Chapter 16 #2
The only option. She replayed those words in Her mind as her emotions flitted from excitement to fear. They had refuge. Her family would return to Her, yet the impromptu nature of their escape left Her on edge. There could be no mistakes.
“So . . .” Tobias’s voice lingered, delicate and uncertain. “Do we have a plan?”
Leila’s eyes traced the skyline as the sun sank toward the horizon. She hadn’t even a full day to save Her family.
Such was the duty of a queen.
“Yes,” She said. “We free them tonight.”
“It’s impossible. You can’t be serious.”
Delphi’s words echoed in Leila’s mind. Their watchtower meeting had gone exactly as She’d expected—wrought with panic and expletives.
Delphi had insisted there wasn’t enough time, a claim Leila assured her wasn’t true. If anyone could manage the haste, it was Delphi. She convinced Her sister and sent her on her way, praying to God their circumstances hadn’t turned Her into a liar.
Leila stood in the small patch of woodland behind the brothel, cloak draped over Her shoulders and eyes trained on the last speck of sun as it trickled from view.
Their meeting had been at sunset, and the escape would be at nightfall.
That meant Delphi had little time to gather the staff.
Leila had hoped for an hour, but barely half that amount of time had passed, and darkness was already descending.
Perhaps it was pitch black at the palace already, Her staff seconds away from being hacked and bloodied by the guards’ blades.
A strong hand pressed against Leila’s back. Tobias didn’t lean too close, as if he was preparing for his role, giving space for Her crown while still longing to comfort. A hint of a smile graced his lips. “It’ll be good to see Delphi again.”
He was saying it for Leila’s benefit. His compassion warmed Her, but Her worries spiraled nonetheless. She paced past the brush, pretending to be more consumed by Her cuticles than the task at hand.
“The sun is nearly gone. I imagine it’s nightfall at the palace.” Raphael looked to Leila. “Shall we proceed?”
He was right, of course. The palace was certainly cloaked in darkness, but Delphi hadn’t had ample time to prepare. “A minute longer,” Leila said.
Tobias reached for Her hand, but She resumed Her pacing.
God, this was fucked. Of course Yucana and Naomi had to bear witness to Her shortcomings as they waited at Raphael’s side with baskets of bread and gourds of water—offerings for servants Leila may or may not be able to rescue.
She shook Herself. This will work. It has to.
Pushing Her worries down into Her belly, She nestled beside Enzo, the only one among them who seemed at ease. He nodded as She took root at his side, his voice coming out in a low rumble. “Your Holiness.”
“Stop that, please.” She eyed the hoop dangling from his nipple, then the rods in his ears. “Where were these during the tournament?”
Enzo let out a snort. “Warrior does not battle with nahvalya.” His hands came to life, acting out his words. “You pull, and man bleeds. You yank, and flesh rips—”
“Suddenly I understand perfectly. Thank you.”
“Leila.” Tobias cocked his head toward the skyline. “It’s nearly time.”
The sun had turned into a needle’s width of light, the sky mostly black. Leila took in an unsteady breath, then pulled Her hood low over Her face. “Stand ready.” She met Tobias’s gaze. “I’m going now.”
“Be safe,” he said.
Balling Her hands into fists, She closed Her eyes, summoning the blaze of Her power.
Naomi leaned toward Raphael and whispered, “How many people are we expecting?”
Light burst through Leila, setting Her aflame.
The ground beneath Her disappeared as She became weightless, Her untethered form burning past the confines of flesh and blood.
Just as quickly, the tangible world came rushing around Her, dank and smelling of ruin.
Once Her feet touched down onto hard stone, She opened Her eyes.
She stood in the watchtower with Delphi paces away, one arm outstretched and waiting. Her other hand clasped Hylas’s, who held onto Mousumi, who held Faun. A line of people wound through the tower and down the stairwell beyond Leila’s line of sight, hand-in-hand like links in a chain.
Shouting echoed up the stairwell walls, followed by clanking armor and thundering footsteps. Leila took Delphi’s hand.
Take Me back.
White flooded Her vision, dizzying enough to nearly knock Her off center. The cool open air was the first sense to greet Her, followed by the crackle of twigs beneath Her sandals. As Her holy bidding faded, Her sight returned. She was in the woods.
Along with thirty-or-so palace workers and servants.
Raphael muttered, “A lot.”
Leila gasped for air. She hadn’t breathed for an eternity, and each gulp wasn’t nearly enough. Delphi still clasped Her hand, their interlocked fingers trembling.
“Leila. Thank God.”
Delphi’s fast embrace awakened Leila from Her stupor.
Her sister was far beyond the confines of the palace, free from the underground tunnels.
Before reality could truly set in, Hylas pulled Her away, flinging his arms around Her and nearly toppling Her with his lanky height.
Leila inspected his swollen eye and split lip, then jumped as screams tore through the woods.
Four familiar women clustered together—Nyx, Hemera, Damaris, and Faun, their maniacal eyes on Her.
“She’s promised!” they squealed.
Servants swarmed Her, cupping Her cheeks and smiling in relief, but She was frantic.
Her gaze flitted from face to face, counting them again and again.
Someone was missing. She pushed through the throng, prying hands from Her body while Her insides withered.
As terror gripped Her, She spun toward Delphi.
“Where’s Pippa?”