Taking an offensive stance in front of Luna, Clyde mumbled more to himself than her, “I don’t like this.” He drew his sword. “We should get out of here.”
A whistle sounded, the pitch starting high then falling low; guards from all over began to move. Luna caught sight of King Hendrix, as well as Prince Kieran, and Emily, ushered into a carriage. Where had they been this whole time? Other guards quickly and quietly started to gather the noble families and send them on their way. Clyde backed up towards the carriages, in turn, forcing Luna to do the same.
Damien followed them, reaching for Luna, but Clyde skillfully used his sword to maintain a defensive stance, keeping him at a wary distance. Damien attempted to manoeuvre around Clyde, but the seasoned guard held his ground, steadily moving backwards.
Damien’s voice was a plea. “There is still time. Come with me, I can keep you safe.”
Safe from what? Luna looked down at her hand, at the leaf curled up in her palm.
“You’ll finally be free,” he urged.
She shook her head. How many times did she have to tell him she wasn’t a captive. She looked up at him, at the lines of urgency marking his face. When she didn’t move to him, he lunged for her.
But Clyde was quick, and in one swift motion, his sword plunged through Damien’s chest. Blood gushed from the wound, staining the ground black. Luna screamed, her voice piercing the air. Clyde turned on her, his sword dripping with Damien’s blood as he pulled it free.
“We can leave nicely, or I can haul you over my shoulder,” he said, his tone as sharp as the blade in his hand.
She barely heard him. She couldn’t stop screaming. Her mind was unable to comprehend what had just happened. Damien was on his knees, his head bowed, looking down at the blackness oozing down his shirt.
Clyde glanced over his shoulder and gasped, releasing his tight grip on her arm. “Unicorn,” he whispered, the word a curse on his tongue.
Free, Luna ran to Damien. Her hands found his shoulder, and with a comforting squeeze, she lied, “It’s going to be alright.” She repeated the words over and over again.
He had been kind to her.
He had saved her.
He couldn’t die . . . not like this.
Damien looked up at her, confusion written on his face. It startled her. But, what had he expected to happen?
Clyde grabbed her, yanking her to her feet.
“Let me go!” she screamed. She should be with Damien in his final moments. Say the ritual death prayer to the high skies . . . or at least hold his hand; he didn’t deserve to die alone.
“Shoulder it is,” Clyde declared, and in one seamless motion, he scooped her up.
“Clyde! How dare you. Put me down!” Luna wiggled and squirmed, beating against his back, but Clyde’s grip remained unyielding.
“Don’t make this harder than it needs to be,” he told her.
“You’re a murderer!”
“I’m just doing my job.” His voice was void of all emotions as he stalked over to a row of horses tied against a fence, ignoring Luna’s pitiful attempts to muscle free.
Luna stole a backwards glance, expecting to see Damien lying on the ground, dying in a pool of his own blood, but he wasn’t there. In his place stood a beautiful black-onyx unicorn.
His nostrils flared and black magic flowed around him, swirling in the air reaching for the skies as if he were a tornado touching down, ready to rip the earth apart.
“Oh no,” Luna whispered, causing Clyde to pause and turn.
“Don’t move,” Clyde warned as he put her down.
“Unicorn!” someone from the crowd shouted, causing the crowd to panic immediately. Cries rang out around them as people ran, pushing through the throng and knocking others down in the process; some even stomped over those who’d fallen.
“Hate to interrupt the party,” Damien announced.
Damien charged towards Clyde, barreling faster than she had ever seen a horse move. Clyde pushed her away and readied his sword to slice Damien’s horn off like Nina’s had been.
