I tried to retreat back into the alley, but Vikros steppedforward, blocking my path. He eyed me up and down, his smile widening. “Clever glamour. Unfortunately, I’m immune to it. It’s why the queen hired me.”
“Vikros!” Theron roared. He moved, but a dozen swords closed in on him, stopping him. Fury burned in his dark eyes as he looked over the weapons pointed at his chest, no doubt calculating how he could fight them all off.
The odds weren’t good.
Vikros grabbed me by the collar and dragged me forward, but I wasn’t about to come quietly. With a shout, I stomped on his toes, then jabbed my elbow into his gut. He grunted, clearly unharmed by my feeble attack, but he was surprised enough to release me. I ducked down low, drawing my daggers and slicing into his shins. He growled, his large arms swiping for me, but I rolled away, keeping low and using my petite stature to my advantage.
“Get out of here, girl!” Theron bellowed. “Run!”
Girl.He intentionally hadn’t used my name.
He was protecting me.
But judging by the way Vikros had looked at me, he knew exactly who I was.
I draped my magic over me, going invisible once again as I sprinted away. Even if Vikros could see through it, the other soldiers couldn’t.
“Stop her!” Vikros yelled.
The soldiers scrambled forward, then faltered, obviously bewildered by Vikros’s orders to seize an invisible girl.
I had almost rounded the corner and vanished from sight when I heard it.
A child’s scream.
“Do it!” Vikros shouted.
I stilled, whirling to find a soldier dragging a child by the arm, forcing the boy to kneel in the middle of the street.
Rage and fear shuddered through my bones.No…
“Run!” Theron urged me. “Don’t stop!”
But I couldn’t. Every fiber of my being had me frozen in place, staring in horror as more soldiers appeared, each of them dragging a human child no older than ten years old. The youngest looked to be about three and had tears streaming down her face.
The guardsmen in front of the row of children all drew their swords.
My feet were moving before I could stop myself.
“Eira,no!” Theron cried.
I hadn’t realized my invisibility was gone until a swordsman grabbed for me. I dodged him just in time, running straight for the line of soldiers. The children’s cries intensified.
I wasn’t sure what I could do, but I had to dosomething.
Before I reached the children, Vikros stepped in front of me, eyes gleaming. “I thought that might draw you in. The queen did say you had a soft spot for humans. There aren’t many in this village, but I was able to round up a few before you showed up.”
“Those arechildren!” I shrieked, lunging forward, trying to fight my way around him. “It’smeyou want. Don’t hurt them!”
Vikros’s massive arms wrapped around me, pinning my limbs in place with ease. No matter how determined I was, I couldn’t get past his bulky frame.
“Vikros, this is too far!” Theron bellowed. “These are innocent children of the Winter Court!”
“There are always casualties in war,” Vikros said idly. “Besides, this is under the queen’s orders. There is no love lost in a human death.”
I felt the blood drain from my face as I stared at the line of children in horror. All of them were weeping openly now, cringing from the blades directed at them.
“You have me!” I argued. “Let them go. Please!”
