Checkmate, Heiress
"
Damien's face drained of all color, cold sweat soaking through his inner robes. He looked around wildly and saw his rebel troops either dead or surrendering on the ground.
He saw the King's face, cold and unmoved.
He saw Ivy, already collapsed and trembling, muttering over and over that it was all over.
"No! I don't believe it!"
Damien looked half-mad, swinging his sword in wild, aimless arcs.
"I'm the man fate chose! I'm the Crown Prince! I'm the King! I won't die! I can still start over!"
Then, abruptly, he stopped—and turned to Julian with a strange, twisted smile.
"Julian! Remember this! Not in this life—I will never die by your hand!"