The guards threw us down against the marble floors like scrapped meat before the king. Tight chains bind our necks, hands, and ankles, making it impossible for us to struggle. I look over to the King’s Guard, to my ally, to my love, and he’s breathing heavily. He cannot keep his composure the way he used to.

“Look at what we have here!” The king boomed. He laughed from atop his gold throne, splaying out his fingers adorned with jewels. “Adair, I did not expect you to attempt to steal from me like this, let alone do so with help from a worthless peasant girl!”

“Moira is not worthless!” He lunges forward, but trips on his own feet and faceplants onto the marble flooring.

“Haha!” The king laughed louder. His triumph in our sufferings echos to the farthest corners of his castle. “You are too funny!”

I look down at my knees, scraped and bruised from the hours I spend on the ground washing every crevice. My hands are almost raw from how often they’re exposed to hot water. The mop of brown hair on my head is tangled, and I haven’t had time this morning to attempt to brush it before I was taken. By now, I would have met cook to bring the queen her breakfast. There is a chance he may be impatiently waiting for me, not knowing what I’ve tangled myself into.

“Adair,” the king says. Adair refuses to meet his eyes. “Because you have been nothing but loyal to me for the five years you’ve been here, I’m going to give you one last chance.” He grabs Adair by the chin and forces his bowed head to face him. From the pocket in his cape, he pulls out a dagger as long as his hand. His thick, meaty finger points to me. “Kill her, and your slate will be wiped clean. We will forget about this little incident, and you can remain in the castle by my side. Refuse, and the both of you will be faced with a public hanging.” Adair’s hand is forced forward, and the weapon is placed in his palm. The king’s next words sound like a snake speaking to its prey, “Make your choice.”

“Adair, it’s okay,” I reassure him. If I die, the spark of our plan to provide for the poor and dethrone the king will remain. It won’t shine as brightly as it once did, it will shrink with grief, with one less person than there was before. But if we both hang, the poor will only wither faster. I cannot let the people I once knew die like that. If only Adair could understand. He shakes his head.

“I promise, it’s okay.” I repeat to him. “Do what you must do, as long as the method is quick.”

His tender eyes bore into mine. The only comfort he can provide me.

“If I must kill her, you have to unchain me first.” He demands. At the flick of the king’s wrist, he was no longer bound by chains. As heencroaches toward me, he whispers, “I’m sorry.” Unlike the strides he takes in battle, each step he takes is fearful. His knees are ready to buckle. “I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t drag this on, dear,” I say.

Sharpness pierces the back of my neck. Warm liquid runs down my back and soaks my dress. Soon, all thoughts were gone.