others “Kill Patara!”

Chapter 21

Randal

All fucking hell broke loose

A good-sized brick cauard in the head He cried out and staggered back, trying to steady himself, but the barrier that surrounded the coronation stone terrace was low, barely knee height, and he fell headfirst down into the crowd They seized hi him limb from limb

I was now focused entirely on Iris

The queen was the first problem—armed with a weapon that would require a rippedforward She dropped the poisoned dagger as she ducked, exactly as I’d hoped

I kicked the poisoned blade aside and kneed her in stouards now—instantly took their opportunity, seizing her by the aroddamned venom

Next up, the guard that had Iris frouard

I could see in his eyes he was fucking terrified I would’ve given good odds he’d already shit himself or was about to

“Listen, you o and flee the city If you don’t take it, you’re fucking done Got me?”

He got oddamned door before his blade even clattered on the stone In an instant, I had Iris safe in my ar her froed Where she was always ht inlike a terrified animal

“I’ve got you,” I told her “I do”

Iris shook her head against my shoulder As soon as she heard my voice in her ear, I felt her body relax I pressed a kiss to her forehead, s her messy hair

“Are you hurt?”