Page 93 of The Blade in the Ashes
Together, we hurried to the staircase that led to the foyer, stilling when we heard the unmistakable chatter of soldiers approaching.
Dimitri’s arm flew out, pushing Nessira and me back until we stumbled into a small closet at the top of the staircase. We huddled together, our bodies cramped in the tiny space as he shut the door, locking the three of us in. With wide eyes, he held a single finger over his mouth.
Nessira shifted her weight, accidentally bumping into my wrist and my eyes grew wide a second before Dimitri’s hand shot out to wrap around my mouth. I bit down hard, vision blacking out against the pain that moved through my body in endless waves. Squeezing my eyes closed, I tried to breathe through it.
When I blinked open again, Nessira’s skin was surprisingly pale as she mouthed an apology.
Boots came up the stairs. A rhythmic thudding of them. An entire contingent of them.
“Prince Caldrius has requested his wife,” a voice said, and I was suddenly too aware of the metal bands on my wrists.
Oh no.
The three of us all shared panicked glances.
We’d just lost any advantage we might have had. When those soldiers went to fetch me and found my rooms empty, this entire castle would be looking for me. Including Caldrius and Hyrax.
“Go!” Dimitri ordered as the footsteps quieted.
He threw open the door and glanced behind us while holding it open for Nessira and me to make our escape. We sprinted down the winding staircase towards the grand foyer breathlessly.
My skirts were too long, too elaborate to move inefficiently. The fabric snagged on the stairs and caught under our feet, leaving both Nessira and me tripping until Dimitri forced us to pause for a precious moment while he tore the overskirt off using a combination of his sword and his pure strength.
Then he was pushing us towards the door that led into the winter night air.
The three of us all hissed through our teeth as the biting temperature bit against our cheeks. A light dusting of snow, likely what would be the last of the winter months, already covered the ground and filled the star-strewn sky. We wouldn’t survive out here long if a storm were rolling in.
“Come on,” I pointed towards the tree line, urging my friends forward.
“Theadora.”
I froze, the name rooting me to my spot more forcefully than any magic could have.
I hadn’t known it was possible to layer my name with such emotion, but there it was.
Confusion. Disappointment. Anger.
All of that, laced inside a single word. A single word that sent a slice of apprehension running through me.
I turned and met the darkly suffocating gaze of my husband as the two guards at his side each rushed towards Nessira and Dimitri.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Thea
Dimitri immediately locked into battle with one guard while the other latched onto Nessira, holding tight as she began kicking and thrashing in his grasp. All the while, I stood locked in place, captive in Caldrius’ gaze.
“Going somewhere?” He teased.
Caldrius stood casually, hands tucked into his pockets. That characteristic unbothered smirk rested across his face, as if he thought this escape attempt was amusing. He started towards me, and I took a measured step backwards.
“I can’t be here, Caldrius.”
His jaw twitched. “This is your home.”
Nessira spewed venomous words the likes of which I’d never heard from her before as the clang of steel against steel sounded from Dimitri's fight, but I drowned them out, focusing entirely on the dark-haired man before me. His attention on me was just as absolute.
“You know as well as I do that I’m not safe here.” I kept my voice gentle, as if I could coax him into agreeing with this.
