Tasia tore the dagger out of Heinrich’s shoulder and threw it past the flames with deadly accuracy straight at Damien’s head. Rory sent a blast of Water his way just in time to knock the dagger out of the air.
Heinrich and Tasia fled outside, jumping over sections of patio that had been destroyed in the explosion.
“Put the fire out!” Damien shouted at the Connollys.
“No!” King Tristan yelled. “They’ll kill us if they can get back through!”
“They’ll get away!”
“I’m not losing a child today!”
Damien cursed and used Auditory magic to start an emergency alarm in the palace, on the grounds, and over at the guard house. They might have a chance if he could wake the sleeping guards. Then he sprinted to the hallway, determined to find another way to catch up with their new enemies.
“Evvy!” Rowan shouted and rushed to his sister.
Evelyn was coated in blood, grease, and ashes. She lay slumped on the floor next to Haydn’s charred body. Rowan, also covered in blood, hugged her tight.
Haydn kept his promise not to hurt me.
Something cracked in Evelyn’s mind. The numbness subsided and panic flooded her system. She began screaming, the sound muffled into Rowan’s chest as he held her.
“Hannah needs a Healer!” King Tristan called out from beside his eldest daughter.
“I’ll take her.” Rory scooped up the princess and sprinted to the stables. He had to get her to the army hospital in a hurry. The whirlpool ended when Rory left, but the captors-turned-hostages remained unconscious.
Leo hunched over his mother’s body, sobbing and praying to any god who would listen. King Tristan kneeled beside him and put a hand on his son-in-law’s shoulder.
When Evelyn had screamed herself hoarse, an unnatural quiet settled over the ballroom.
Evelyn, her brother, her father, and her husband were surrounded by bodies and blood.
73
Sorry
The guards on duty woke up from their magic-induced sleep. The remainder of the Royal Guard descended on the palace, followed by the Royal Army.
Leo disappeared, leaving King Tristan to explain the night’s events to General Savatier and Commander Magalie. The two captors that Rory had wrangled were taken to the army base for questioning. Once Damien returned to the palace, King Tristan left to see Hannah in the hospital.
The guards from Carrowmore couldn’t hide their alarm at Prince Rowan’s sudden, nearly naked, bloody appearance in the wrong kingdom. They found him a room and borrowed some of King Tristan’s clothing, which was baggy on Rowan but better than nothing.
Evelyn retreated to her old bedroom, where Odette helped her clean off the blood and ashes she was covered in. Evelyn’s mind spun violently between dissociation and panic. The lady’s maid would pause her ministrations to let Evelyn cry, then pick up again when she ran out of tears.
Rowan arrived at Evelyn’s room just as the first hint of dawn shone through the windows. Evelyn fell into his arms, and Odette quietly left.
“Evvy…” Rowan breathed.
“I’m sorry!” Evelyn cried.
“I don’t understand what happened. Who the hell was that?”
The chaos of the past few weeks poured out of her. Evelyn explained Leo and Haydn and the lies and the deals. Rowan strained to keep his face neutral, not wanting to upset his sister.
“Shit, Evvy. I didn’t know things were so bad here. Father didn’t give me all the details of what was happening, just enough to make sure Carrowmore’s army was ready. Then he said you were getting married, which was confusing, but I thought that meant you were okay.”
“I didn’t know any of this was going to happen. I swear!”
“I know you didn’t. Sounds like Ritter was a monster long before you showed up. I’m glad you torched that asshole because I sure as fuck wanted to.”
