The prince headed straight for his brother. Prince Finn had his back to us, speaking with some unknown female. As we drew near, the female’s mouth popped open. Then her eyes hardened as they landed on me. I could practically feel her disapproval.
Seeing he no longer held the female’s attention, Prince Finn turned to see what drew her gaze. He visibly balked as he noted his twin charging towards him.
“Brion?” Prince Finn’s eyes swung between us, taking in every detail. Including the hand around my wrist. “What is the meaning of this?”
My forceful escort didn’t answer. Instead, he said in a booming voice, “We are under attack. Elves.”
The room erupted. Draekon and humans began to scramble, running to the inside corridors leading to what they viewed as safety.
Neither of the princes moved. “You are sure?”
I felt the grip on my arm tighten. “Of course, I am sure,” Prince Brion growled.
Sirens filled the air, trailing into the castle from the open doors and windows. My head jerked toward the nearest opening, and I saw several bolts firing down from the sky.
“You must form our defense,” Prince Finn told his brother. “The soldiers will be waiting.”
A pause followed as Prince Brion quickly shot me a concerned glance. It was so quick, I wasn’t sure it really happened. “You go. I’ll be right there.”
Prince Finn’s eyes flashed with surprise. “You are the general.”
General?
“We are the generals. Go. They are waiting.”
Prince Finn opened his mouth to say something else when a fresh scream reached our ears. A loud crash reverberated through the marbled floor.
“Go. Now!” Prince Brion shoved past his brother in a rush, pulling me along with him. “I will meet you at the armory.” We exited the ballroom.
I stumbled and almost fell multiple times, but the prince continued on. I felt the beginning of a bruise forming on my arm.
We ducked into the servants’ stairwells. I was surprised to see they were empty as we rushed through. I prayed it meant my friends were safely stowed away, but as always, my concern centered on the person in the castle who mattered most.
“Where are you taking me?” I needed to find Lorie.
“Somewhere no one can find you.” The reply released a fresh rush of fear.
“I’m sorry,” I blurted out. I didn’t know what he planned to do to me, but I could only hope apologizing might lessen his anger.
He didn’t stop moving. “For what?”
“Listening to your conversation.” We turned a sharp corner, and I bumped painfully against the edge of the stone wall. “I-I didn’t intend to.”
A gruff mumble was his only response, but I couldn’t understand what he said. We arrived at the base of the stairs. My feet jammed against the second step and I cried out.
“Ow!”
The prince stopped and whirled on me. I hunched over, hissing through my teeth. Rather than wait for me to recover, he bent and threw me over his shoulder. I gasped as his muscular arm knocked the wind out of me.
Prince Brion took the stairs two at a time, racing upward at an unfathomable speed. Disoriented, I tried to focus on a spot on his back. The quick pace and the passing floor made me nauseated. I squeezed my eyes shut.
The dimness of the servant stairwell was replaced by bright candlelight in the castle. I blinked and opened my eyes. A familiar carpet with gold embellishments met my gaze.
I was in Prince Finn’s quarters.
I lifted my head and observed the rooms I’d visited on two occasions. We must have taken some secret passage. We stood on the opposite end of the room, far away from the main entry. Still, the golden crest centered on the floor was exactly as I remembered.
The prince dropped me onto the couch in the sitting room. He left my side and approached the curtain-covered, floor-length windows. I jumped as he threw them open, revealing them to be doors.
Was he going to throw me out to my death?
“You’ll be safe here.” His words took away my initial fear. I acknowledged I was being dramatic. After all, I’d just overheard the prince stress the importance of my safety. He wouldn’t change his mind so quickly.
At least, I hoped not.
He walked out onto a wide stone outcropping, surveying the skies. I saw flashes of blue and white over his shoulder.
“Where are you going?”
“To help.” Dark eyes landed on me. “Stay here.”
I should have just stayed quiet. I should have let him believe I’d stay put. Instead, I blurted, “I need to find my sister.”
His expression hardened. “It isn’t safe.”
Desperation fueled my next words. “She is all I have here. I can’t stay in here without knowing she is safe.” We hadn’t been warned. Who knew where Lorie was? She could be in danger.
Prince Brion clenched his jaw. “I will check on Finn. Then I will bring your sister.”
The compromise floored me. I leaned back into the luxurious cushions, blinking to try and clear my head.
“You… you don’t even know what she looks like.”
Why didn’t I just accept his offer?
He dismissed my objection with a wave of his hand. “Trust me, I’ll know her when I see her.”
I wasn’t given another chance to respond. The prince arched his back and transformed into a scaled creature. His wings expanded off the sides of the stone balcony and lifted him off the ground. His horned head reared back, stretching towards the sky.
My heart stopped. I recognized the draekon. I could never forget the blue-green scales and his elongated snout.
“You?” I breathed the word, unable to say anything else. Prince Brion was the draekon from the journey in the Royal Forest. He was the one who’d burned the goblin beyond recognition.
My hands shook, and I pressed them against my knees.
Why did the prince of draekon travel with a group of recruits to keep us safe? It didn’t make sense. Remembering the conversation I overheard, I realized Agent Min had known Prince Brion was with us.
I didn’t understand, and the confusion made my head ache.
A low growl pulled my gaze back to the prince. It wasn’t threatening but it was firm. The serpent-shaped eyes stared into mine as he hovered in the air, silently commanding me to heed his instruction and stay put.
Before I made a sound, Prince Brion launched into the sky, leaving me stunned and alone in his brother’s sitting room.
37
The clock ticked too slow. I needed time to speed up. The fear for my sister swelled with each passing second, and I was close to breaking.
The large doors leading outdoors remained open, letting the sounds of the attack enter the room. Shouts and cries of pain hit me in my gut. I thought about closing them, but I wasn’t sure if Prince Brion planned to return through them.
I sat on the couch with my arms wrapped around my legs for the first few minutes. Then, unable to sit still any longer, I began to pace the length of the large apartment.
There was a time when I would have been happy to be left alone in Prince Finn’s room. I’d admired the art and fine objects in the space before, but their beauty held little appeal for me as I waited on Prince Brion to bring my sister. I was too anxious.
I had no reason to trust the prince. I’d gathered he was concerned for my safety, but I had no guarantee he intended to fulfill his promise to bring Lorie. Yet despite that, I found myself believing he would. How he’d find Lorie was beyond me. But I didn’t doubt he had a plan.
The admission gave me pause. Did I trust Prince Brion? And if so, why?
What was the strong feeling in my chest telling me to believe he’d keep his promise?
In all honesty, I wasn’t sure I wanted to know the answer.
I suppose it was fortunate, then, that the main apartment door busted open, distracting me from my thoughts. I spun around and jumped back, bumping against the end table holdin
g a fine figurine.
Instead of Prince Brion, I was greeted by the sight of four males, each sporting a head of fair hair.
They froze, as did I. Neither of us knew what to make of the other.
One barked, “Aeila kina lurie?”
I didn’t understand the elven phrase, but his tone made me uneasy.
Another male drew a bow and knocked an arrow, aiming for me. “Perni kina lurie.”
Oh gods. My limbs shook. I had to steady myself against the table behind me.
“I-I’m not a threat.” The words just fell out of my mouth. I held up my hands in surrender. I wasn’t sure if that was what they were saying, but I went with my gut. I didn’t know how the rebels made it into the castle, let alone the prince’s private rooms, but I suspected they hadn’t accomplished it peacefully.
The original male switched to the common tongue. “You are a servant.”
It wasn’t a question, but I stuttered, “Y-yes.”
“The prince’s servant.” The archer drew back his arm, ready to release at the slightest provocation.
My mind filled with visions of Lorie somewhere in the castle, being confronted with a similar scene. Gods, please keep her safe when I’m gone.
I shut my eyes. I didn’t want to see the arrow coming.
“Alti!” A different voice shouted. Authority and strength reinforced the unfamiliar command. I heard the footsteps stomp towards me, and my eyes flew open as I was wrapped in a tight hug.
“Lissa, thank the gods I found you.”
Lin?
I pulled back and met the blue eyes that were almost as familiar as my own. His forest green tunic and brown trousers resembled those of some servants I’d seen in the castle.
Instead of relief, dread pressed on my shoulders. My brother was involved in another violent attack. Since when did he condone endangering innocents? And did he just speak elven?
I lowered my eyes to the floor, trying to understand my situation.
“Lissa?” Lin lowered his head, forcing me to meet his gaze. “Where’s Lorie?”
Her name was probably the only thing that would have forced me to abandon my troubling thoughts. “I don’t know,” I murmured, still in shock about how close I’d been to being killed by an elven bolt and now an elven arrow.
His eyes moved over me, finally noting my fine gown and what was left of Remi’s hairstyle. “You were at the companion ceremony?”
Lin knew about the ceremony. The rebellion must have spies in the castle.
“Yes. I am friends with the couple.” The admission slipped out on its own, but I refused to take it back. My brother needed to know his attack wasn’t just affecting the royal family and nobles like he’d convinced himself. There were innocent draekon in danger thanks to his rebellion.
Sounds of disapproval and judgment sounded behind my brother’s shoulder. I didn’t bother to look and see the elves’ disgust.
Lin’s expression hardened. “Where might we find our sister? We need to get out of here before the draekon return to the castle.”
On cue, an earth-shaking roar vibrated against the walls and assaulted my eardrums. I bent over, covering my ears.
Not giving me the chance to recover, Lin snatched one of my hands and yanked me towards the door. The elves were already in the hall, clearing the path for us.
“Lorie,” my brother barked our sister’s name at me. “Where would she be?”
I wracked my brain, running the probabilities in my mind. “My rooms.” Since I hadn’t searched her out, my gut told me Lorie would try to find me if there was trouble. My rooms were the best, and closest, option.
“Where?”
I called out directions. The elves and my brother listened without question. We climbed down the stairs and arrived at the apartments I shared with Master Errol. I thanked the gods he wasn’t there. I didn’t know what I’d do if the rebels threatened him.
Lin crashed through the door. A startled yelp greeted us, followed by a heavy candle stick crashing into the wall by the doorframe.
The front elf dodged the attack, dropping into a fighting stance.
“Lorie! It’s me.” I ran towards her. She lowered her hand, dropping a second candlestick to the ground.
“Lissy?”
“It’s me.” I wrapped her in a hug. “It’s Lissa and Lin.” Our brother arrived at my shoulder.
Lorie started to cry. “Lin?” I released my sister, so she could throw herself at our brother.
A throat cleared behind us. The elf who’d previously threatened me with a bow bowed his head. “With all due respect, Sir, we need to go.”
Sir?
Lin nodded. “Kip, go clear the halls. The rest of you, follow and ensure our escape route remains clear. I won’t risk my sisters.”
To my complete and total disbelief, the four elves bowed to my brother and left to do his bidding.
I stepped away from Lin, dragging Lorie with me. “What is going on?”
His brow furrowed. “I’m rescuing you.”
“Why do they call you, ‘Sir’?”
He released a breath. “Now is not the time, Lissa. We need to get out of here.”
“What have you done? Are you a rebel leader now?”
Beside me, Lorie stiffened. She looked at my brother in disbelief. “Lin?”
Our brother clenched his jaw. “Do you want out of here or not?”
“What did you have to do?” I asked, ignoring his question like he’d ignored mine. “How did you become a leader?” To be a rebel was one thing, to be their leader—to coordinate such violence—that was something else entirely.
“I will explain later,” he shouted. “For now, I need you to trust me.”
“An elf almost killed me when I was on the balcony!” I yelled back at him. I wanted him to understand; I’d nearly been killed by the rebellion. He shouldn’t be involved in their violence. It wasn’t right.
Lin’s eyes swirled with anger and frustration. “This attack was orchestrated solely to get you two out. We need to leave before it’s too late.”
I didn’t believe that—not after almost being shot with an arrow by an archer less than ten feet away. I took a step back.
Lorie gaped at me. “Lissy? What are you doing?”
Lin looked ready to burst. “You are being ridiculous.”
“What aren’t you telling us?” I couldn’t explain it, but I knew there was something my brother kept hidden. I kept seeing the powerful elves, the ones capable of cursing draekon, heed his command like it was normal. I needed an explanation. I couldn’t leave the castle and subject Lorie and myself to the fate of the rebellion without it.
“We’re different, Lissa. You’ve known we were always different.”
I shook my head, taking another step back. Lorie, thankfully, came with me. “What does that have to do with the rebellion?”
“There isn’t enough time to explain.” To emphasize his point, Lin glanced at the clock on the wall. “Why don’t you trust me? I’m your brother.”
“Because the rebels bowed to you,” I snapped, wanting him to see how completely bizarre and disconcerting it was to see such a thing. “And they almost killed me!”
A shudder rocked the ceiling just before I heard the heavy footsteps coming our way.
Oh no.
Prince Brion barreled into the room, holding one of the elves by the throat. Lorie screamed, and I jerked back as I watched him break the male’s neck with a single snap of the wrist.
Lingering flames licked the prince’s body, flickering in height as he moved. His eyes were caught somewhere between slits and their usual round shape. Instantly, they were on me. Smoke blew out his nose as he released a restrained sigh.
Then, the dark, menacing gaze landed on Lin.
Prince Brion took one step, and I could already see my brother’s lifeless body at the end of the draekon’s arms.
“Stop.”
He kept moving.
I ran forward and
flung myself onto the prince’s outstretched arm. Behind me, Lorie gasped.
“No!”
Prince Brion flung me off of him. My knees collided painfully with the floor. He reached out to Lin, who stood there with wide eyes. The prince snatched his neck and squeezed. Lin made a choking sound as he was in the air, gravity helping to deprive him of air.
“Prince Brion,” my voice cracked. “Please.” Lorie cried out her own pathetic appeals.
Lin scratched at the prince’s hands, but his face twisted in pain as the lingering flames burned him.
I stood and rushed the prince again, latching onto him. I wrapped my arm around his, so he couldn’t throw me off so easily. “He’s my brother,” I shouted the words into his face. “Prince Brion. He’s my brother!”
With eerie slowness, the prince moved his lethal gaze from my brother to me. A tendril of hope began to form. “He’s my brother,” I said again. “Please. Don’t kill him.”
Prince Brion watched me for agonizing seconds. I could hear my brother’s gagging and my sister’s crying, but I didn’t dare turn away to look at them. I needed the prince to hear me and have mercy.
A thousand observations swirled in my mind as the prince and I were locked in each other’s stares. I saw his rage. I could detect he fought his instinct to end my brother’s life. He also was mad at me, no doubt, for leaving his brother’s room in the first place. He’d been worried. Guilt pricked my stomach.
But still, I saw his relief. I wasn’t sure how I knew, but the prince was relieved to find me unharmed.
By the grace of the mysterious gods, Prince Brion dropped his hand, releasing my brother.
Lorie rushed to his side. I moved to do the same, but the prince’s hand moved to my waist. He wrapped the strong fingers around me and stepped towards the wall, taking me with him. My back pressed against his chest.
“Let… her… g-go.” Lin’s voice was raw and scratchy. He struggled to get the command out.
Prince Brion’s fingers flexed against the dress’s smooth fabric. “He is with the rebellion.” His breath tickled my ear. I realized he spoke to me, ignoring Lin.
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