We both freeze, staring wide eyed at one another. Me in terror, him in shock that quickly shifts to excitement.
A slow smile spreads across his face and he cups his hands around his mouth, calling out, “I found them!” Gleeful eyes then drop to Theon and the man unsheathes his sword.
Horror like I've never known consumes me and I lurch towards Theon, curling my body over his and Aurora’s as the man thrusts his blade. A sharp, fiery pain suddenly pierces my side and I scream, Theon and Aurora’s cries an echo of my own.
“Shit.” He rips the blade free, and I scream again as he snatches me up by the wrist, snapping the bone with a crack as he tears me away from Theon.
“Fuck!” he barks, his wide eyes staring at my limp hand. “We weren’t supposed to hurt you. Only the heirs.”
At the mention of my children, my cries cut off and I bury my pain and panic as I summon my most dominant Gift. Palms shimmering a glittering teal, a stream of water streaks towards the man and invades his open mouth.
Considering how many times I witnessed the humans deflect magic tonight, one would assume it’d be no surprise when nothing happens. But I'm stunned that when I expect him to drown, he laughs instead, thoroughly unaffected.
“That won't work on me,” he sneers.
Rage and desperation fuel my determination to live and save my children at all costs. My power burns brighter, near blinding as I release a wave of water that swiftly surrounds him. Cycling faster and faster, the water cocoons his entire body in a speeding cyclone.
He laughs and stares at the cyclone in awe, mesmerized at the sight of the water recoiling from his skin when he slices a hand through it. “That won't work, either.”
“But this will.” Quickly unsheathing my dagger, I lunge forward and stab him in the eye.
“Aaaah!” He tugs the dagger free with a wet slurp, the blade tumbling from his grasp and clattering to the floor. He then slaps his hand to his now knifeless eye, blood gushing between his fingers as he drops to his knees and falls face first to the floor, dead before his face even touches the wood.
Knowing that our location has been compromised, I grab a sobbing Theon and carry him under my arm, running towards the door. Kicking the dead human aside, I rush into mine and Valor’s bedchamber, slam the door shut, lock it, and bolt across the room to the wall beside my bed. Placing Theon on his feet, I flatten my uninjured hand on the wall, searching for the groove that unlatches the hidden door. The sound of excited shouts and multiple sets of boots begin pounding in our direction. Theon sobs harder, Aurora joining him.
Panic crawls up the back of my throat as I swipe my hand back and forth with no sign of the latch.
Where is it?!
Theon screams and I jolt at the first strike against the door, a cold sweat beading across my brow as I move my hands faster and faster until … finally! Fingertips curving beneath the groove, I unlatch the door to the hidden passageway and shove Theon through.
As I take my first step to enter the passageway, the door to my bedchamber begins to splinter. I pause, my foot hovering above the threshold as I peer down at my son.
They know I'm here, but they don't know they are. Even if they heard their cries, I could say they were my own. If they come in here and can't find me, they'll search and find the hidden door.
A fierceness only a mother can feel engulfs me as I look down at my terrified son. Staring into the exact replica of his father's dark green eyes overflowing with tears, I realize I can't go with him. They might not discover the passageway. They may even give up their search eventually. But I'm not willing to take the risk.
Removing Aurora, I quickly unwrap the sling and wrap it around Theon’s body, placing a trembling and sobbing Aurora inside it.
“Mama?” Confused eyes dart between me and Aurora.
“Take your sister and follow the passageway until it ends,” I say, praying that he’ll be able to bear her weight. “There's a room at the end of the corridor with beds and food. There's lots of toys, too! I'll come and find you when I can.”
His sobs worsen and he gasps. “No!”
“I can't go with you, baby,” I say with an apologetic smile.
Crouching before them, I press my lips to Aurora’s forehead and hug them both tightly to my chest, feeling the wetness of tears as I place a soft kiss on Theon’s chubby cheek.
“I'll find you,” I whisper. “I promise.” Heart shattering, I stand to my feet and peer down at him. “Run, Theon.”
Then I shut the door on Aurora's cries and Theon’s anguished face, just as a worn boot punches through the broken door.
Adrenaline wavering, I cradle my broken wrist to my chest and place my opposite hand against the wound on my side, feeling my life force slither between the webbing of my fingers as I stumble before my bed and collapse to my knees. Suffering from grief, pain, heartbreak, and exhaustion, I bow my head and watch my blood slowly pool onto the oak wood floors, lacking the strength to acknowledge the methodical footsteps slowly approaching.
“Lift her,” a deep voice demands.
Rough hands drag me to my feet and I release a strangled cry. Slowly lifting my head, I meet the glacial-eyed stare of the Savage King himself, King Rainier.
His face betrays no emotion as he scrutinizes me from head to toe. “She's wounded,” he coldly states. “Were my orders not clear when I said no harm is to come to her?” His jaw hardens. “Find who did this.”
The greasy man standing beside him shuffles his feet. “I think it was Ptorik.”
Rainier glances over his shoulder, seeing the dead body beside the doorway. “I'm assuming that's Ptorik?” Rainier asks, returning his cruel gaze to mine.
The greasy man nods his head.
“And whose responsibility was it to ensure my orders were executed properly?”
Silence.
“Who?” Rainier growls.
“M-m-mine,” the greasy man stutters.
The air thickens menacingly as everyone holds their breath for Rainier’s response.
