Chapter 241

Alexander POV

“It’s already over, pup.”

The words echoed in my head, but my thoughts were sluggish, my limbs heavy. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong, something deeper than just the bleeding wound in my side.

Ironfang stared at me, his voice low and almost affectionate as he took a few steps toward him. "That knife wasn’t just steel, you know," he said. "It was poisoned. A special concoction, courtesy of your father."

A cold shiver ran down my spine. My father. The Northern King. The man who had abandoned me, used me, and turned me into a weapon.

I felt the weight of the realization pressing down on me. Ironfang was here to finish what the King had started—to bring an end to my rebellion, to silence me once and for all, and he wasn’t going to risk failing.

With each beat of my hammering heart the poison spread through my veins. Soon, I wouldn’t be able to stand.

"He’s tired of your little game, Alexander. He’s wasted enough resources combating your loyalists in the Roguelands. He wants you gone. And I’m the one to do it."

My father had never cared for me. He had always seen me as a tool to be used, an object to further his own agenda.

I had done everything possible to deny that role. When I had been powerful enough to win people to my side, I had started working agaisnt him. My role as the Ice King was to disrupt his supply lines by stealing the goods and reselling them for my own profit. That allowed me to pay the men that acted on my behalf in the Roguelands and even in the North.

As my power grew, I started defying him more openly. I had overdone it. I had been too obvious.

Of course this was the result. I should have known all along that he would put me down.

The room seemed to spin around me as the poison worked its way through my system. My body felt like it was betraying me, the strength I had fought with fading, replaced by an unrelenting wave of weakness.

My legs wobbled beneath me, but I refused to collapse. He wasn’t done. Ella’s arms were locked around me. Her strength under the circumstances was impressive.

I couldn’t help but smile as I glanced down at her. My strange little puzzle, never reacting the way I expected her to.

"You're wrong," I managed to rasp, his voice barely audible but filled with defiance. "I’m not going to die here. I won’t let him win."

Ironfang’s expression twisted with amusement, and he took another step forward. "You’re already dead, Alexander. You just don’t know it yet."

The poison was swift, but I had been through worse. I had faced death before—I wasn’t going to let it take me so easily.

I had to protect Ella. With great effort I pulled away from her, locking my eyes with hers. “I love you,” I said softly. “That’s why you have to leave.”

She shook her head, but no words came. She took a few hesitant steps back, glancing at Ironfang with obvious fear.

Her bravery was admirable, but her fear was well placed as well. I needed her to live through this, to keep going. I couldn’t be the reason her second chance ended like this.

“I’m afraid I can’t let her go, pup,” Ironfang said, his voice oddly quiet. “My orders were specific.”

“You won’t touch her,” I spat, my voice weak but determined. "I won’t let you hurt her."

"You’re determined," Ironfang said, his tone soft. "You always were so promising, Alexander. Always fighting back, believing you could escape your fate." He took a step back, his hand reaching for a second dagger at his side. "Your rebellion ends today. This is where your story ends."

My mind was hazy, but the instinct to protect Ella surged through me, stronger than the poison, stronger than the pain.

I glanced down, seeing the other knife just a few feet away from me.

“You’re not killing anyone today!” Ella shouted suddenly, drawing both of our attention.

I looked at her in shock, intending to stop her but then our eyes met. She glanced at the knife, like she could read my mind.

She was giving me a distraction. If I could act fast enough…

Ironfang turned to her fully, stalking toward her like the predator he was. “I can see why he likes you,” he said. “You’re fiery.”

“I’m not going to let fear control me,” she said, her voice shaking.

“It’s admirable to face your death head on,” he said, sounding almost sorry for her. “If it were up to me I’d let you go. It does seem a waste to pluck such a pretty flower so soon.”

My hand, shaking uncontrollably, reached for the fallen knife on the ground. I didn’t have much time. I needed to end this now.

I gripped the blade with all the strength I could muster, my vision swimming as I slowly turned toward Ironfang, my arm shaking under the weight of the weapon.

I concealed the blade in my sleeve, then turned my attention to Ironfang.

“You won’t hurt her!” I shouted. Despite the dizziness and fear I stood tall, keeping my chin up.

He turned back to me and took a moment to look me over, then he sighed. “This really is a shame,” he said. “So much promise. If only you knew how to take an order.”

“Never,” I replied, smirking slightly. “I prefer to give the orders.”

Ironfang’s laugh echoed in the room, but there was a hint of uncertainty in it now.

I glanced at Diana’s still form on the ground. Why was she the only one with him?

He was in the capital, the heart of enemy territory. It didn’t make sense for him to be here alone. Unless…

“What did you do to anger him?” I asked, taking a step toward him. “He sent you alone to kill me, to prove yourself. Why?”

His eyes locked on mine and a low growl slipped through him clenched teeth.

I was right.

I smiled, despite the pain I was in. “He’s like that isn’t he?” I asked. “You take one wrong step and his paranoia grabs hold. He’s convinced that everyone is out for his head.”

“Weren’t you?” he demanded, moving toward me.

“Oh, I was,” I admitted. “More than anything I wanted to kill him. To make sure that he could never hurt anyone else. He’s a tyrant, a bully–” I gasped as a wave of pain shot up from my side.

Ella looked at me with concern, but I tried to shake it off.

“But you?” I said, looking to Ironfang. “You were loyal always. For him to treat you this way really shows how much his mind has left him.”

“At least I can tell him you didn’t die begging for mercy,” Ironfang said, suddenly rushing at me.

I didn’t make an attempt to dodge, I knew that I would fail. As my back connected with the ground I threw my arm out, the blade that was concealed in my sleeve shooting out and gliding across the floor.

It came to a rest at Ella’s feet.

Our eyes locked and all I could do was hope that she would understand.

I grabbed Ironfang’s arms as he tried to bring his other blade down on me. Every bit of strength I had was going into fighting back. I had to last just a little longer.

I couldn’t allow Ironfang to walk away from this. The best chance for Ella to survive was for me to take him down with me.

The poison in my veins was going to take me, I accepted that. I would not allow Ella to fall too.

He freed one of his hands from the blade and punched me in the face, hard enough that the world spun around me. I refused to pass out. I dug my nails into his wrist, trying with every bit of strength to hold on.

Then, I heard Ella moving.