Chapter 18 #3
The corridor, like the rest of the palace, is quiet.
Our lights cast eerie shadows on the walls.
We pass by one of the many large windows, and I’m tempted to pull back the red drapes and look outside.
The Allaji were hitting hard when we climbed down the secret hole, and I worry that they’ve gained ground since then.
As tempting as it is, I brush off the feeling.
The last thing I need is to be distracted when I have a mission here to complete.
We stop at the heavy decorative door at the end of the hall.
“You think the king is just hard at work behind his desk as a battle rages outside of the castle?” Leif asks.
I shake my head and turn the knob.
“Wait!” Terro says, placing his hand on top of mine. “This is the king’s office? Shouldn’t we knock? I mean, do I look all right?” He runs his deep brown fingers down the front of his armor.
Leif scrunches his face and huffs. “We’re here to get him out, not wow him with your impeccable style.”
I snort and open the door.
The office is empty. A cup of tea sits next to the papers littering Micah’s desk, and his maroon jacket with gold embellishments hangs on the coat rack. I crack my neck from side to side and tuck my lips between my teeth, looking at the bookshelves that line the wall.
“Raelle, what are you doing?” Terro stage whispers.
I hold up a finger to quiet him as I read the spines of the countless books.
It’s been a while since Micah shared with me all the secrets this room holds.
I couldn’t have been more than ten years old.
It’s hard for me to remember what the book I’m searching for looked like, but I can never forget the name.
It was my favorite tome with brightly painted pictures and story after story about princesses who saved their kingdoms.
My gaze lands on the beautiful golden calligraphy embossed into a simple leather spine. I reach for the thick book and pull it down. Metal clicks and slides behind the shelf and it swings back.
My knees go weak at the sight of the five people inside the king’s safe room.
Salone jumps up from a leather couch, her buttercream dress fluttering around her.
She throws herself into my arms. Two guards and a house staffer stand and exit the small room, leaving Borin to continue pacing by himself.
He clenches a crown and lines riddle his forehead. The worry flowing from him is palpable.
“Where is Micah?” I ask, releasing my sister and rubbing her back.
He cocks his head to the side like I’ve asked the daftest question he’s ever heard. It isn’t my brightest question. Of course, the king didn’t lock himself safely away while others fought.
I rephrase my question, saying, “How long ago did he leave the palace?”
“About an hour ago. We made sure everyone had a safe place to hide before he insisted on going out to fight.”
“Shit,” I hiss. “My father and his troops are at least two hours away. We’re not in a position to fight and win.
The Allaji are at the border of the property.
I’m pretty sure they’re here for Micah. If we can pull him out and let them raid the palace, I believe they’ll retreat when they don’t find him.
It’s our best chance to minimize losses. ”
Borin runs his hands up his face and over his bald head. “Do you have a plan to get him out?”
“I do but running into that mess is going to complicate it.” I turn to Leif and say, “Take my sister and the others down to the sitting room. Do a second sweep of the palace and make sure everyone is out before you head back the way we came.”
“What about you and the king?” Terro asks.
“I’ll find him, and we’ll meet you at the Omnis.”
Terro crosses his arms over his chest and plasters an indignant look on his face. “No way, I promised Kyron I’d stay with you.”
“Then I guess you are coming with me.”
The king regent steps forward. “I’m going as well.”
“Borin, you can’t—”
“Do not tell me what I can and cannot do. That is my husband out there. I stayed behind for the others, but I belong fighting at his side.”
It wasn’t that long ago that I couldn’t truly comprehend this sentiment.
The need to sacrifice for the one you love, to place yourself in harm’s way to make sure they return home.
I now know what it means to have a parah.
It’s impossible to stand idly by when I know he will find more strength with me by his side. The same goes for Miach and Borin.
“Give the king regent your armor and sword,” I command a guard, who doesn’t hesitate to remove his breastplate, helmet, and weapon.
I watch over Borin as he prepares for battle. The need to get to Micah as fast as possible is evident in his shaking hands as he fastens each strap. He will not find an inhaling of peace until he is at his husband’s side.
Borin takes the lead of our group and storms through the palace.
As we pass the others in our unit and palace guards, he recruits them to join our effort.
He has taught me many things during my time under his tutor—how to critically think through a tough situation, how to negotiate a deal that benefits our kingdom, and how to carry myself as a queen—but never have I seen him in combat.
This man, bounding through the kitchen, is someone I’ve never met.
He rips the bars away from the staff’s door and pushes it open.
The battle line has drawn closer to the palace. Nothing stands between this building and the Allaji but an open field. We must find Micah and get him to safety before the shifters swarm around the house. If we fail, it will be almost impossible to sneak through the garden.
I refuse to dwell on the what ifs. We will find the king and get him out of here.
Holding my head high, I march into the mayhem, with Borin at my side and Terro flanking me. Swords clash, power sizzles, and ravenous animals tear apart flesh, but I don’t flinch. The war calls to me, summoning me to fight for my people and our land. I will answer with violence.
A wolf charges for us, and Borin raises his hand.
Light emanates from his palm, blinding the beast. I pull on the gift of a Glacio, and icicles whiz through the air, impaling the beast’s soft fur.
The wolf releases an ear-piercing wail and falls to the ground.
I draw my sword and rally an Elector’s lightning.
My fingers spark with the power as I forge my way into the thick of the battle.
I slash through a tiger, splattering my armor with its blood.
A bear barrels toward me, and I slam my electric hand into its neck.
It convulses on the ground, its human and animal forms flashing in and out.
I step over it, leaving it to suffer and die.
Giving in to my strong instinct to find Kyron, I push my way through the clashing bodies, hacking at the Allaji and disabling them with the gifts of the Khiros.
My anger wells at the sight of my people’s slaughter.
Chunks of flesh ripped from their bodies and their veins spewing crimson.
They lay dead amongst the unclothed Allaji, sacrificed because a kingdom wasted their resources and demanded to take ours.
I grasp my rage, letting it fuel my vicious actions.
Blood splashes across the visor of my helmet, blocking my view. I yank it off, discard it into the carnage, and plunge my blade in the belly of a leopard. In the midst of my anger, warmth and darkness caress my frayed nerves. I latch onto the power, pivoting until I lock gazes with onyx and amber.
Kyron blasts the animal leaping for him with a burst of flame, setting it on fire.
He shows no signs of slowing down or surprise that I’ve joined the battle.
The prince tilts his head to the side, gesturing to Micah fighting beside him.
Blood drenches the king, his pristine clothes nothing but soiled rags.
I charge through the crowd and work my way into the king’s view. He stills for a moment, and I yell over the chaos. “We need to get you out of here.”
“No! I won’t leave them to fight without me,” Micah says, thrashing his sword and calling on the aid of the earth with his power.
I grab his arm and turn him to face me. “They won’t back down until they kill you. If you want to save our people, we need to leave. Now.”
His green eyes soften, but his lips remain a stiff scowl. His entire being clashes with what he must do and his desire to stay. We don’t have time for him to war with his conscience, so I reach for him, but fall short.
Boren grabs his hand. Micah’s eyes go wide at the sight of his parah on the battlefield that is our home.
“What are you doing here? I told you to stay in the safe room,” Micah asks, worry lacing his tone.
“Please, Micah. We must go, my love,” Borin says, pulling him away from the fighting around us.
I watch as the king’s resolve crumbles. It doesn’t matter how strong his convictions, how much he believes his place is with his people, battling to save our kingdom, he can’t deny the plea of his parah.
There is no emotion to compare it to. This is what Borin needs, and Micah is compelled to give it to him.
I’ve been in that same situation with Kyron. It’s impossible to deny him.
“Go!” Kyron commands, lunging forward and swinging his sword. The blade slices through the neck of a jaguar, its head rolling to the ground.
“As soon as we are out of here, fall back and let them take the palace,” I say to Kyron.
“Are you sure?” he asks.
“Yes.”
Kyron gives a curt nod, and we hold each other’s stare for a moment longer than we should. All the love and admiration he holds for me is conveyed in that single look. I pray he feels how much I reciprocate his affections.
I clench Micah’s shirt and yank him forward.
We race through the battle, Borin, Terro, and the others clearing a path for me and the king.
We shoulder our way to the untouched field between the rear of the fight and the palace.
We break the line and relief washes over me.
Every step takes us further from harm’s way.
“No!”
I whip around.
Micah dashes for me, jumping between me and a hawk.
As it nosedives, it spreads its wings wide and extends its razor-sharp talons in front of its body.
The claws pierce through Micah’s chest. Blood flows from the puncture wounds as the bird lifts him from the ground.
It bores its beady eyes into the king as they rise into the air.
The world stops. The battle fades to nothing more than the tinny sound of swords clashing far away. My heart turns to lead in my chest, unable to beat. What feels like my last breath rips from my lips. The hawk squawks, the shrill sound piercing my ears. And then it releases the King of Lucent.