drenched in crimson. Still, his friends didn’t give up hope, watching the fight with wide, almost sparkly eyes. “I’m walking out of this place tonight!”
“Don’t hold your breath,” Kalon replied and went in for his first direct attack.
Something silvery glimmered near Demetrius’s waist as he moved. My heart stopped. A knife. He had a knife. Heat spread through my throat as I tried to speak up, but the words refused to come out. I gripped Tristan’s arm, hoping he’d see it too.
He followed my gaze and went pale. “He’s armed!” my brother shouted.
Too late. The blade swished and entered Kalon’s stomach, and I gasped. Kalon grunted from the pain, as Demetrius sneered with delight.
“Foul! Stop, Demetrius!” Corbin snarled.
It all happened too fast for me to register everything. Corbin darted toward them, while Demetrius raised his clawed hand to further debilitate Kalon. But Kalon was quick to grab Demetrius’s throat, as he used his spare hand to pull the knife out.
“Demi, watch out!” one of his friends cried out, instantly realizing what was about to happen.
By the time Corbin reached them, Kalon had already dropped the knife. Demetrius tried to fight him, but he was choking under his grip. Kalon exhaled sharply as he drove his hand through Demetrius’s chest.
“Oh, dear lord,” I managed, covering my mouth. “Holy…”
A moment passed in the heaviest of silences as Demetrius stared at Kalon in disbelief. It was too late to do anything. Kalon’s hand had broken through the skin, the flesh, and the bones, having taken hold of Demetrius’s most prized possession.
“End of story,” Kalon hissed as he withdrew his hand, pulling out Demetrius’s heart.
My stomach convulsed, but I couldn’t look away. Demetrius’s friends screamed. Amal gasped. Demetrius collapsed on the ground, no longer breathing. His skin faded to a sickly off-white, blue rings settling around his eyes as he bled out on the short grass.
Corbin stilled, his lips pressed into a thin line.
Kalon stood there, holding Demetrius’s heart. Staring at its final, weakened beats. Blood trickled from his hand, like liquid rubies. As if suddenly brought back into the real world, he turned his head to look at us.
“I had no choice,” he mouthed, his lower lip shaking slightly.
As fearless a warrior as he was, Kalon still experienced regret. He took no pleasure in killing someone, even in these circumstances, where Demetrius had certainly had it coming. Kalon dropped the heart, wiping his hand on his shirt. Red flowers bloomed across the fabric, as he took several deep breaths.
“It’s okay,” Corbin said to him. “You won the duel, fair and square.”
“I had no choice,” Kalon repeated himself.
“He gave you no choice,” Corbin replied. “Demetrius cheated. He chose to die as dishonorably as he lived.”
Valaine stepped forward. “If you ask me, Lord Mefithi is better off without a son like him. You did the right thing.”
Demetrius’s friends were livid, but there was nothing they could do, especially since the master commander himself had refereed the duel. “It’s not fair,” one of them murmured.
“Krassus’s death wasn’t fair, either,” Kalon retorted.
The second Aeternae pointed an angry finger at him. “You killed Demetrius over a filthy Nalorean, Kalon. You’re a traitor to your kind!”
Kalon moved like lightning, gripping the Aeternae by his throat. “Unless you want me to remove your heart as well, you will apologize for uttering such insults,” he said, his voice low and deadly. “Demetrius challenged me to a duel, and he lost. Better get used to it.”
“Don’t,” Corbin said, placing a hand on Kalon’s shoulder. “He’s not worth it.”
“I know.” Kalon sighed, letting the Aeternae go.
He and Corbin walked away, leaving the two friends to care for Demetrius’s body and his discarded heart. Valaine was the first to reach him, throwing her arms around his neck as she pulled him into a hug.
“That was close,” she said. “He could’ve done much worse!”
“But he didn’t,” Kalon replied, gently pushing her back with a soft and thankful smile. “It’s over now. Justice has been served.” He stopped in front of our group, pulling his shoulders back. “And that is how one wins a duel, even when dealing with a cheater.”
“Does that happen often?” I asked, my brow furrowed.
“You’d be surprised,” he said. “Pat an Aeternae down all you want. They’ll still find a way to hide or pick up a weapon from somewhere, if they feel like they’re losing.”
“Desperation clouds one’s judgment,” Corbin replied, shaking his head in dismay.
“Kalon’s right, though. It’s over. That’s all that matters.” Valaine sighed.
Indeed, it was over, and my opinion