He turned to the vault door and pushed his hand against the lock. Used his own strength and a surge of magic to break through until it gave with a snap and a hiss. The door creaked open. He saw them straight away. The Shards, laid out on a pedestal in the centre of the room. Waiting.
But Sebastian didn’t take them. He looked back at Kara.
At the blood on her dress. Her wrists, bruised and raw from days in nightshade. All his fault. She’d been shackled and sentenced because of him.
“Sebastian? Are they in there?” she asked tentatively.
Fuck. She looks scared of me.
“Yeah.”
He grabbed them, shoved them into his pockets. Tried to ignore that his hands were shaking.
He didn’t look back at her.
Because he wasn’t sure what he’d see.
There was no time to dwell on it. More men would be coming. Sebastian grabbed her hand.
“This way.” He tugged her harder than he meant to. “The stables – southern exit.”
They ran. Down corridors, through the mercifully deserted hall – it was still early. They had almost made it when shouts rang out from the passageway behind them.
Shit. They’ve seen us.
“Keep moving!” he shouted as he threw her ahead of him. He turned to drop two more soldiers who had gotten too close. Every strike burned now. He was slowing, the injuries taking hold.
I have to make it. I have to get her out.
He ran after her until he burst into the stables. The valmares were panicked, the noise causing them to stamp and snort in their stalls. Hoofbeats echoed. Shouts. Orders.
More were coming.
Kara had already run for a saddle. Sebastian wrenched open the stall gate.
A flash of movement caught his eye. Too fast. Too close.
A guard rounded the corner at full sprint, blade raised, scarcely a breath away. Sebastian spun too late.
Fuck–
The sword was coming straight for him–
Kara moved. She threw herself into the soldier and his blade caught her side instead of Sebastian’s. She cried out, stumbling backwards. Her hand flew to her waist, clutching the stall as her face twisted in pain. Sebastian saw red – a roar tearing from him. He lunged, driving his blade through the guard’s chest with brutal force. The man collapsed instantly, lifeless.
Sebastian wheeled around, wild and searching – Thorne always patrolled in pairs. But no one came. Just silence.
And Kara wasbleeding.
Sebastian was at her side in an instant, catching her before she fell.
“No, no, no–” His hands were already on her. Blood coated his fingers as he tried to put pressure on it. “Let me see. Let me – fuck, Kara, I didn’t see him, I should’ve–”
“I’m fine, it’s nothing,” she gasped, pushing his hand away.
“You’re not,” he growled. “You’re bleeding.”
“And you’re breathing.” She tried to smile. “That’s what matters.”
