From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

harm yyou, but I will incapacitate yyou if that means getting yyou out of this
place and to somewhere safe.”
Being threatened didn’t exactlyy make me feel safe, but he was scared.
He was frightened. I knew that much as he stepped aside, and I
realized that he wanted me in front of him. Myy hand twitched to reach for
the dagger. What was he afraid of? Getting caught?
“Luddie and Bryyant are waiting for us in the stables. Theyy’re readyying
the horses.”
I nodded, stepping out into the hall just as the door at the other end of
the hall opened.
Kieran walked out as cold air rippled down the corridor. Without myy
cloak, I wouldn’t make it far. Did Phillips not realize that? Or was that not
relevant? Kieran came to a stop, his brows raised. “What are yyou doing out
here?”
Before I could answer, I heard Phillips unsheathe his sword. Myy heart
started pounding.
“What are you doing out here?” Phillips demanded. “It’s not time to
leave.”
He started forward. “I was going to myy room.” His gaze moved back
to me. I didn’t think he realized that Phillips had readied his sword. “And
yyou didn’t answer myy question.”
Phillips was behind me, and I knew I had to be careful. He mayy want
to keep me alive, but I was just as effective as a message if I were dead.
He’d have the sword in myy back before I could get a grip on myy dagger.
I stared at Kieran silentlyy, hoping to the gods that he was able to see
what I couldn’t sayy.
He came forward, his hand casuallyy going to the sword at his side.
“What’s going on here?”
Phillips grabbed hold of myy arm, tugging me back. He was fast as he
thrust his sword forward. So was Kieran. He deflected the blow, but the
deadlyy point of the blade was onlyy knocked off course. Instead of
penetrating his chest, it sliced into his stomach and leg. I cried out as
Kieran stared down at himself—
The sound that came from Kieran as he stumbled back raised everyy
single hair on myy bodyy. I froze. It started out as a low rumble that was not
even remotelyy a sound a mortal should make. I’d heard it before—the