Page 117 of Rise of the Vicious Princess

Mother’s security team raised their weapons as the Rakuuna sprang from the wall straight at the queen.

Charis couldn’t breathe.

Couldn’t look away as she strained against Tal’s hold on her. She stumbled over someone lying in a pool of blood but didn’t look down.

Mother was fine. She had to be. Nothing was strong enough to kill Queen Letha.

“Get her out of here!” Reuben barked as he shoved Tal and Charis toward the garden exit.

Mother and her guards collapsed beneath their attackers.

“Mother!” Charis wailed, her voice shredding through the fear that choked her.

More Rakuuna on the walls by the last place Charis had seen Mother cocked their heads, their black eyes finding Charis’s across the bloody chaos that spread across the ballroom. One of the Rakuuna, a gaunt creature with long white braids, opened his mouth and let out the unearthly, high-pitched cry Charis had first heard on the water months ago. People fell to their knees, clutching their heads, and the cry trailed off into clicks and rattles. Every Rakuuna in the ballroom froze, swiveled their heads, and locked eyes with Charis.

“Run!” Tal’s voice snapped her into action as behind them, the Rakuuna leaped forward, their long limbs eating up the space between them and the princess like it was nothing.

She sprinted for the garden exit, her guards surrounding her. Someone close by screamed, a thin wail of agony that sliced into Charis.

Her people were dying. Mother might be dying. And Charis was running because she had no way to fight the Rakuuna. No way to save herself, much less anyone else. Her heart burned with fury while tears poured down her face.

Holland, Nalani, and Lady Delaire were in the garden, bruised and battered but alive. As her guards pushed her into the nearest available carriage, Charis yelled, “Holland, get everyone you can to the fishing port. Hide!” Immediately, he grabbed Nalani and Delaire and disappeared into the depths of the garden.

It was the only place she could think of that might be safe. The Rakuuna had left their smuggler’s ship alone, and surely they had more important things to do than worry about searching vessels at a tiny fishing dock.

Rakuuna swarmed out of the house. Several charged for the carriage but shied away when the horses screamed and kicked at them. The groomsman whipped the horses, and they sped away from the Farragin house. Vellis and Reuben were inside the carriage with Tal and Charis. The other guards were up with the coachman or hanging on for dear life as they balanced on the step.

“To the fishing dock?” Reuben asked, frowning as though trying to make sense of the directions she’d yelled to Holland.

“To the palace first,” she said firmly, wiping at her tears. “Father is there, and there are other staff members who stayed home from the festival as well. We must get there before the Rakuuna.”

Reuben shouted instructions to the coachman, while Tal kept one hand on Charis and the other on his sword.

Charis watched in gut-wrenching horror as the crowded streets streamed by her carriage window. Rakuuna clung to the sides of buildings, leaped from rooftops, and tore through anyone they could reach. People ran, screaming and bleeding, clutching children and loved ones as they fought to find safety.

The screams faded as they turned onto the long, winding drive that led to the palace. Charis’s heart was thunder in her ears, and her breathing came in harsh gasps.

She didn’t know the Rakuuna’s weakness. She didn’t know why they’d invaded when Vahn had already sent them a message promising them the jewels they wanted. And she didn’t have time to figure it out. She needed out of this dress, and she needed weapons. Then she could get Father and the rest of her staff to the dock, board the smuggler’s ship, and make a plan.

When they reached the palace, it was eerily quiet.

Charis’s hands shook as she watched the long drive for a moment. Her mother was a force of nature. Practically indestructible. Any minute now, her carriage would come thundering up the drive, and she’d exit, already snapping orders, organizing a defense, and dealing with the crisis.

The road remained empty.

“Did anyone see if the queen made it out?” Tal asked.

“The queen has fallen,” Reuben said softly.

“Your Highness,” Vellis said firmly, “we need to get you inside and lock the palace.”

Charis drew in a breath and forced herself to shove the horror away. Her people needed leading. There would be time to fall apart later. “You’re right. Let’s—”

A flash of movement caught Charis’s eye, and she whipped around to see a long, scale-covered creature leave the row of hedges that lined the drive and begin running toward the palace.

“Inside!” Elsbet shouted. A guard screamed as the Rakuuna reached her, pounced, and tore out her throat.

Charis whirled and ran. Dimly, she registered the sound of a guard slamming the door behind her and sliding the bolts into place, but she didn’t slow. Tal kept pace beside her. They had to get weapons. Get her father and any staff who’d remained behind instead of going to the festival. And then get to the ship and make a plan for their safety. For her city’s safety.

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