Royal Guards.
“We can’t just sit here, Sam,” Evren says from behind me.
I focus on the guards heading toward us. Counting them, comparing our numbers. I’m grateful that my hands are occupied, otherwise I know I’d be picking my nails down to the cuticle right now. “How many, Sera?”
Sera holds her wrists up and closes her eyes. “Too many.” Silver wells in her eyes but she brushes them away.
Shite.
“Give Roman a chance.”
Spinning around, my knees go slack as Sorin weaves through the crowd. He’s here and?—
“Elora.” I unloop my arm and cup my hands over my mouth. “How did you… Are you okay?” I fumble over my words as I wrap her in a hug.
“I’m okay,” she says, “I think.”
“It’s a long story,” Sorin says. Elora backs into his chest, her eyes not quite the vibrant gold I’m used to but she’s warm and she’s here and?—
“Roman gave me this.” Sorin pulls a necklace out from Elora’s tunic. An amethyst stone glitters from a delicate chain. “His harvested Enchantress magick.”
Tallulah gasps, taking a step forward. She traces the stone delicately with her fingers. “And you used it?” she asks.
“It’s how we’re here. If not for this, if not for Roman…” Sorin bites his bottom lip before tucking the amulet back under Elora’s shirt. “Give him a chance to make this right.”
I turn to Tallulah and Elora, who tries to smile but quickly turns to a frown.
“Please,” Sorin whispers and it’s the softness in his tone that has my mind made.
“One chance,” I agree. The women at my sides nod and just as they do, a guard approaches the gate.
“You!” he yells, pointing a spindly finger at Sera. “You are under arrest for the use of magick—” The man drops to the ground, thick, vines of ivy wrapped around his ankles and wrists. My eyes bulge as I look at Tallulah.
She shrugs, holding her palms steady, the ivy sprawling from them tightening a little. “I didn’t care for what he had to say.”
She smiles and I know that it’s now or never. Glancing at the courtyard, I see the silhouettes of the guards come into view through the dizzying rain. Beady and black; they swarm together like ants.
“We have to find Roman,” I say to Sorin. “At least to convince him to call off his guard.”.
Sorin sighs, clutching onto Elora’s shoulders. Her hair is twisted in a braid, water dripping from the ends of it. She remains quiet, but her eyes flick to mine, a spark of curiosity brewing in them.
Jarek laughs from behind me so I glance over my shoulder and when I do, my chest tightens. “She’s all right, pups.” He kneels in the mud. Hati, Rook, Skoll, and Gray fight for closeness to Elora and just behind them are Alaric and Ruse.
We’re all here.
Together.
Emotion swells in my breast, but before I let myself feel anything too deeply, I shove it down. There’s work to be done.
Jarek stands, pulling himself reluctantly away from the puppies who are now grown nearly to his hip. Our eyes connect, and when I open my mouth, he shakes his head. “Go, we’re right behind you.”
Gooseflesh erupts over my skin as he kisses me. I have the sense to not let go but correct myself when the crowd around us continues to chant, their voices growing louder with the rising wind and rain. I pull away from Jarek and turn to the gate.
“Wait,” I say, facing Sorin again, “you should go instead. He knows you. Try and convince him to stop this. Find Gal—” I choke on his name, but Jarek’s hand on my shoulder settles the fire in my chest. “Find Galen and stop this.”
Sorin glances at Jarek, their unspoken promises written all over their faces. Jarek claps him on the back, and Sorin winces but smiles. Turning to face the crowd, I find the kind woman from before. I whistle and snap my fingers to grab her attention but it doesn’t work.
“You! Excuse me, miss!” After what feels like an eternity, she comes back to the gate, stepping lightly around the guard still pinned to the ground with ivy.
