Twelve
I was frozen in place staring at them.
I couldn't move as the eyes of the hounds watched me from what seemed like a football field away.
Someone suddenly grabbed my arm. I didn't look to see who it was. I ran with them as they grabbed my good hand and pulled me forward.
I looked around frantically, I couldn't see Naida anywhere. I hoped she was somewhere safe.
I looked at the thin hand that grabbed mine. A girl as young as I was with streaks of paint on her cheeks and forehead. She looked behind us and pulled me along as if to will me to go faster.
My arm pumped at my side, my breathing was ragged as I heard strong thundering behind me. Like something heavy was repeatedly hitting the floor. I looked behind us and saw the three hounds chasing us. The muscle rippled under their skin as they pushed forward.
They were too close.
Just one more pounce ...
I braced for it even as I ran. I could already feel their teeth digging into my muscle ...
A loud crack rang through the air followed by whining. Canine whining, I'd heard Woof whine enough to recognize it. I turned to see and slid to a stop, effective falling.
When I looked again the three dogs were writhing on the ground. A massive clear wall glistened before them in the artificial light. And the person that held a hand out before the wall, holding it in place was none other than Julian.
I recognized his back, the angles of his broad shoulders, the bulges of his arms as they extended on either side of him palms forward, holding the wall in place.
Using his power, he held them still on the ground while other faeries suddenly appeared next to him.
The wall suddenly dropped and the men and women moved forward with w towards the unconscious trio.
"Take them to the cell," I could hear him say to them. "I'll have words with the Lady of Tartus."
Some of the men grumbled in agreement and one by one the hounds disappeared from view.
I let out a big sigh of relief as they disappeared. Then Julian turned. His grey eyes held an intensity that made me hold my breath as he approached me. "Don't you dare think there won't be some sort of consequence to your actions."
I shook my head. "Where's Naida?"
"She was spectered home by some guards. Where you should be."
I could feel the guilt inside me. He'd told us not to go out. He told us specifically not to leave.
We didn't listen.
And it was stupid of us to leave. So stupid.
What did he expect? He'd locked me up - just about thrown away the key ...
"What?" I asked, lifting my chin even though I was still on the floor. "Are you going to ground me? Send me to my room?"
He scoffed. "I'm going to work your ass in training so hard you won't be able to move without thinking of me."
I could feel my cheeks flame, the heat rising even to my neck at his inflammatory words. "Good!" I yelled for some inexplicable reason. "Maybe now you'll stop babying me!"
At once, he was on me, his hands grabbing me roughly by the arm and pulling me into a standing position. In a blink, we were no longer on the streets of Skryen but in one of the many rooms on the first floor of his home.
I recognized the gold and white paints of the walls and ceilings.
He paced in front of me, his nervousness pouring into the room.
I let out a long breath, we were back, we were safe. I moved my injured hand and was surprised to find it was completely healed.
He didn't stop his pace. "Do you have any idea - any idea - what would have happened if the hellhounds had gotten to you?"
I pulled on the string that kept the mask in place and tossed it aside onto the table nearby. "No, I don't."
He scoffed, incredibly mad. "No, of course not, because you're not from here you were only human up until a few months ago." He sighed. "They're attracted to magic - any powerful magic gets their attention. Guess who they were after tonight, Emylin?"
I swallowed.
"Guess who has the most powerful magic of us all in that crowd?"
He kicked a chair nearby and it fell into shambles to the floor.
I looked away unable to meet his gaze.
"Did you even glamour yourself tonight? Your hair Emylin, godsdamn it, you're so careless."
I tsked. "Everyone was glamoured with white hair at the party- "
He shook his head. "Glamour is lost the second we panic, the second we lose control - it reverts to normal - everyone would have noticed your hair in your panic not reverting back." He let out a long string of curse words.
I walked past him and through the door.
"Where are you going?"
"Upstairs!" I yelled. "We'll talk when you've calmed down."
As I made it through the door I knew would lead to the stairs, I froze. Three men held Naida in place, not letting her go even as she struggled.
No one noticed me come in. No one looked up. It was only when Julian appeared through the same door that they seemed to acknowledge someone else in the room.
The men let Naida go.
"Where have you been?" She shrieked. "Call your dogs off they won't let me specter back- "
He put a hand up. "It's all taken care of." He nodded to the trio. "You go with the others make sure everyone is safe."
They all nodded and disappeared.
"She's safe," was all Julian said to Naida.
It was as if I'd just appeared right in front of her though I hadn't moved or spectered. Before, she was looking right through me. As soon as Julian had spoken, her eyes fell on me and instant relief flooded her features. "Oh, thank the gods-"
"No," Julian said with venom as he crossed his arms. "Thanks to me." Julian's voice didn't change. "I asked you not to take her - I practically begged you. And what did you do? You did exactly that!"
Naida spoke with as much conviction as Julian. "Julian, she has to leave the house! You're just like a mother hen, the walls are stifling her magic! She can't be cooped up here like a prisoner!"
Julian turned to me and my heart dropped.
He was hurt. Naida's words hurt him.
"Do you feel like a prisoner here?"
They both looked at me and I couldn't find the courage to speak.
How could I tell him that the estate, as beautiful, as freeing as it was from Robyn's mansion was starting to stifle me? That as friendly and helpful as Julian was, I still hadn't seen anything different in the two weeks I'd been there?
I had exchanged one prison for another.
I shook my head not meeting their eyes. "I have to go." Before another word was spoken, I raced up the stairs but was stopped right before I turned the doorknob on my door.
Julian placed his hand on mine as it rested on the golden doorknob. "I'm sorry."
I took my hand back and crossed my arms, not meeting his eyes.
"You don't understand, Emylin, just how important you are."
I scoffed. "I wish everyone would stop telling me that."
He gave a small laugh making me look at him. "It's true," he started. "Look, I'm sorry for yelling. I was out of my mind looking for you and when I couldn't find you -"
I met his eyes and couldn't look away. I could see the worry there. Instantly, I felt regret at leaving the estate. "How did you know I was there?"
He sighed. "I felt your magic--everyone's is just noise. Yours is ..." I saw him struggle for a word. "Unique."
I frowned.
He sighed then groaned, running a hand over his face in exasperation.
"Gods, I am like a mother hen, aren't I?
I can't lock you inside these walls forever - it will suffocate your magic like Naida said.
" He lingered a moment longer then moved away.
"Just do me one last favor. The Hellhounds have to be placed in a cell - should something happen, they will look for you.
You are safest here. Will you stay on the grounds while I'm gone tonight? "
I nodded. I didn't want to run into them again.
He turned to leave but turned back. "You do know what stay means, right?"
I rolled my eyes. "I'm not a dog, you know."
He chuckled. "No, you most certainly are not. A dog would listen better."
I stuck my tongue out at him just as he vanished from the hall.
[A/N]: dedicated to laorangerose thank you so much for your insight that last line lol