Kaida pulls back to find Maven is holding a piece of metal shrapnel to her neck.
It appears to be the remains of his handcuffs turned into a deadly weapon, sharp enough to puncture skin.
"Third time lucky?"
Kaida spits out.
The kiss was unplanned, a mistake even, but this wasn't. Maven had to refocus.
This was what he wanted right?
To kill her, to settle Norta into dust and bring back the crown as a gift to Pracxedes.
The fulfilment of prophecy.
Kaida sighs and then she closes her eyes and leans her head slightly back.
As she looks up to the heavens, she reveals more of her neck.
"Do it."
She is completely at peace, her features serene.
She dares crack open one of her brown eyes to behold Maven.
Kaida has no idea what he is thinking, but the fact he hadn't acted yet, gave her a small glimmer of hope.
Perhaps he was not completely dead inside. Perhaps he wasn't all entirely gone.
"You didn't hesitate the first time. So don't hesitate now."
Kaida closes her eye and she presses her neck into the metal. It digs in deeper but in the same moment, Maven relieves pressure, the indentation in her skin lessening.
Kaida patiently waits.
The seconds draw on and on and on.
After they both realise, nothing is happening, Kaida breaks her hands free from his grip.
She flicks the shrapnel away from her neck, like one would flick a stray bug off themselves.
Maven feels as though he is watching from a third angle, completely removed from the situation and from his own actions.
He was frozen.
He lets Kaida do as she pleases.
"You are playing a game I don't want to play anymore, Maven Calore. I'm just tired."
Kaida backs away from Maven and retreats, stepping out of the glass box.
Bizarrely enough, she does not close the door again, instead she slides it as wide open as it can go, creating a gaping exit.
Kaida turns to face Maven, through the open gap.
"You're free to go. I have a Kingdom to rule over and it is consuming enough. I don't care what you do. Leave or stay. Just don't kill anyone."
Maven was not anticipating this turn of events.
It wasn't a wise decision letting him go, but here he was...a free man.
He takes a step towards Kaida but she cuts the meeting short.
She turns to leave without sparing him another glance.
The bolt on the outermost door is left undone and the Guards stationed outside stamp and proceed to match off elsewhere.
Maven gingerly steps out into the Palace hallway and looks both sides, like he is about to cross a road.
It was completely empty.
He was out.
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𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐄
Romance[Completed - Book 3 of the Blood Court Series] ❝ You manipulated me. Did you think I would be happy? To see you sit on my throne. The throne you stole from me, while you let me die. Me...
