Page 92 of Pride: Kneel Before None

Mirra had gotten lost in the sea of people, either escaping or fighting off the mob. Still sprawled on the floor, Ignatius was unable to do more than get onto his hands and knees.

Crestpin watched with detached interest, but scrutiny lived in his eyes as he observed my reaction to the impending threats. “They’ll tear you apart, Barnbel. Even you are no match against an army summoned from inside your own empire. They’ll destroy this building and everyone in it. Including your pet succubus.”

“Ace,” Eve said my name with nervous uncertainty, looking for reassurance or a plan.

She cast a scathing glare at the elder Knight orchestrating this nightmare. “Stop it! Call them off!”

He responded with a tired sigh. “I am not the one who chooses how this ends. Barnabel has the final say in how this ends.”

I shot a deadly look at Crestpin. Whatever game he was playing, he had full control over its rules. But I was determined to control the outcome.

“What do you want from me?” I shifted, moving Eve with me to stay out of reach of those inching closer to us.

“It’s simple. Nothing that will cost you a single cent.” The smug satisfaction rang loud and clear in his voice.

While he drew out the moment with his words, I grabbed one of my dealer’s arms when he got too close and flung him into a group of three others.

“Tell me!” I growled, glancing at him over my shoulder.

Crestpin chuckled.

“All you need to do is one thing.” He paused to spread his hands out before him, gesturing at the floor at his feet.

“Kneel.”

CHAPTER 28

The old man repeated himself. “Did you not hear me, Barnabel? I said ‘kneel,’ and all this ends now.”

Ace stood there, rigid and unyielding.

Did he have a death wish? We were moments away from being torn apart by the masses, and he acted like we had all the time in the world.

“No.”

No? Had he lost his fucking mind?

My mouth fell open.

“No?” It seemed the only thing Crestpin and I had in common was our surprise at Ace’s unwillingness to submit.

This is it. This is how I fucking die. All because this son of a bitch won’t drop to a knee.

Everything stuck to my skin. My hair, my clothes, my damn dignity. Whoever sabotaged the fire alarms had been determined to destroy my appearance. I bet it was a troll, the one who sat in the cashier’s cage. Insufferable and grotesque bastard.

If I were going to die, the least the universe owed me was to do it looking spectacular.

“Does your pride truly override common sense?” the decrepit Knight asked incredulously. “All that you possess will be sacrificed needlessly, and yet you still refuse to kneel?”

A dark edge, heavy with something ancient, crept into Ace’s voice. “I kneel before none.”

Crestpin nodded in a manner that almost appeared respectful of the decision not to yield.

“Then all but your pride shall perish.” He stepped back, gesturing a single sweeping move like an executioner dropping the blade.

Ace’s runes became brighter than any of the neon lights across Superbia. When he moved, the streaks of color lingered in the air. There was no wasted effort when he lunged at the nearest body who posed a threat.

One after another, they staggered back. He moved with precision, speed, and strength.