Like a rag doll, I flew into the edges of one of the windows with my shoulder before tumbling to the ground. The blow forced the breath from my lungs.
Adrenaline rushed in rivers through my veins. Power within came alive at the threat and the stinging at my shoulder. I cursed, for I could not hope to fight two Lysians, not without the use of conjuring. But doing so would reveal me. If the Lysians knew what I was capable of, then I would not be free to leave a cell. They would see me as a dangerous threat, and my future escape would be nearly impossible. I needed them to see me as a Bavadrin girl and a potential Leader Superior to her people, nothing more.
My only other option was to scream. Kole would hear and come. I opened my mouth, but sound did not come. The way I hit the wall squeezed all the air from my lungs.
Placing a hand underneath my ribs, I moved on the ground to turn and face my attackers. I needed to figure a way out of the situation without completely compromising myself.
“I will break off the next part of you that touches her.” Kole’s voice was low and bitterly cold.
Thank the Spirit,I thought while rolling to my side and backing away, putting more space between myself and the two Lysians.
Both of them retreated from me at once, their focus on my Lysian guard. They did not speak to him, did not offer an excuse for their behavior, nor did they offer an apology. Without a single word, they ran, leaving me alone with Kole and the platter of food in his hands. He did not take his eyes off them until they disappeared completely.
Kole grumbled with thick displeasure, “I told you not to leave my side.” His icy eyes narrowed on me, drifting briefly over my body and then back to my face.
“You did not say such a thing,” I countered, wincing as I moved. It was true, he hadn’t, though I knew it was very much implied.
He growled, not liking my response. His crystal-blue eyes fixated on me with a lethal focus.
I knew not to push him any further and so I remained silent on the ground.
With a frown chiseled into his face to the point I did not know if he would ever smile again, Kole practically stomped towards me. When he finally closed the distance between us, I fought the urge to shimmy away from him.
He held out his hand.
I nearly flinched before realizing that he was only offering to help me up and not to strike me. Taking his hand, he pulled me up with ease, cursing when he saw my shoulder. I followed his gaze, finding a nasty cut with blood dripping down my arm.
“Let’s go,” he said bitterly, turning away as he led me back to my room.
13
ERIK
Footsteps from the hall entered my living quarters. By the darkness outside, it was deep into the night. There shouldn’t have been anyone entering or leaving this area at such a time. Something was wrong.
I was instantly out of bed and at the door. As soon as it opened, Ariana and Kole froze in their tracks, the way rodents often did when trying to sneak by, believing that they might have gone unnoticed if they just remained still enough when in the presence of danger.
Taking a sharp inhale, I smelled blood.Herblood.
A slender red stream dripped down Ariana’s arm stemming from her shoulder. Instantly, a wave of heat surged through me.
I turned to Kole. “Why is she bleeding?” The anger in my voice was sharp.
His gaze dropped to the ground, knowing there was going to be no patience on this matter. Ariana was to be protected. That was his duty, and he failed miserably. What excuse could there possibly have been for whatever events led to this?
“She ran into a couple males in the hall,” Kole answered, while shifting on his feet, unmistakably nervous.
“And where were you?” My voice dropped an octave with simmering fury. Not only had Kole done a poor job of watching her, but other Lysians were involved. Theyharmedher. The girl who was too brave for her own good.
“She was hungry.” Kole offered a pitiful excuse.
My claws slipped to the surface of my fingers, barely kept sheathed. A growl ripped through me, and I refrained from taking a single step towards my friend, for I could have shredded him. My hands balled into fists to keep them at my sides.
Ariana appeared to have re-discovered a sliver of her briefly shaken bravery as she stepped forward. “It was my fault. I was reading the books you left and was trying to be like one of the characters. You all are so silent with your movements, and so I just . . . I didn’t know anyone would be roaming the halls.” Her voice wavered ever so slightly, her pulse racing while her eyes focused on the threat before her, me.
My attention snapped towards her. Kole nearly winced, allowing his attention to flicker from the floor to me.
Ariana was trying to make light of the situation, and I was not in the mood. Despite being a prisoner of war, she was to be treated as a guest. For her to side with us, she was not to be injured. Kole’s job was to ensure that.
