“Walk out exactly as you came in,” he whispered.
“My lord?”
His serpent bracelet grazed her arm.
“Leave Vykenra in haste. I will secure your army.”
Before she could answer, Viktor was at her side, arm locking firm through hers.
Storne flanked close.
“What is happening?” she gasped.
Storne’s tone was iron. “We just made a swarm of enemies.”
The Senate doors slammed behind them. Marble thundered under their boots.
Viktor’s grip only tightened.
“Don’t look back,” he growled.
Storne swept his mantle, ready for a fight. “Where’s the horsemaster?”
“Gone,” Evander answered, appearing with Gabriel at the outer steps. “Scattered the moment the votes were cast.”
The square below seethed—senators shouting, guards turning, gold light still flashing like lightning behind glass.
Gabriel dragged Storne’s horse forward, snarling. “The feck was Xavien thinking? Parading you like his bride?”
Evander mounted. “He’ll be lucky to live after a stunt like that.”
Amerei risked one glance back at the doors.
“Xavien…”
“Seraphim—put her up,” Storne barked. “Do not let go until Bernewood.”
Viktor didn’t hesitate. He caught Amerei at the waist and lifted her clean.
“Viktor—!”
“No time,"he said, reins snapping. His arm locked around her, pulling her flush against the hard line of his chest. She felt the thunder of his heartbeat, the thunder of Ruby’s hooves.
The gates loomed, guards closing ranks.
Viktor drove forward.
Steel flashed.
Ruby struck sparks from stone.
“I saw his hand on your back,” Viktor rasped hot at her ear.
“Xavien touches you like that again, he loses the hand that dared.”
“Viktor!” she cried. “The gates!”
Wind screamed as Viktor’s Endowment surged through the hinges, tearing the iron from its moorings. The doors swung wide. Ruby burst through, scattering petals, pounding into open street.
