Page 125 of Queen of the Crimson Throne

I dipped my chin and rose to stand, resheathing my weapons as I jogged towards the stairs.

I would have thought the vision would have prepared me for what I found at the bottom of the stairs, but it didn’t.

The metallic tang of blood filled my nostrils along with the scent of—burnt flesh.

I rushed down the final few stairs—my eyes immediately searching for Luka, hoping and praying to the Goddess I wasn’t too late.

Maybe cursing her was a bad idea after all.

For a brief second, relief flooded my system at the sight of Luka still hanging from where I had seen him in the vision. But the relief was short-lived at the sight of the freshly branded skin on his chest.

I placed my hand over my mouth to stifle my sob. They had fuckingbrandedhim.

They had branded him like an animal with the symbol of their group.

I would delight in watching each and every one of them burn.

I ran to him, his name slipping from my lips. “Luka.”

His eyes fluttered open. “Lennox,” he breathed. “Is that you?” He lifted his head slightly.

“It is. I’m here.” I reached for him. I wanted nothing more than to press myself against him and wrap my arms around his ruined body—but I didn’t want to hurt him. “I’m going to get you out of here,” I promised.

I let go of him, and looked around the room, my eyes catching on a bucket in the corner. I brought it over and stood on it so I could match his height.

My fingers brushed his blood-matted hair out of his face as I brought our foreheads together. “I’m here. I’ve got you. I’m sorry it took me so long.”

I pricked the tip of my finger with my dagger until it drew blood, sketching a symbol with my blood on each of the shackles on his wrist. “Looks like the spell I learned to open your grandfather’s office is coming in handy again,” He watched me as I worked, struggling to keep his eyes open.

Once the symbol was sketched on each of the cuffs, Imurmured the spell. There was a hiss before the locks clicked open. I wrapped my arms around his torso as he slumped to the ground—trying to slow his fall as much as I could.

“I’ve got you.”

“Thanks.” He panted.

“Can you walk?”

“I think so. I just need a minute to feel my legs again.”

“Do you know—was there more than the male and female upstairs?” I flopped his arm around my shoulder.

He shook his head. “I only ever saw them, but I’m sure there are more of them that know I’m here.”

“We need to get out of here.”

I wrapped my arm around his waist as he continued to lean on me as we made our way up the stairs.

When we made it to the top only Nico was waiting for us. “Where is everyone else?”

“They ran into some company outside—they’ve got it under control now but I didn’t want to leave you two unprotected.”

At that moment the three of them came rushing into the building—all of them splattered with blood as their eyes scanned Luka propped against me.

“You ready to get out of here?” Luce asked.

“Fuck yes.” The normal cadence of Luka’s voice was returning.

Within minutes we were back in the palace.

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