Page 198 of Burn Her They Said
“No!”
A flash of something captures my attention, and I snap my head to the side.
My heart hammers as I squint, then widen my eyes at the light gray trailing behind a rapidly moving form.
Fray.
He comes to a stop, and my eyes well with tears when his moss green eyes glare from within the thick black lines painted around them, made all the more severe between the black of his hair and mask.
“You will bring her down carefully, or you will suffer a torturous death,” Fray promises.
“Fray, have you seen—” My voice shakes, and I cannot bring myself to ask it.
The creases beside his eyes soften. “Everyone is alive and uninjured.”
I open my mouth to make sure he means?—
“They are all alive. I promise. I am here to take you to them.”
Air filters in, though the constriction in my chest won’t relent. Not until I see them.
“Is it safe?” Prince Auden asks.
“Safer than allowing you to keep her captive hundreds of feet above the ground.”
“I would never hurt her.”
Fray glares back in response as the royal hugs me closer.
“There is a clearing on the opposite side of the castle where we will land,” Fray says.
The Prince lets out a breath. “I am going to begin our descent.”
I nod, then ask him, “Why did you fly off with me when I explained what happened?”
“I don’t know if you noticed, but there was an explosion, and I reacted.”
“But why take me when you could have saved yourself, or sought your mother out?”
“She has her own guards to keep her safe.”
Fury burns through my veins, and I release it. “I have my own Guards to keep me safe! Including the one flying next to us!”
“You’re right.” His ribs expand and press in on my chest.
“Why, Auden?”
Fray snaps his head to the side and furrows his brow at my use of the Prince’s name.
“I only thought of your safety. I have no other explanation. I’m sorry.” His voice is solemn, and I pull in the deepest breath I can while constrained in his arms.
I shift to the side when a familiar warmth casts up and over the tips of my toes. My chest shudders under the pulsating comfort of Varic’s shield coursing up my ankles—proving he is alive, and I am within his line of sight.
My stomach flips when his eyes find mine, then he narrows them and glares up at the royal.
Fray’s boots meet the ground, and his hands hook beneath my arms to forcibly free me from the Prince’s hold. I release a breath as Fray hugs my back to his chest, then leans in. “I’m so sorry, Tasch. I was terrified when I couldn’t find you. I should have been there.”
“It’s okay.” I cough and double over, barely catching a glimpse of the clearing where perfect rows of trees surround us.
