44. Shattered.
His gaze snapped to the hoe where he had left it that morning. His fingers wound around it.
As he straightened, he brought it down without mercy—
the metal head crashing into the skull of the man who had dared strike at him.
The cracking sound of bone split the silent night.
The man went crashing to the ground, his blood splashing across Zuri—and as he fell, the others stepped into view.
Zuri's eyes darkened.
They were far different from the eyes of the gardener that Wisteria knew.
Without a word, his gaze swept over them, counting.
Twenty in sight—
which meant twice as many lay hidden in the shadows of the woods.
"Hah…"
He let out a quiet breath, tossing the hoe aside.
With the back of his hand, he wiped the blood from his brow—
then bent and took up the fallen man's sword.
"Damaris will be here soon," he muttered. "I must be rid of them all before then."
"One strike, one kill," he said.
