63. Princess Esemeray
PRINCESS ESEMERAY
“What’s the plan?” Esemeray whispered, chewing on her nails. She forgot how many times she paced from the window to the door. Her stomach felt twisted and brutalized with a knife over and over again.
“Let me worry about the plan.” Killian adjusted the straps on his pack, fastening his belt, mumbling under his breath, “Fucking buckle…”
Esemeray peeled back her thumb nail, spitting it to the floor. Very ladylike of me. She didn’t care, not as she moved to her index, chewing that one off too.
Killian rasped, “Stop doing that.” Esemeray’s eyes rounded, her fingers freezing on her lip. “What did I tell you about chewing on yourself?” Killian scoffed, pressing his ear against the door. “I hear movement outside the door.”
She twisted her fingers together behind her back. “It could just be the women walking down the halls,” she said with uncertainty. The bones in her hands ground together, her heart still racing. She needed to know if Riggs was safe.
“I hear metal clanking, which means who I’m hearing are guards.”
Esemeray grumbled, motioning to the window. “Why can’t we take our leave the same way Riggs did?”
“Wards most likely go as far as the gates, princess, so if you fall from the roof, chances are…” Killian gave her a deadpan look. “You want me to keep going?”
She crossed her arms. “Okay, I get it.”
I’d die.
Killian kneeled, rubbing his thumb over the key hole, and reached into his pocket. “You ready?”
Esemeray gulped, swallowing the burning bile rising up her throat. “Ready.”
“Don’t make a sound,” Killian whispered, linking his arm around hers. “Whatever you do, keep your head down.”
Heart pounding against her ribs, she nodded, pinning her gaze on her magenta slippers scurrying across the floors.
“Turning right,” Killian said.
She moved with him, keeping pace with every step.
“Left.” He pulled her as they sharply turned.
Echoes of distant whispering surrounded her. The flooring was the same throughout the temple, making it difficult for her to truly know where they were, but the heavy sounds of the fountains made her believe they were near the foyer.
“Left again,” Killian said, his tone dripping with anticipation.
Esemeray could feel it deep in her bones, they were close to the doors.
We’re coming, Riggs.
Killian’s arm tensed around hers, and her mouth went dry. Hoping no one had noticed them, Esemeray listened for any breathing changes, but her heavy breathing made it hard to hear. Killian didn’t stop moving, not as he whipped her down another hall with no warning.
“Run!” Killian demanded, unhooking his arm and grabbing her hand with a firm grip.
Shouting rippled through the halls, having no idea what was being yelled, panic boomed through her. She kept her head down, pumping her legs as fast as she could. “Can I lift my head?”
“No, keep your eyes down; I will guide you.”
Esemeray gasped, tumbling forward, bracing herself to smack into the ground, but before she hit, Killian’s powerful arm wrapped around her middle and threw her over his shoulder. “Hold on, princess.”