Page 38 of Black Hearted
Movement at my feet drew my attention downward. Vines had grown up from the ground and were now tightly winding around my ankles. They were strong and I could tell it would be difficult to get out of their grasp.
“Hurt him, and I’ll kill you all. I have very scary powers,” Nellie cried, holding her uninjured hand out as if she were about to unleash magic I knew she didn’t have.
“Nellie, please don’t. They could hurt you,” I told her as the vines climbed my thighs. I tested their strength by moving my foot slightly, but they only cinched tighter.
Dread sank like a stone in my stomach. I wasn’t sure from where the danger was worse. The guards or those from Buttercup Village.
“Take the child,” one of the guards ordered.
Another guard moved to grab Nellie, but she twisted out of reach. “Stay back, or I’ll curse you!”
The guard faltered. “Is she a witch?”
I shook my head as the vines twisted up my torso, trapping my arms against my sides. This was not good. How could I protect Nellie? Suddenly, that felt like the most important thing to me. “She’s scared. Don’t touch her. Just tell me where you want her to stand.”
If they hurt Nellie, I’d use every last shred of power I had to destroy them all.
“Stand facing the gate,” the guard ordered.
Nellie looked at me with wide, scared eyes.
“It’s okay. I promise,” I lied. “Just do as they say.”
She scrunched her nose, and for a moment, I thought she was going to argue. But then she nodded and turned toward the gate, her back to me.
Good. This way, she won’t have to watch when they carve my heart out, I thought grimly.
I struggled hopelessly against the vines, but they were too strong, winding even tighter around me. I tried to pull on my magic, hoping to cut through the vines with my lightning, but it was like trying to carry water in my hands. As soon as I thought I’d grabbed hold of my power, it slipped right through my fingers.
The Enforcer approached, blade raised and hate blazing in his blue eyes.
I steeled myself.
Lorelei.
I pulled up her image in my mind: her purple eyes and soft lips curved into a sweet smile, her brown hair blowing in a gentle breeze. That was the last thing I wanted to see before I died. Not this.
“I have the cure for the curse,” I said, trying to buy time as I continued to hopelessly reach for my power, only to feel it drain away.
“Yeah. In your chest,” the Enforcer sneered, moving blindingly fast.
Nellie screamed a hair-raising sound that I knew would haunt my dreams forever, but I kept my eyes forward just as the Enforcer’s blade swung toward my chest. I saw it coming toward me, could almost feel the sharp edge carving into me when—
A vine shot up from the ground and wrapped around his wrist, yanking it back with such force that I heard the bone snap. He screamed and fell to his knees. I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.
Dozens of shouts and grunts erupted around me. I looked up to see that every one of the fae who’d pursued us was now bound by vines wrapped around their wrists.
Did Nellie—?
“You have no authority over this man,” a strong female voice boomed behind me. “He is mine.”
The vines holding me in place fell away all at once. Around me, every person dropped to their knees and bowed.
Now freed, I spun around, coming face-to-face with a radiant older woman. She was probably in her mid-forties. Her long, light brown hair cascaded in curls over one shoulder, and she wore a purple dress that matched her eyes. Lorelei’s eyes.
“Queen Gloriana.” I bowed my head, and despite everything that was happening, I managed to bring a respectful tone to my voice.
When I looked back up, I couldn’t read her expression.
