Page 43 of The Blade in the Ashes
He turned to me, his expression icy. “You would have me cease defending your honor?”
I choked.My honor?What did any of this have to do with me?
“I don’t want this!” I insisted, reaching up to peel Caldrius’ fingers off me. His touch was insistent, not wanting to release me until I reached behind me and shoved him back.
“They have disrespected you, and therebyme,” Hyrax hissed, rising to his feet. “You suggest that I should allow this?”
Me.
He was doing this because of me. He was doing this because they weren’t worshipping me.
I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think.
I couldn’t let this happen because of me.
Finally, free of Caldrius’ grip, I surged to my feet, feeling him reach for me once more as I rushed off the dais and towards the prince. Those inky shadows covered the floor now, killing Damon even as they crept towards his parents and the others.
The second my feet stepped into the shadows lingering underneath where Damon hung suspended in the air, they kissed against the skin of my ankles with their needle-like teeth, and I hissed through my locked jaw.
“Theadora!” Hyrax bellowed, pulling back his dark power instantly.
Damon crashed onto the ground, free of Hyrax’s grasp and struggling to breathe again. I fell to my knees with him, pulling his head into my lap.
“Take him to the healers!” I commanded the servants at the doors, my voice firm.
And they blinked, but they didn’t move.
Not a single one moved.
They didn’t even look at me as I decreed my order. The room was still. Not even the monarchs made a move to help their son, who lay helplessly before me, minutes away from passing out.
“Now!” I screamed.
Still, they remained still.
I was the Crown Princess. Hyrax had forced that damned crown on my head, and I couldn’t even use it to command them to help a dying man.
Their gazes locked above me, and I followed their line of sight, feeling something shatter inside of me as I met Caldrius’ eyes.
He stepped forward, tucking his hands into his pockets and placing his focus on me. There was nothing readable on his expression, no sign of what thoughts lingered in his mind as he stared me down.
“Caldrius,” I whispered,begginghim to do something.
Because, as much as it pained me to realize it, he was the only one who could.
His gaze was heavy on mine, a million unspoken words passing between us as everyone else in the throne room seemed to fade away from existence.
Then, he nodded.
The servants moved immediately, one scurrying out of the hall to fetch the healers while the other rushed to my side to aid the now unconscious prince, but I couldn’t move. I couldn’t look away from the man standing before me.
Hyrax has askedhimhow to deal withVeric.
The servants had responded tohimwhen he gave permission to fetch the healers.
I was supposed to be a Goddess and Caldrius had far more influence in this castle than I could ever hope to.
“Please,” Rani said a bit breathlessly. “How can we honor you?”
