Freya’s POV
A slow, taunting smirk stretched across Maya’s lips as she rose from the ground, dusting herself off with deliberation. She rolled her shoulders, testing the soreness from my last attack, but something in the gleam of her eyes told me she wasn’t done. Not even close.
“You’ve gotten stronger,” she said, cocking her head to one side, an edge of amusement dancing in her voice, but beneath it, something else entirely-unsettled.
I didn’t move a step. My stance was firm and unyielding. I could feel the burn of battle in my limbs, the coursing of adrenaline running through my veins. But I refused to show any signs of weakness. I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction.
“And you,” I said-my voice cool but lacerating-“have weakened.” A small smile pulled the corner of my lips, needling her in return for all the times she so frequently goaded me.
Maya’s smirk never wavered, but for one fraction of a second. Then she laughed softly. “Or maybe,” she said, her voice slipping to a deadly whisper, “I just haven’t shown you my full strength yet.”
Then she was gone. And my breath hitched.
I felt a sudden, searing pain rip across my cheek; the world blurred for a second as I stumbled back, fingers flying instinctively to my face. The warmth of blood smeared against my fingertips.
There was little time to process the pain before another force hit me, and I slid across the ground, my body screaming. Forcing myself up through blurry vision, I was standing again.
Maya was several feet away, her lips curled into satisfaction, with a smudge of my blood yet to be cleaned off her fingers.
I let out a sharp exhalation, fisting my hands. This wasn’t going to go easily.
——
Freja’s POV
Anger boiled inside me, hot and uncontrollable. My hands clenched into fists so tightly that my nails dug into my palms, but the pain only fueled my anger. My whole body shook with fury as I faced James-the one person in whom I had placed my trust, the one person I had thought I knew.
“Come on!” I screamed, my voice raw and full of venom. “Fight me, you backstabber!”
James did not move, his face set in an internal struggle. His stance was defensive, not attacking.
“I do not want to fight you, Freja,” he said, his voice taut, controlled. “But I will if I have to.”
Only his words infuriated me more. I let out a bitter laugh. “Oh, don’t be acting like you suddenly care for me!” I said, shaking with the intensity of my feelings. “Not after everything! Not after stabbing me and my family in the back!”
James’ jaw clenched. He took a deep breath, his eyes dark with conflict. “I had no idea they were your family!” he shot back, frustration bleeding into his words. “I didn’t know you were related to Steven Blackwood!”
I took a slow step forward, my breathing uneven. My heart was pounding so loudly in my ears that I could barely hear anything else. “And even if you did… if you had known from the beginning that I was Steven’s sister-would it have changed anything?”
He froze. That single hesitation was like a dagger to my chest.
“Answer me!” I screamed, my voice cracking under the weight of my emotions.
James exhaled explosively, clenching his fists at his sides. “No, it wouldn’t!” he finally growled, a low, serrated edge in his voice-angry, yes, and something else. Broken. “It wouldn’t have changed one damn thing! Steven killed my father! Steven ripped out his heart with his bare hands! One way or another, I was always gonna get my vengeance. Liam promised Maya and me justice, and we stood with him!”
The words cut like a slap in the face, but I was too angry to register them. Then instinct took over.
I slapped him. Hard.
“I hate you!” I spat, my breath ragged. I didn’t give him a chance to react before I slapped him again, harder this time. Yet, he didn’t move. He didn’t flinch. He just stood there, taking it, like he thought he deserved it.
“I hate you so much!” My fists pounded against his chest, over and over, but he just stood there, letting me release my anger, my heartbreak, my pain.
“Fight me!” I shoved him with both hands, my voice hoarse. “Why won’t you fight me back?!”
James caught my wrists, stopping me. Firm, yet gentle, he didn’t want to hurt me. His eyes, so guarded, were now full of emotions I didn’t want to understand.
“Because my fight is not with you, Freja,” he whispered, his voice barely audible.
I froze. My breath hitched.
“I…I care about you,” he said, and something in his voice completely broke me.
I swallowed hard, my throat dry, my heart beating against my ribs. “I am your enemy’s sister,” I said, my voice trembling. “You still care for me?”
James took a deep breath, and his fingers constricted a little. “I’m not supposed to,” he whispered, the crack in his voice audible. “But I can’t stop myself, Freja. I…” He swallowed, the motion working painfully down his throat. “I love you.”
Time appeared to freeze. All around us went into a vague blur.
I opened my mouth, my chest all tight, and before uttering a word-
A sharp, unbearable pain struck my chest.
A chill, iron-tipped grip seared through my back, thrusting right through my body. I gasped, my whole form jerking forward as my vision blurred in agony.
I looked down in horror.
A hand-covered in blood-was buried inside my chest. My own blood.
My knees went out from under me. My breath came in short, strangled gasps.
And then-I felt it. The unmistakable, merciless grip tightening around my heart.
James’ face twisted in pure terror. “No!” he yelled, his voice breaking.
I tried to turn, to see who had attacked me, but my strength was already failing. The pain was unbearable, my body trembling violently.
Before I could utter a word anymore-before I could even fight-my heart was ripped out of my chest.
And it all went black.
——-
James’ POV
“No!” My scream ripped through the night as Freja’s body went limp in my arms, the weight of her heavy, lifeless.
My hands shook while holding her, blood-so much blood-seeping into my clothes, staining everything.
“You murdered her!” I screamed, my entire body quaking with anger and desolation. I raised my head, my sight foggy with unshed tears. My eyes fell on Maya, my supposed ally, my trusted person. “I told you not to touch her! I warned you!”
Maya barely looked at me, but her voice was cold. “She was our enemy, James,” she said. “Get over it. Stop being so weak.” And with that, she pivoted and walked away.
My breath came in ragged gasps.
I looked down at Freja, at her once vibrant face now pale and lifeless.
“No,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. My hands had cradled her cheek, my fingers shaking. “No, this can’t be happening.”
Tears blurred my vision when I laid my forehead against hers. “I…I still have so much to tell you, Freja,” I whispered brokenly. “You can’t die… Not yet. Please… don’t leave me.”
But she was already gone.
And the worst part was-I had never felt more alive in my pain.