But the moment I thought of him, he appeared, running behind us.
“GO!” I screamed, my legs running faster. Meera was falling behind, her feet stumbling, unable to match my speed. Rhyan picked up Jules, racing with her in his arms. And I scooped Meera up into mine, racing ahead.
“Stop!” The direct command left a sharp chill running down my spine. But I kept running, willing my feet to run faster, to let all of my training catch up to me.
“Stop at once!” Imperator Hart roared. “Lyriana, Aiden, Dario! Freeze!”
My blood heated, pain shooting down my arms and legs. I couldn’t hold onto Meera, I couldn’t take another step.
“No. No!” I cried out, the pain intensifying. I tried to move my legs, but I couldn’t. Meera climbed out of my arms, tugging my hands, trying to pull me forward.
“Come on, Lyr.” She pulled harder. “Come on! Fight back.”
But I couldn’t. Every attempt to move, to rebel was instantly stopped, the pain like shards of glass cutting into my every nerve. He’d never ordered me like this before—so directly, with so much force.
A tear rolled down my cheek. “I can’t. I can’t move.”
“No. NO!” She squeezed my hands.
“Run,” I urged.
Meera shook her head. “I’m not leaving you!”
“You have to! Go. Get everyone else out.”
Rhyan was already turned around, racing for me, urging Jules to run ahead with Tristan and Galen. Dario and Aiden had already frozen in their tracks, their faces twisted with pain.
Imperator Hart was gaining on us. Nearly within reach. And he wasn’t alone. Five giant nahashim slithered behind him. The same size as the ones I killed in Vrukshire. The ones that had required me to call onRakashonimto defeat.
“Keep running!” Rhyan roared. “All of you! Go!”
“Lady Lyriana!” Imperator Hart ordered. “Lord Dario, Lord Aiden. Turn, and face me. Drop your weapons. Hands above your heads.”
Aiden and Dario lifted their arms and slowly, my limbs burning, I turned and did the same, until my entire bodystilled, unable to move. Only the subtle rise and fall of my chest as my heart pounded. I felt as if I were trembling inside, but on the outside I was frozen. I was completely at his mercy.
Imperator Hart’s eyes danced, his hands on hips as he rocked back on his heels.
“Himai,” he ordered. His nahashim slithered forward, their fangs exposed and dripping with venom, ready to attack.
“Rhyan, run!” I screamed, praying he listened. I could handle being taken, could handle whatever came next. If it meant Jules and Meera were free. If it meant Rhyan was safe.
“LYR!” he roared.
No. No.
“I’ll kill you,” Rhyan seethed. His voice louder, closer.
His father shook his head. “You fight me, you come near me, and my nahashim will bite every inch of Lyriana’s flesh on my command. You can’t fight both of us. So be smart for once.”
The snakes were already on us. One sliding in a circle around me, its scaly skin coming closer and closer.
“Oh fuck,” Dario spat.
Suddenly the snake’s tail wrapped around my leg, and then it continued to circle, coiling its body around me, its hiss sounding as it slid around and around.
I couldn’t move my head, but I could see Asherah’s chest plate from the corners of my eye, the red diamonds gleaming inside each star. Asherah’s blood. My blood. My hood had fallen back and in the sun my hair was bright, fiery red.
“Ani petrova kashonim—” I started, my voice shaking.
