I Bought the exiled king (by Natalie Winter) novel Chapter 157

Chapter 157

Valencia

My blood turned to ice as Torv let out a furious cry.

They lunged at us but Tory shoved me behind him with surprising force, his dagger flashing.

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The first soldier came at him with a short sword, but Tory parried clumsily, the wound in his side slowing him. Still, his strength was monstrous. With a grunt, he twisted, sending the man crashing into a cot. Wood splintered under the weight.

The second soldier barreled toward me. Thanks to Killian’s training, I didnt freeze but I ducked instead and looked around for a weapon.

My eyes fell on something and I grabbed a loose helmet from the floor to swing it with all my strength. The metal collided hard against his jaw, stunning him long enough for Torv’s dagger to find his throat.

Blood sprayed hot across the floor.

The third soldier snarled, half–shifted, claws lengthening as he lunged straight for me. I stumbled back, slipping on the slick stone. His weight bore down until Torv tackled him mid–air.

They crashed together, snarling and grunting, fists and claws colliding. Torv slammed the wolf’s head against the floor once, twice, until bone cracked. The soldier went limp.

Silence slammed into the room, broken only by Torv’s ragged gasps.

I scrambled to my feet, heart hammering, and reached for him. “Torv-”

He swayed, then dropped heavily to one knee. The blood at his side was gushing now, soaking through his fingers. His dagger clattered uselessly to the floor.

“No, no, stay with me.” I fell to my knees beside him, pressing my hands against his wound. Hot blood poured through my fingers. “You can’t die, not now. Killian said that you have the potion. Give it to me”

Torv’s gaze met mine, steel–gray and burning with urgency. His lips parted, forming words but no sound came. He coughed violently, blood staining his teeth.

“Please!” My tears blurred the room. “Tell me where it is!”

His hand shot up suddenly, clutching my wrist with iron strength despite his failing body. His mouth worked soundlessly, forming a shape I thought might be a word. What was he trying to say?

Rest? West? I couldn’t be sure.

And then the strength left him.

His grip slackened. His head slumped forward, pale hair falling across his brow.

11:51 Tue, Sep 30 A

Chapter 157

“No!” The word tore from my throat, raw and desperate. I shook him, blood spattering across my arms, my dress, the floor. “Tory, don’t you dare! You can’t leave me without telling me!”

But his chest was still. His eyes were glassy, empty.

“No, no, no!” I screamed and frantically tried to pump his chest, forcing both of my hands on his metal breastplate that was slick with blood.

He didn’t move nor make a sound.

“Fuck! No!!”

I screamed and grabbed him by the collar to demand the answers that were now gone with him.

Frustrated tears leaked out of my eyes as I realized that Torv was gone. But he had saved me from death and the small group of soldiers that had entered the barracks.

Maybe he was carrying that vial with himself? I wondered and wiped my tears to start checking.

I quickly shook him and tried to search his clothes and pockets. But there was nothing inside them.

Could that potion be hidden in his belongings? But then how would I even find his stuff in this chaos?

The torchlight guttered as if mocking me, shadows stretching long across the ruined barracks. The three soldiers lay sprawled around us, their blood pooling into one dark, ugly stain. My hands trembled, slick with Torv’s blood, my heart a frantic drumbeat of fury and fear.

He had died with the answer on his lips.

I pressed my forehead to the cold floor, biting back a scream as frustration began to claw at me again.

Why was the Moon Goddess being so unfair? Why was she letting sick people like Martin hurt innocent ones?

Why was I Morwenna’s descendant, and yet I could not do anything as people died around me.

Not a flicker of magic yet. No power inside wanting to tear free of me, just rage and misery.

I just sat on the floor for a few seconds, trying to process it all.

I couldn’t go back to the Crone with nothing.

I couldn’t face Killian’s burning eyes and tell him I had failed.

But in that moment, something else pierced through the grief–the echo of Torv’s last attempt to speak. His lips had shaped a word. Not west. Not rest.

Best.

Or was it blessed?

My mind raced, clinging desperately to the scraps he had left me. A chest? A place? A blessing?

11:51 Tue, Sep 30 A

Chapter 157

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