“Shit.” Eamon turned to me, handing me a small dagger.
A tremor ran through my limbs as my mind raced. What the hell was going on? I didn’t even have time to scream before they’d surrounded us.
“You don’t want to do this,” Eamon said, unsheathing his sword.
Armor clanked, and heavy boots shuffled against the floor as the tension in the room thickened. I edged closer to Eamon, my heart slamming against my ribs.
“Step aside,” one guard said. “We have no quarrel with you. Our orders are to bring in the female.”
They were here for me?
A dark chuckle rumbled up Eamon’s throat. “Then you have a problem, because you’ll need to go through me first.”He spun his sword in his hand, the sharpened tip glinting in the light.
“Very well.”
The guard nodded, and another man stepped forward. He unrolled a piece of parchment before reading it aloud.
“Lady Cadence, you are hereby charged with treason against the Unseelie Crown, by virtue of the magic that flows through your veins. Being one of the Wraith Borne is a crime punishable by death, and His Majesty, the King of the Unseelie, has ordered your immediate arrest to stand trial for these heinous allegations.”
“Wraith Borne,” Eamon spat, despite knowing damn well the accusations rang true. “What proof do you have?”
“A witness has come forward.”
“Who?” My vision blurred as I tried to suck in calming breaths.
“The King will provide his evidence at the hearing.”
Eamon lunged at the guard, his blade flashing as he sliced the sharpened tip against the man’s throat. Crimson rivulets welled at the site before spilling down his neck. The man staggered, his hands clutching at the wound as he fought to stay conscious.
But he’d lost the battle before it had begun.
He dropped to his knees, a choking gurgle echoing through the room before he collapsed forward, leaving the space eerily silent once again.
A second passed.
Two.
Three.
Then chaos broke through the silence as steel clashed against steel.
Eamon moved with precision, carving his way through the first line of guards before they even lifted their swords. Blood erupted in splashes, the metallic, coppery smell overwhelming my senses and twisting my stomach.
Another guard advanced toward me, his blade raised with lethal intent. I dodged his strike at the last second; the edge sliced the air where my throat had been. My hand darted out, wielding the dagger Eamon had given me, catching the bastard in the thigh. He howled as he hit the floor hard, and the next one almost tripped over his writhing body.
Eamon cursed as he parried a blow, sweat and blood running down his temple. “Behind you!”
Someone grabbed my hair, yanking me backward. I twisted, teeth bared, and rammed my dagger beneath his chin. Warm liquid sprayed my face, but I barely felt it.
Before the guard hit the ground, two more took his place.
They moved as one, a blur of metal and sneers. I hardly had time to raise my blade before they were on me. Pain flared as a gauntlet slammed into my side, sending me sprawling. The impact stole my breath, and the world tilted in a haze of agony. Stone bit into my palms as I scrambled back, my blade slick with sweat and blood. My ribs screamed in protest as I forced myself up, dagger trembling in my grip.
But I blocked it all out, refusing to stay down.
To my left, another guard landed a blow to Eamon’s side, and he doubled over, grunting in pain.
There were too many. We were trapped. Overpowered.
