Page 91 of The Prince's Sacrifice

“Pama! Pama! Stop! It’s me.”

Dazedly, she realized that it was Nawila who was crouched down beside her, and she flung herself into her partner’s arms and burst into tears.

Nawa wrapped her arms around her and stroked her hair and assured her that everything was fine. Pama felt like nothing would ever be fine again, but she felt safer with Nawa than with anyone else. If Pama couldn’t do this on her own, she knew Nawa would help.

“Oh, Nawa.” She was gulping sobs and could barely get the words out. “It’s so awful.”

Nawa kept holding her and telling her that she was all right. Pama might be all right, but—

She straightened abruptly. “Oh, Nawa, you have to send more guards to the nursery right away! Torex is there, and he’s being attacked.”

Nawa frowned. “No, he’s locked up—”

Pama shook her head forcefully, barely able to get all the words out in her urgency. “He was released. He’s being set up! He’s in the nursery! There are too many attackers. Oh, Nawa, please!”

She looked stunned, but she said, “Yes, of course.” She turned to the three guards Pama hadn’t even noticed with her and issued curt orders. “Go to the nursery at once. You do whatever you have to to protect Prince Torex.”

They gave sharp nods and then set off at a dead run.

Pama chest burned with shame. Why hadn’t she said that the instant she’d seen Nawa? It had to be the shock, and she could only pray they’d be in time to help Prince Torex.

“We need to get more help,” Pama told Nawa urgently. “It sounded like there were a lot of attackers in the hallway. I’m sure they were defeating the guards, or maybe some of the guards were working with them. They were battering down the door when Prince Torex helped us climb out the window.”

Nawa looked shocked again. “What?”

Pama flipped back the edge of the blanket, and the color drained from Nawa’s face.

“The shield,” she breathed.

Pama could do nothing but nod. It was darker now that it had been when she left. “I swore I’d get the baby to her father.”

Nawa shot to her feet, and then she held out a hand so that she could pull Pama up.

“Right.” She nodded, almost to herself. “Guards first. It will be fine.”

The shield was alarmingly pink. Pama didn’t think it was going to be fine at all, but she appreciated that Nawa was trying to reassure her.

Nawa led the way, sword out, eyes darting in every direction. She nearly passed a corridor and then doubled back, sounding incredibly relieved.

“Guards! Go at once to the nursery. Mercenaries are attacking, trying to reach the Princess.”

“Yes, Lady Nawila!” one of them said, and they sprinted off towards the nursery.

Could they all be trusted? Goddess, Pama hoped so.

“When the castle has been compromised and royal quarters may be known targets, there’s a receiving room where the Royal Family is meant to be protected,” Nawa told Pama. “Our troop was informed for when Prince Torex is in residence. We’ll start there.”

Pama followed where she was led, desperately grateful for Nawa and her knowledge. They took a circuitous route, trying to stay out of populated areas, which Pama heartily supported. She had her dagger gripped in her hand, and the only reason she wasn’t holding Nawa’s hand was because she knew she needed it free to defend them if necessary.

And then Pama felt a jolt go through her. She stumbled and grasped frantically at the blanket. She pulled it back, and her heart sank like a rock. The shield was red as blood and completely opaque. And then, with a soft “pop,” it disappeared.

Pama’s breath caught in her throat. She looked up at Nawa, but she couldn’t figure out what to say. She wanted to believe that Prince Torex had let the shield drop voluntarily—but she knew he wouldn’t ever have done that. She knew what that blood red color meant.

He would have… hehadprotected Princess Cala with his life.

Nawa’s eyes were bleak and filled with the same knowledge.

Pama swallowed around the lump in her throat even as tears filled her eyes. “He saved my life. Both our lives.”