CHAPTER 39
Katy
N
o! Axel! Otto!” Gritting her teeth, Katy strained against the bar holding her down. Fabian hadn’t announced what he was doing, but it looked like they couldn’t breathe. Just like when he’d attacked Otto at Reineggburg.
The metal wasn’t going to give; she needed to calm down and think. Her ankles weren’t individually pinned. If she turned her legs sideways, maybe she could free them, then slide down and escape that way.
One foot free. Then the other.
Catching her heels on the bar, she pulled against it, wiggling her hips to help herself move.
She paused to breathe through another bout of pain, but it couldn’t stop her.
Otto had cuffed one of Fabian’s hands, but the other was still free.
And Fabian was using that hand to harm two of the most important people in her life.
Only her head left. Chin to the side, push—clear.
She sat up just in time to see Axel’s knees give out. Otto was still upright, but his hands were on his knees, and his head hung limp. He would be joining Axel soon.
“You as well?” Fabian shook his head. “You really ought to calm down. You don’t want that child to be less than healthy.”
How dare he pretend to care about her baby! He still planned to force her son or daughter to help him with the fire dragon.
Not if she could help it.
As Katy shoved herself off the bed, a glint of light shot up from the ground at Fabian’s feet. Yelping, he jumped back as if stung.
“You overestimate your own power, Uncle,” Lotti croaked. “Overlooking those you deem weak is your weakness.”
Had Lotti just—
Otto dropped to a hand and one knee with a loud gasp. “Definitely quitting,” he wheezed.
She had. Lotti had used her magic to secure the other bracelet.
Katy stumbled forward and dropped to her knees between them. “Axel!” She rolled him onto his back, wanting to reassure herself with his smile. But his eyes remained closed, and he was still. Too still.
“Otto, he’s not breathing!”
Before Otto could respond, Lotti appeared at Axel’s other side. “Let me,” she rasped. She lifted her hands and began to hum.
Something moved at the edge of Katy’s vision. Suddenly, her cousin shoved upright. He spun, throwing his interlocked hands toward the ceiling before collapsing.
“Can’t you be a considerate villain and give us time to recover?” Otto complained as Fabian hit the floor like a sack of potatoes.
Katy spared the sorcerer’s crumpled form a glance. “I think you bought us some.”
“Good,” Otto gasped as he rolled onto his back. He flopped an arm over his face. “Wake me when he stirs.”
Speaking of stirring...
“He should be fine,” Lotti said quietly as Katy picked up one of Axel’s hands. “He and your guard dog just need rest.”
“Thank you,” Katy whispered.
She watched her husband’s chest as it slowly rose. His eyes were still closed, his head fallen to the side. Reaching her free hand forward, she brushed aside a lock of hair that had fallen across his face.
The clenching feeling rolled down her stomach again. Gritting her teeth, she clamped down on Axel’s hand, but a tiny moan escaped.
Otto sighed. “I’ll go find the physician.”
“No, you don’t have to—” She had to fight to get the words out.
“Kat.” He sounded exhausted, but he pushed up onto his elbows. “I’ve been through this twice with Britta. Don’t even think about denying it.”
He was right, but he wasn’t in shape to go anywhere.
Katy opened her mouth to protest again, but Lotti held up a hand. “It is all right; I will go. You stay and rest.”
“You?” Katy gaped at her. “But what if the king arrests you?”
What if you flee?
“I will not run,” Lotti said, answering Katy’s unspoken question. Her green eyes were serious as she met Katy’s gaze. “You need my help, and I will give it. If the king arrests me, he arrests me. As long as he lets me bring the physician to you first, I will not fight it.”
Katy’s feelings were mixed. Lotti had caused a lot of trouble in the last few months and had set the theater on fire six years ago. She had kidnapped Katy and tried to make Axel leave Himmelsburg forever.
But she had protected Axel from Fabian, given them the name for free, put the second cuff on her uncle, and helped Axel begin breathing again after he’d fallen unconscious for lack of air.
So what should happen to her now?
It wasn’t Katy’s place to decide, though. For now, they needed Lotti’s help. They would deal with the rest later.