A guard staggers to his feet a few paces away. His armor is dented, his face bloody. He looks at me with pure horror in his eyes.
“Killer,” he spits. “You’re no king. You’re a monster.”
More of the fallen guards stagger to their feet. Their faces are white with fear. They look at me like I’m the enemy. Like I’m the thing they need to destroy.
I don’t blame them.
Most stay right where they are, unmoving.
“Kill him,” one of them says. “Kill him before he hurts anyone else.”
I stand tall, pulling my shoulders back, facing them head-on.
“Stand down!” a voice cuts through the tension, and everyone freezes.
A fae male strides onto the road. He’s wearing the uniform of a major. His face is as hard as his eyes are cold as he surveys the scene.
“Major Kellan,” one of the guards says, relief flooding his voice. “He attacked us. He killed—”
“I said stand down.” The major’s voice is steel. “All of you. Lower your weapons now!”
The guards pause, looking at each other. They’re frowning. One looks down at his boots.
Another lifts his sword, pulling in a breath to speak.
“That’s an order,” Major Kellan snaps. “Queen Snow wants this prisoner taken alive. If any of you disobey her direct command, you’ll be the ones in the dungeons.”
That gets their attention. Slowly, reluctantly, they lower their weapons.
The major turns to me, his expression unreadable. “You will come with us. Back to the castle. Do not say a word. Do not use magic or you will be cut down.”
I want to refuse. Want to fight; instead, I nod once. If I unleash my magic again, I will not be able to contain it.
Major Kellan gestures to his men. “Form up. You lot, escort the prisoner. The five of you can get any injured to the infirmary. I want you to return to take care of our dead. The rest of you, return to your posts immediately. The situation is now under control.”
The guards move to obey, though many of them shoot me dark looks as they pass.
The major regards me for another moment, then turns and starts walking back toward the castle. At least eight guards close ranks around me, their hands on their weapons. More guards follow us, and I can see even more in the surrounding area, watching.
I can’t use my magic again. For now, I have to accept my fate.
So I walk, surrounded by guards, toward the looming shadow of the castle.
We reach the courtyard, and the metal gates of the castle are just ahead. I hope Tryfon got away unscathed. Belen won’t be able to risk helping me again.
I’m on my own.
I’ll think of something.
I won’t give up this easily.
We’re three steps from the gates when something wraps around my chest. It’s soft. Before I can process what’shappening, I’m yanked off my feet. The ground falls away beneath me. I’m pulled upward so fast my stomach lurches. Wind rushes past my face. The guards below me shout in alarm, their voices growing distant.
Up and up I go.
I grab at whatever is wrapped around me, feeling smooth silk beneath my fingers. It’s crimson, the same deep red as—
I twist my head, looking up. A figure crouches on one of the castle’s tower roofs, silhouetted against the gray sky. Small, slender, and, from the curves, most definitely female.
