“Francis!” I screamed.
“A little more!” His boots hit the stone floor behind me. “I’m right behind you!”
The chains howled, my heart stopped.
I halted right before the golden gate, looking up to where the screeching of chains were coming from.
“Francis!” I screamed, refusing to cross without him.
Roxanne’ hand caught mine in an instant as she yanked me forward—
My ears popped at the sound of metal hitting the stones.
My legs stumbled upon themselves when our bodies hit the ground. I lay atop Roxanne when my lungs screamed out in pain—
The banging echoed in my ears—
“Fran—” I rushed to my feet, my head spinning the grounds and the skies together. “Franci—” I turned back to the golden gates. The rusty bars cut through the ground beneath us.
Francis stood behind the portcullis.
“No!” I pulled on the metal, willing it to move—it didn’t budge. “No.” Hot tears streamed down my face.
“Shh.” Francis’ hand fell upon mine as he pushed the gilded flint into my palm. “Shh, it’s all right, it’s all right.” He put the dagger I passed him back into my scabbard.
“Francis,” a whisper pushed past my lips.
“You must go, love.” His finger wiped the tears off my cheeks through the metal grids. “I will be all right, I swear it to you.” His eyes landed behind me, offering a quick nod, before his eyes met mine once again. “You must go, love.” He took a step backwards, standing beside Caleb. His lips shook into a soft smile as he nodded at me. “Everything will be well.”
“No.” I shook my head, my hands fighting with unmoving bars. “No!” I bellowed as Roxanne’s strong hands wrapped around my waist. “Francis!”
Caleb’s throat bubbled when he glanced at me. He unsheathed his dagger before averting his gaze to Francis. “You will have to trust me.”
“Francis!” I screamed when Roxanne’s hands pulled me away from the bars.
“We must go before Wurdulacs arrive,” her voice broke as she dragged me away from Francis.
“Everything will be well, Princess.” A soft smile spread across Francis’ face before he added, “I love you.” He nodded, his eyes filling with a softness that was foreign to me. “Everything will be well,” he said before turning to Caleb. “What’s the plan?”
“Play along.” Caleb walked around Francis, grabbing him by his hair, planting a dagger against his throat.
Caleb’s eyes met mine for a split second before he drew a slow breath. “I caught them!” he yelled into the tunnel, walking Francis towards the darkness.
Chapter 36. Aflame.
