Kindred Souls Complete Series: Books 1-4

Chapter Twenty-Five

The stars above metwirled and danced for a moment while shards of pain shot through my head. Before the world settled, legs straddled my waist and hands wrapped around my throat. I bucked against the grip, trying to flip them off me. It was too dark to tell who it was, their face lost in shadows, but I recognized the purple uniform.

My fingers clawed at the steel cutting off my air, drawing lines of blood in their skin. Everything Sky and Elora had taught me fled from my mind, leaving me panicked and terrified. I scrambled for the dagger hidden beneath the folds of my dress as black edged along the corners of my vision. The stars were fading quickly. I didn’t have much time. My hand finally closed on steel and I ripped the dagger from the sheath on my leg and stabbed it into my assailant’s side.

They grunted and released my throat with a hissed curse. I slammed the pommel into their face and squirmed out from under them. They grabbed at me again and the dagger clattered to the ground. Shit. My heart pounded and my head and throat ached, but I ignored it and let the rage wash over me. I refused to let the king make me disappear. I wasn’t going to make it easy for him.

I used feet, teeth, elbows, and nails to fight them off, cursing myself for losing my knife.

A shadow flew through the air and slammed into the guard, knocking them to the ground. Steel flashed in the moonlight and then the guard was still.

Unable to make my body obey my commands, I remained slumped on the ground, breathing hard. My hero turned around and the rest of the rigidity slid off my shoulders. Elora.

She held out a hand to me. “Are you all right?”

I took her hand and let her pull me to my feet. “A little bumped and bruised, but yes. Thank you. I apparently need a lot more training.”

“We will get right on it. But he was a fucking guard and has been training every day for years. You did surprisingly well against him.”

“How did you know I was in trouble?” I swiped at my wrinkled and filthy dress, trying to set myself to rights. It was a losing battle. My dress was ruined.

Elora squatted next to the guard, rustling through his pockets. “Your kindreds didn’t know where you ran off to, so we split up and came looking for you. Let’s get you back to them and I’ll handle this mess.”

I stared down at the dead guard with a shudder. “I guess the king really doesn’t want me to join his family.”

“Doesn’t look like it. Unfortunately, the guard is dead so there will be no proof he wasn’t acting alone.” Elora glared at him, looking like she wanted to spit on his corpse.

“Of course.”

She stood and looked at me with a somber expression. “This won’t be the last time, Rhapsody.”

A loud breath blew past my lips. “I know.”

Elora nudged me along the path back towards the party. “No more going anywhere alone.”

I winced. “That was already what I was supposed to do. Clearly, I need to listen better.”

“Yes, you do.” Elora stopped me with a hand on my arm and lowered her voice even farther. “If you decide to stay and accept the bond, Indigo is hoping the four of you can go on your marriage trip to Havisam and perhaps visit the palace there as a musician.”

“How will that help?” The music from the gala trickled from the palace to my ears.

Elora huffed. “You have no idea, do you? Maybe that’s part of your magic.”

What was she talking about? “More secret messages?”

“In a way. She’ll explain more if you decide to help us.”

Why could I only help if I stayed? “Even if I left, I’d be willing to do that.”

She shook her head. “Too dangerous. You’ll have to hide completely if you run. You won’t have the protection of royalty.”

Before I could answer, the prince sprinted at us and yanked me into his chest. I groaned as his grip made my bruises scream.

He set me down and stepped back. “Sorry. Did I hurt you?”

I fought a cringe. “I’m fine. Just sore. Nothing a hot bath won’t take care of.”

His brows pulled together in a frown. “Your voice is damaged.”

“That’s what happens when a royal guard tries to choke you to death.”

Aster froze and his face hardened to ice. “I see.”

I placed a hand on his arm. “I’m all right. Elora stopped him.”

“This should not have happened.” He thawed enough to cover my hand with his own, guilt and fury warring behind his eyes.

I’d wanted to see behind his mask, but not like this. “I shouldn’t have come out here alone.”

“Why did you? Didn’t you see me coming to speak with you?”

“I—” I was saved from admitting he was the reason I left by running footsteps.

A smile spread across my face at the sight of my assassins. They swept me up between them, smothering me with kisses and hugs. The pain was worth it.

Aster spoke in a low voice behind us. “Take her to my rooms. You’ll be safer there. Elora and I will handle everything else.”

“What else is there to handle?” Whist asked with a hardened tone, stepping away from our group embrace.

“A royal guard tried to kill her,” Aster said.

The hands holding me hardened as anger trembled through my guys.

“Let’s get out of here and I’ll explain everything.” I wanted out of this dress, I wanted to forget this horrid evening.

Aster brushed a finger down the side of my face, making me shiver and yearn to throw myself back into his arms. “I am so sorry this happened to you. You will be safe from now on. I will make certain of it.”

I nodded, weariness slumping through me. Whist lifted me into his arms with an unusually gentle touch. “I can walk.”

“I know you can, gorgeous. But I need to feel you safe and alive in my arms for a few minutes.” Whist kissed my forehead.

It was a long walk through the palace. “As long as no one sees me like this.”

“I won’t let anyone see your forced moment of weakness.” There was a thread of humor in his voice, so I pinched him. He chuckled and held me tighter against his chest.

I snuggled against him and let him carry me through the palace halls behind Sky and Saber. They traveled through halls I’d never seen before, smaller and not as well decorated or lit.

Whist noticed me glancing around with curious eyes. “These are the halls the servants use. The king likes the illusion of it, keeping them hidden so things are done as if by magic.”

“Sounds about right.”

Sky glanced over his shoulder. “Tell us what the fuck happened to you.”