When the clapping ceased, Beaumont’s jaw curved into a wicked smile. He looked rundown—his under eyes nearly black and his chin sporting a deep scar—but there wasn’t an active wound on him.
“Good afternoon, citizens of Draemor. It has been far too long since I saw you last, and in that time, so much has happened,” Cyprian called out to the crowd. “First, I want to thank you all for your well wishes. Thanks to our miraculous healers, I am feeling even better than I was before the battle. Second, I am afraid we must get right down to business, as I have information to disclose that may bring fear upon you all. But I am here to tell you not to fret, as I have a plan to keep you all safe.”
My eyebrow raised.Safe from what? Himself?
Another body joined him on the stage—a soldier dressed head to toe in armor.
“It brings me great displeasure to have to tell you this, but myself and Julian,” Beaumont ushered to the man next to him, “witnessed Maeve Willawood destroy some of our best soldiers with her bare hands. As if she was not gifted enough with her constellastones, it seems as though the goddess, Blythe, has granted her an even greater gift.” His eyes darkened as they scanned the crowd. “She has been granted the markings of a god.”
Gasps and words of pure shock emitted from the crowd.
“I found it hard to believe at first, too. But the myth of the markings has been brought to life with Maeve. And though we do not know precisely what this means, do not fear. As I said before, I always have a plan.” Beaumont paced behind the podium. “This woman is clearly too powerful to be allowed to roam freely throughout the land, so I vow to make it my number one priority to see to it that she is detained and held in Draemor. Here, we will be able to control her power, and should we need it, we can utilize it.”
An arm shot up in the crowd, and Beaumont pointed to the woman it belonged to. “Yes? Do you have a question?”
The woman nodded and took a few steps forward. “Yes. How do you know that she is still alive? From what I heard, isn't it quite possible she was killed from the destruction of the castle?”
Yes. Yes, it is possible. Cling to that. Believe that.
Except Beaumont had an answer prepared and ready to destroy any ounce of hope I had left. “With the way she singlehandedly destroyed a good portion of our troops, I would wager my kingdom in a bet that she is alive.”
My stomach lurched as my hand fell from Sebastian’s. I was going to be sick. I was sure of it.
“Once captured, should I deem that she cannot be controlled, she will be handled. Though if things go as I hope they do, I have far better plans for her power that will greatly benefit our kingdom,” Beaumont continued.
With that, I had heard enough.
Sure, he wanted me under his reign back in Caelestis, but part of me really hoped and prayed he would have given up on that after seeing what I was capable of. I thought that maybe, just maybe, he would be scared of me enough to leave me the fuck alone. Maybe he didn’t truly understand what my newmagic even was, but regardless, the others were right. This only seemed to motivate him more.
I stumbled back, turning on my heel and speed walking back to where we tied up our horses. I somehow managed to keep my bearings, but once I was out of sight of Beaumont, I ripped my helmet off and threw a hand over my mouth.
My body wanted nothing more than to fall into the dirt and heave, but I fought the vicious urge. I could control this overwhelming feeling of panic. I had before and I would now.
Fuck. Fuck.Fuck.Despite the markings, how could he be so sure that I was alive? He saw the castle come down. He wasthere.
A rough hand grazed the base of my neck, pulling me back to reality.
“Put your helmet back on and get on the horse. We’ll talk back in the forest.” Sebastian’s voice warmed my flesh.
“He’s just goingon a hunch that I’m alive.” Back a few miles into the forest, I sat in the dirt, pushing a pebble around with a jagged stick. “He has no proof.”
Sebastian handed me an apple, but I pushed his hand away. I couldn’t stomach anything right now. Not even a sip of water.
He sighed, taking a bite of the fruit himself. “It doesn’t matter. The important thing is that his assumption is right.”
“We should just kill him here and now. Why waste time and return to Lumosia when we're already here?” Sawyer snarled, pacing in a figure-eight around our group.
“No,” Jensen sternly disagreed. “That would get us all killed. We aren’t prepared to fight the kind of battle we would be starting if we attempted that.”
“We have swords and armor. Draemornian armor, at that. What else do we need?” Sawyer snapped back.
“A plan,” Jensen spat, getting in Sawyer’s face.
“Watch it, buddy. I got eight inches on you—in more places than one, by the looks of it.” Sawyer’s eyes gestured to the front of Jensen’s pants.
Kade laughed—actuallylaughed.
“I’m with Sawyer.” Sebastian tossed the apple core over his shoulder. “That sadistic fuck is threatening to kill my girl. I’m not just going to sit around and take a chance on that happening.”
