In the morning, the men returned from their wild goose chase. Krystofyr, furious that Anders had evaded him, stormed down to the dungeon to make sure the shadow king hadn’t released Gwynnyth as well. To his surprise, the two huddled together in the back of the open cell.

The color had returned to Anders’ body sometime in the night, as though he were an ordinary man again. His piercing glare kept Krystofyr from approaching. “You win, traitor. You will conduct our execution exactly as I describe, or I will slaughter your entire court.”

Soldiers gathered on the stairs behind Krystofyr, but he held them back. He met Anders’ glare. “Let’s hear your final request.”

Later, at the scaffold, the conspirators held a “trial.” Men forced the faithful midwife to confess her knowledge of the Queen’s demonic birth before the massive crowd, then escorted her to the gallows. A few of Gwynnyth’s other loyal attendants were hanged as well. 

Finally, the King and Queen themselves were brought forward with their arms tied behind their backs. One soldier seized Gwynnyth and dragged her toward the chopping block. She shrieked for her Andre.

A swift flash of black intervened, and the soldier’s head rolled off the scaffold. Gasps and yelps rippled through the throng. Anders stood between Gwynnyth and their executioners like a shield, with the soldier’s sword in his now free hand. “Conducted exactly as I described,” he snapped. “We go together, or not at all.”

He cut Gwynnyth’s bonds and shared one last gaze with her before turning back to the soldiers. “Blindfolds. Only the cleanest, sharpest blades. And you must kill us both at the exact same time.”

A second chopping block joined the first. Anders and Gwynnyth held hands in wait for the final blow. The crowd of citizens, once hesitant about the execution, pulsed and shouted in fear now that they had witnessed the King’s sinister powers in person.

Krystofyr gave the killing command. 

Anders squeezed his eyes tight.