— THE HISTORIES AND PROPHECIES OF THE STAR-CROSSED GODS: CHRONICLES OF EVELLA
Shivering under the almost bare canopy of trees, five horses wound their way towards us. Lanterns blinked from window to window in the palace behind us.
‘Can you get them here quicker?’ Asher said, glaring at the horses’ steady pace.
‘If they run here, it’ll alert the guards.’ Matthias wrapped his arm around my waist. ‘Sorrow knows what she’s doing.’
I glanced back at the palace, biting down on my lip, as I recalled Ifan’s news. How he’d been promised my sister.
‘Is Enfys in there?’ I asked.
‘She’s in my rooms,’ Skye said, clinging to Asher. ‘I tried to sneak back in.’
‘Did you not think to bring her with you?’
Skye shook her head. ‘Sorry. I’ve no idea if we can trust her.’
‘And I remember when we all thought your twin was a decent human and not a traitorous backstabber.’
‘Exactly,’ Skye said, pain dancing across her green eyes as I scratched my elbow. ‘I know she’s your sister and she helped with your research, but all I remember is a spoilt little girl who’d run to her daddy every time she got upset. I wasn’t going to risk freeing my brother for a girl I barely know. I’m not sure who to trust any more.’
The horses reached us, heads bowed. Glesni brought the branches and bushes around as a small shield. Asher helped Skye onto her horse, and I glanced down at my skirts, wishing I’d taken the time to find some leggings. Placing my hands on the horse’s withers, I glanced back at the palace. What if we couldn’t take the palace? If we went into hiding, would they rush forward with the marriage, trapping Enfys with Ifan?
‘Sorrow?’ Matthias was already mounted, his brows furrowed.
‘I can’t leave her,’ I said, moving away. ‘I’ll meet you at the beach.’
‘There’s no way I’m letting that happen,’ Matthias said, dismounting and stepping towards me.
‘Don’t argue, Elmswood. I’m going after her and?—’
‘I know you are, but you’re not going alone.’
Damn, I wanted to argue with him, but he was right.
‘Matthias.’ Asher leapt down and grabbed his arm, forcing his king to face him. ‘We’ve burnt down half the dungeon. They’re after you. You can’t go back in there.’
Matthias grabbed my hand. ‘We’ll be quick.’
‘No,’ Asher cried, reaching out for Matthias, his dark fingers skimming Matthias’s torn shirt. ‘We’ve freed you. I’m not risking this.’
Matthias exhaled. ‘We’re getting Enfys. Sorry Asher, but I need you to get the others to the beach and ready the forces. I know all the passages. We’ll meet you there.’
The captain’s nostrils flared.
‘How about we all wait here?’ Glesni looked tiny perched on her steed. ‘If you’re not out by the tenth bell, we’ll come after you.’
Matthias raised his brow at Asher.
‘Fine. But if you’re not back by that damned bell, I’ll kill you myself.’
‘I think you’ll find that’s a definite case for dismissal, Captain,’ Matthias said, and with Pablo at our heels, we sneaked back into the palace.
‘Your wolf is wrong,’ Matthias hissed at me for the third time as we stood, hunched over at a crossroads. Pablo licked my fingers and padded down the path to the left. ‘I lived here all my life?—’
‘Apart from the six years you spent with me.’
He opened and closed his mouth, took a settling breath as a smirk hooked up the corner of my lips.
