Chapter Sixty-One
The Caged
The palace is silent as I watch the last of the horses depart with a wagon full of people.
Only five horses remain, waiting for us.
Scarlett refused to leave without Enzo but was finally convinced to go with Emery.
Laenie and Erik left too, taking Mali and Kass with them, and I pray that they get to the ship in time.
The council room is quiet as we stand around. Enzo, Nithe, Davenport, Nero, and myself. Nero refused to leave without me, stating the general needs to stay with the queen, which just pissed Nithe off. But that’s not why he’s staying.
“Are we free to leave, Your Grace?” Davenport sneers.
“Every single person has been evacuated?”
“Yes.”
“Not a single soul resides in this palace besides us?”
“No.” He says with a sigh.
“Then, yes.” He sighs and stands, everyone heading for the door.
“If I may, Your Grace, I would like a word.” Davenport says.
“I’ll be right there.” I say to Enzo, who drags Nithe out with him. Nero glances my way on ce and then follows. “Yes?”
“I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, about our situation.”
“What situation?” I say, stepping back.
“You are going to get him killed. You are going to get us all killed.” He spits, and I feel his breath from a few feet away.
“What are you talking about?”
“I know what you have planned.” He snorts, stepping away from me and towards the door.
“Stay away from me.” I say through gritted teeth.
“I won’t need to be your downfall; you’ll do it on your own.” He reaches back for my arm, and I slam my hand into his chest. Aether sparks at my fingertips and he gasps as they burn his skin.
“Stay. Away . From. Me.” I repeat. He scoffs and shakes his head before leaving. I stare after him as he walks out the door, a single tear sliding down my cheek.
I wipe it away quickly before following after him. The chocolate brown mare is waiting for me, Nithe standing next to it. He looks between me, and his father and I shake my head. I reach him and he wipes the remnants of the tear off my cheek.
“It’s nothing.” He exhales loudly as his eyes track his father. I grab the saddle and he hoists me up.
“We will deal with it once we are safe. Once we are on the ship. Then you can tell me what’s going on with you.” He vows and I touch his cheek. He turns his head, kissing my palm before walking to his own horse.
I look around the palace. The open windows, the warm breeze causing the vines of wisteria to sway. I don’t think we’ll ever come back here.
I fall to the back of the group as we head towards the sea, towards the ships ready to evacuate us.
But I’m not getting on that ship .
Enzo slows down, his horse’s speed matching mine.
“Elaenor.” He says softly.
“Is it done?” I whisper.
“Yes. I already spoke with Nero. It’ll happen right outside Wistervale.” He’s quiet. “What happens after you get away?”
“I kill him.”
“This is risky, Elaenor.” He whispers under his breath.
“I don’t care.”
“What if you don’t come back?”
“Then Nithe will rule without me.” I say bluntly. He stops his horse and reaches over to grab my reigns. Nithe glances back and slows his too.
“Don’t do this. We can find another way.” He whispers as I shake my head.
“Enzo. I am so tired. So damn tired. And if we keep going this way, a war will start. We will lose thousands of civilians and maybe even our own lives. This is between me and him.”
“Nero can’t protect you once you get there.”
“I don’t need him to. He will not kill me.” I say for the thousandth time.
“You don’t know that for sure.” He says through gritted teeth.
“The second I tell him I am pregnant; he won’t touch me.” I place my hand over his.
“You aren’t even pregnant anymore.”
“He doesn’t have to know that.” I retort, squeezing his hand.
“I just got you back. Don’t make me lose my sister.”
“I love you, too.” I say with a smile. He releases my reigns and trots up to Nithe, forcing him to move. I take a long, deep breath, before squeezing my thighs against my horse. She starts to move, following after them.
Time passes and we crest the hill. Wistervale looks empty, dead. No smoke coming from the chimneys. No people running around the streets. Ships have already taken off, heading up instead of down towards Noterra .
There is a single ship left in the harbor. The one I am supposed to be on.
Nero glances back from where he is trotting behind the king. I nod once and he returns the nod.
My heart skips a beat as I try to lull myself into a sense of calm.
I think I see them before they attack, but I was ready for them. I was ready for all of this. Enzo glances back, a pained expression on his face as he reaches towards Nithe. Nithe opens his mouth in confusion before his eyes widen as he looks at me.
“Elaenor!” He yells as Enzo’s hand clamps around Nithe’s arm, and I see the purple glow spreading through his veins. Nithe’s eyes roll backwards, and he slumps against his horse. Enzo grabs his reigns and pulls.
I see them take off with Davenport following. He glances back at me once and I almost think I see a smile before I’m surrounded.
A hand grabs my ankle and I’m ripped off my horse. Nero is at my side in an instant, pushing people off of me. The hilt of a sword is slammed into his face and my arms are wrenched behind me.
“Nero!” I yell as I grimace in pain, begging the starlight to come. He was supposed to keep them off of me.
Red tunics and silver armor emblazoned with a rose fill my vision as I am grabbed and pulled in all directions.
“Get off of me!” I scream as I kick out. I feel the pinprick in my arm and my legs go numb instantly.
“She’s pregnant!” Nero yells as he’s shoved forward.
I fall to my knees as my arms are released.
Silence spreads like the plague and an uneasy feeling skates down my spine.
Nobody is shuffling. No one is fighting.
Not even Nero. I glance up to see one of the men handing him a handkerchief.
My eyes widen as he takes it and wipes his bloody nose.
“Nero?” I ask as he looks back at me. His eyes narrow as he stares down at me. Horses surround us and I know in that moment he betrayed me.
“Cousin.” His voice is like ice, cutting through my mind with the swipe of a blade. I fall forward, my hands catching me.
“No, no, no.” I repeat as I roll onto my back.
His head blocks the sun, copper hair glinting in the light. “My Ela.” He whispers as he reaches for me. His hand touches my stomach, and he smiles. “You came back to me.”