Avrum
I’m frozen, watching Haven disappear through the doors. Lysander is already by my side, saying something in French that sounds very much like a curse.
“After the loss of Lady Caroline Beatrum, Henri’s new focus became getting revenge on Malcolm the Divine. It seems it still hasn’t left him,” he says.
Henri continues to shout and grab anything within his reach to hurl across the room. Plates crash against the marble. Tapestries are ripped from their poles.
He’s completely lost his mind.
The room stands still around him, unsure how to react to his deranged outbursts. We all watch in silent horror, except for Alessandro, who’s bent over, holding his stomach, and laughing so hard that only a wheezes escape.
I don’t know how he could think this is funny. To me, it’s absolutely horrifying. Henri’s come undone. Or is this another part of the monster who’s been hiding underneath the mask of perfection all along? The one I’d never seen before?
Lysander tsks while shaking his head. “At least Alessandro seems to be enjoying himself,” he says.
With one swipe of Henri’s arm across the head table, more wineglasses and dinnerware shatter all over the floor. Food flies across the room.
“We have to get to Haven,” I tell Lysander, and start to head for the doors. He stays close behind.
“And we need to hurry. Keagan is waking.”
He’s right. At that moment, Keagan rises from the floor, his bashed skull reforming as it heals rapidly.
Suddenly, Henri whips around in a circling, searching for something but not finding it. When his black eyes fall on me, he stops hollering, his face transforming again. Then he says the one word that makes my heart stop beating.
“Haven!”
“We have to go,” Lysander rushes, grabbing my arm and tugging me toward the doors. “Now!”
Everyone’s gazes search the room for the woman in lace and pearls, including Henri, but she’s nowhere to be found.
Throwing his head back, Henri roars. “Find her! Bring her to me!”
Keagan stumbles past us, his sword out of its sheath.
Pulling out my own weapon, I hurry after him, with Lysander on my heels. The ballroom doors clatter shut behind us.
We can’t let him get to Haven. If he does, all his lost.
Lysander must be thinking the same thing because he leaps in front of Keagan, blocking the hallway where Haven’s scent is the strongest, and forcing him to halt.
“Something tells me you aren’t following me to find the bitch and bring her back,” he snarls, his lips translucentfrom the loss of blood. He glances at me and my sword.
“Leave her be, Keagan,” I say, hoping my rank as Henri’s second will be enough to stop any further struggle between them. “We will find Haven and bring her back to Henri.”
“The lord gave me the orders. I will drag her back by her hair if I have to. You won’t outdo me this time.”
“Well then, I suppose you’ll have to find a way through me,” Lysander says.
“You’re still a prisoner. And you have no sword.” Keagan sways on his feet, the loss of blood making it difficult for him to give Lysander his full focus.
“I understand that you’re afraid.”
Keagan growls in response and swings his sword clumsily. Lysander dodges it with ease.
“I believe Cornelius would be ashamed to see you fight like this to avenge him.” Lysander laughs. “Allez, femme,I don’t even hold a sword!”
All the taunting confuses me. I’m not sure the point of fighting the man now, especially without a weapon of his own, but his teasing is working. Keagan shakes with rage. He lunges at Lysander again, fangs bared.
