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I crossed the silver line.

“Stellan.” Bryony’s voice stopped me for half a second. “Tell me what you need.”

I looked back at her. Fear had taken the colour from her face, but she held her ground.

“Keep the throne-room doors open until I’m back over this line. If my restraints turn bright red, shut them between me and Adrian.”

Her eyes dropped to my wrists. “Even if you’re still outside?”

“Especially then.”

She hated the answer. I watched her accept it anyway.

“Come back fast,” she said.

“That was already my plan.”

The gate split wide enough for a body. A vampire came through sideways with a short axe raised. I met him before both feet reached the stones.

He swung for my throat. I caught his wrist, drove my shoulder into his chest and put him into the wall. The axe dropped. He went for my eyes with his free hand.

I slammed the sword through his ribs.

He laughed in my face. “Still chained.”

“Still stronger than you.”

I ripped the blade sideways. His body folded, but he caught my arm as he fell and sank his teeth into my forearm. Pain tore up to my elbow. I punched the hilt into his temple until bone gave way. When his jaw loosened, I pulled free and cut his head from his body.

The second vampire was already inside.

He ignored me and ran for Bryony.

“Left door,” she shouted.

Stone ground behind him. A narrow door swung out from the wall and struck his shoulder. He turned with a snarl, giving me the second I needed to reach him.

I hooked an arm around his neck. He threw himself backwards and crushed me into the closing door. My sword struck the floor. He drove an elbow into my injured arm, then twisted towards Bryony again.

Black thorns burst through the joints between the flagstones. They caught his boots and climbed his legs.

Bryony stood with one palm flat against the wall. “You’re not fucking touching him or me.”

The vampire clawed at the vines. They tightened until blood ran over his boots.

I picked up my sword and drove it through the back of his neck.

He dropped. The thorns dragged his body away from Bryony and released it near the open gate.

A slow clap came from the other side.

Adrian stood beyond the broken iron with four vampires behind him. He wore a dark coat over court clothes, as if he’d come from dinner instead of an attack. The heartblood dagger rested against his palm.

“There he is,” Adrian said. “I wondered how much of the Blood King was left.”

I stepped over the first body. “Come closer and find out.”

His smile held no humour. “Kneel.”