She flees the grounds, racing towards the Great Hall. My hope of coming out of this unscathed grows infinitesimally now that the odds are more evenly matched with the ax in my hand and only a single opponent to face.
“You will die here, girl,” Julius declares as he stares me down.
My necklace is almost scorching, the heat a match to the tinder of my growing confidence, and a flicker of fear crosses his eyes. The light coming from me swells, reflecting off the blade of the ax.
“The gods have other plans for me.”
There’s a brief pause as my words settle, and then Julius swings.
I pray the ancient hilt of the ax holds as I use it to block. My breath whooshes from my chest,the hilt holds, and Julius’ sword ricochets off with more power than I expected. It throws him onto his back, and he crumples to the ground.
His eyes are wide and filled with terror as he realizes Odin’s ax isn’t a useless ancient relic but a powerful weapon, just as mighty now as when it was wielded by the Father himself.
Julius heaves himself up and takes one look at me, my skin shimmering and the ax in my hands. And like the coward he is, he sprints for the archway.
My relief is fleeting when I realize his return will be swiftand with more people than I can face on my own. I take off running in the opposite direction, heading towards the one person who will hopefully hide me from the shitstorm I created—Lachlan.
The Gods seem to agree with my choice as the wind pushes me along, urging me down the path. My feet fly as I race to the guard’s quarters.
My necklace pounds against my chest with each stride, seemingly pushing me to run faster. I grip the ax tighter as the faded blue door on the second floor comes into view.
I slow into a jog before taking the steps two at a time. Fear crawls its way up my spine at the possibility he might not even be here, and I’ll have nowhere else to go. But as I bring my fist to the door, he swings it wide open.
I can only imagine what a sight I must be with my lip busted, a bruise beginning to throb on my cheek, and a small slice to the ribs. I didn’t realize the extent of that last one, though.
The thud of my ax against the wooden floor draws our attention to the blood dripping next to it. Lachlan looks back up at me, the wrath marring his features is an expression I’m still not accustomed to.
He looks dangerous, savage.
“What happened?” he grates out between clenched teeth. His jaw is flexed so tightly that I’m amazed his teeth are not cracking.
The adrenaline begins fading at the sight of his face. My head is light and my vision doubles. I grasp the doorframe to steady myself. Tears begin pouring down my cheeks.
“I didn’t have anywhere else to go.” I sob. “They killed my parents.”
He reels back in shock, his lips part as he sucks in a sharp breath. “Who did?”
He reaches out towards my bleeding side and presses hislarge hand on the gash. The blood seeps through his fingers as he tries to apply pressure.
It runs down my hip and thigh before splattering the ground and my boots. A shrill bell begins ringing in my ears, my head spins faster, and my knees threaten to buckle.
Lachlan bellows, “Lena! Who did this?!”
My vision dims, but his face comes closer to mine, his eyes full of terror. The veins on his neck bulge as he continues to yell my name.
Fear like I’ve never known before is etched into every line on his perfectly handsome face. I feel both his arms wrap tighter around me in an attempt to hold my side together and keep me upright. The pain burns through me, and darkness dims my sight.
But I have to warn him; he has to know what’s coming for me.
My throat is dry and scratchy, the blood a dark red now pooling below me, zapping all my strength and willpower.
I swallow forcefully, barely managing to rasp out, “Julius and Odessa.”
He begins roaring, his words not permeating the darkness as it consumes me. I collapse into his arms.
22
ESCAPE
