A shot was fired.
Her head slammed back against the wall. A dark bloody hole in her forehead. In quick succession the other two living rebels were put down.
“Ma’am,” one of my guards said, attempting to wrap his arm around me.
I pushed him away.
“It’s a flesh wound,” I told him angrily.
I was upset that of all people Lydia had stabbed me. And worst yet she was now dead—I couldn’t even make her pay.
I tried to bend down to pick up the offending weapon, but the pain stopped me. My breathing was shallow, and I felt sweat prickle around my forehead and down my neck.
“You need medical attention,” another of my guards began.
“Where is Rylan with my pet?” I asked in response, ignoring the suggestion.
I would seek medical attention once Percy and I were safe.
“We don’t know where the commander is. He stopped answering his radio,” another guard admitted.
“For how long as he been missing?” I demanded.
“Almost as soon as all this started. He radioed in our commands, but since then—silence.”
“Has anyone seen Percy?” I questioned worried.
I tried to feel our bond but this time my pain prevented me. The pain invaded my mind, and I couldn’t concentrate enough to attempt to feel past my enchantments.
“I know where she is,” my newest guard announced—the one who had spoken privately with Percy. Too familiar. I had chosen to ignore his lapse in professionalism for my pet’s sake. She had made no mention of an unpleasant interaction with any guard and while I demanded the highest standards of my Royal Guard, I also wished for them to care for Percy past duty and blood oaths.
He was staring, wide eyed, out of the window.
I walked towards him, surprised by how badly my ability to walk had been affected. I began to suspect that Lydia may have coated the blade with her own venom.
I pushed away the worry and I calmed myself by recognising that the bleeding wasn’t catastrophic, and even if she had used her venom, she clearly lacked potency.
I reached the window.
There she was.
My Percy—running down the steps towards the maze.
Rebels pursued her.
“No!” I shouted, uselessly.
She reached the entrance—
And disappeared inside.
Those in pursuit of her stopped.
What was she doing?
30. Into The Maze.
Persephone Flores
