Chapter 31
DAHLIA
“Are you sure this is the only way out?” I glance between the palace entrance and Maeve. It’s the same archway the guards escorted me through this morning. The same arch Tauren insisted was infused with salt.
Maeve nods, a determined set to her brow.
“Is this about Tauren? Have you changed your mind?” I wouldn’t blame her. This has all happened so fast. It’s been minutes since we sprinted out of the bedchamber and found ourselves here, the afternoon sun beating down on us as we hide behind a shrub.
Confused, Maeve shakes her head. She tightens her grip on my hand then points at the archway again.
“What’s wrong?” Blossom asks. “Is it the guards? I can use my gift to get us past them.”
I shoot her a glare. We had to watch her use her magic words on two more guards on the way here, both of whom are now enjoying a pleasant walk around the grounds.
“Can you use that on us?” I scoff.
“It doesn’t work on everyone,” she explains. “I tried it on Lord Elheart when we first arrived, but he just looked confused. I think it’s something to do with intelligence, or maybe how easily the person can be swayed. It didn’t work on Father either.”
“Weird,” I say.
“No more talking,” Eden blurts. “The way out of here is right there. Why aren’t we moving?”
I shake my head, gesturing at Maeve. “She’s a demon. This palace is surrounded by a salt wall that she can’t pass through. Tauren told me.”
Maeve parts her lips before shaking her head and jabbing her finger at the archway again.
“I think she’s saying she can go through it,” Eden guesses. “We should just try it and see what happens. Once we’re out, we can make a plan of how to get back home.”
Narrowing my eyes, I study the entrance. Maybe it’s weaker above the arch? But that shouldn’t make a difference. Claren said that a line of table salt is enough to keep a demon away. Unless…
I glance back at Maeve. But she’s definitely a demon. She has horns!
This has to be about Tauren.
“You can stay here if you want to,” I tell her softly. “It’s alright.”
She doesn’t release my hand, pointing so hard at the arch that a muscle strains in her neck.
“This is ridiculous,” Blossom huffs, charging towards the archway.
“Wait!” I argue, but she’s already gone.
It takes her seconds to work her magic. One by one, she sneaks up behind the guards, charms them, and off they wander. When the way is clear, she waves over at us.
Eden grabs both of us. “Come on.” She drags us towards the arch.
I reluctantly run alongside her, keeping my gaze fixed on Maeve. Does she just want to see us off? We’re metres from the barrier. Why isn’t she stopping?
As we fly under it, Maeve winces a little but otherwise shows no reaction.
What?
We spill out onto the path, and I grab her arm, skidding us to a halt.
“How did you get through it?” I demand.
None of this makes any sense. Tauren couldn’t have lied about the wall. If he did, he would’ve gone through it himself. Then again, he’s apparently lied about so much already. My lip curls just thinking about it.
Blossom tugs at my arm. “Dahlia, we don’t have time for this!”
I don’t get a chance to argue. Boots slam against the gravel behind us. “Stop those women! They attacked Lord Elheart!” a man shouts.
I whip around. A dozen guards are racing towards us with their swords drawn. Way too many for Blossom to charm.
“Run!” she squeals.
All four of us dive for the trees. Branches slice at my cheeks, brambles cut into my legs.
In the panic, I find Maeve’s hand and pull her along with us. Blossom’s leading the way with Eden close to her skirts. But the guards are closing in. We’re not fast enough.
“There’s a clearing up ahead!” I shout. “Tauren’s soldiers shouldn’t be far—”
I scream as two hands grab my waist and throw me to the ground.
“Got you, bitch,” a guard snarls in my ear.
“Dahlia!” Eden yelps. “Let go of her!” She charges at the guard on top of me, but another scoops her up and throws her against a tree.
“No!” Blossom panics. Maeve gasps, her chest heaving as she scrambles behind a shrub. There’s only two guards here, but I can hear more through the trees.
“Run!” I yell at Blossom. “Get Tauren!”
The guard strikes me across the face. “Quiet, bitch.” Stars blur my vision as he presses my wrists into the dirt.
“I’m not falling for your freak sister’s magic trick again.
I’ve got you now,” he sneers while my stomach drops.
“Just wait till I get you back to the palace. Once Elheart throws you in the dungeon, you’ll be mine, little slu—” His eyes widen.
An awful choking sound gargles up his throat.
Then, he’s launched across the forest, taking out two more guards as they burst through the trees.
I gasp when the guard who had Eden pinned to a tree also flies through the air. His body takes out another two guards like a cannon, while my sister turns as white as a sheet.
Two arms scoop under my back, lifting me from the ground. Warmth blooms inside me.
Suddenly, I’m no longer afraid.
“I heard you screaming. I thought I’d lost you.” Tauren clutches me to his chest. “Are you hurt anywhere? Speak to me, sweetheart.” His words are soft, but his tone is deadly.
“No, but—”
“We have to move. More guards are coming.” He whisks me through the trees, his arms so tight I can barely turn my head. Still, I catch a glimpse of pink and yellow behind us. My sisters are following, but Maeve…
“Tauren, wait!” I squeak. “Maeve isn’t—”
“I don’t care.” Trees rush past us. “You tried your best. If she doesn’t want to leave him, I have to accept—”
“No, she’s…” My voice trails off. He knows? Of course he does. Everything Elheart said was true.
Anger burns in my throat, but we don’t have time for this. “Tauren, no. Maeve is here. She came with us!”
He stops. Sunlight dances off his parted lips, and his muscles tense beneath his shirt. “She’s here?” There’s still guards following us, but demon soldiers are rushing past us now, their swords drawn.
Tauren places me down gently while my sisters huddle at my side.
“It’s alright,” I whisper to them. Eden’s tucked herself behind Blossom, who’s glaring at Tauren with more fire than the sun.
Tauren ignores them, focusing only on me. “Where is she?” he breathes. He turns back to the trees we just came through. “Was she hurt? Did I leave her behind?”
“She’s fine.” I touch his arm. I can hear her quiet footsteps. Blue silk flickers through the trees as I smile at her. “See for yourself.”
She steps out from behind a shrub just as Tauren turns to face her. His eyes widen, and a relieved breath shakes his shoulders.
But then his grin falls. The joy on his face turns to horror.
“What is it?” I move to his side.
His voice hardens. “That’s not my sister.”