Page 95 of A Rose Among Snakes

The promise of his words reminded me of the more important matter at hand.

We rushed down the hall, Leoran leading us to the throne room. We didn’t meet any other guards until then, but I was almost positive I heard the sound of shifting armor behind us. The two guards outside the throne room were no match for Corman and Paolef, now motivated by an avenging fury for their fallen friend. They easily dispatched them both with a few well-placed punches, knocking them unconscious. They shoved the bodies to the side and Velian began pushing on the doors as they were also opened from the inside.

Kezara

Leoro pulled away frowning and released me, motioning to the two guards inside to open the doors. As they were about to, the doors slammed open to reveal the chaos. The two outside guards were lying on the ground, either dead or unconscious, and standing over them were four men and a woman in a royal blue dress. It took a moment for me to make sense of it all, but my heart jumped for joy when I recognized the man striding through the door first, sword in hand.

Chapter Fifty-Four

Mihrra

As the doors rattled against the walls, the sound reverberating through my body, I saw Kezara standing on the dais and my heart leapt in my chest.

Kezara was dressed in a resplendent gold and white gown with a gold veil behind her head, eyes round with alarm. Recognition dawned on her face, and she stepped forward, yelling,

“Velian!”

Leoro sneered and grabbed her arm, preventing her from running to her brother. There was no mistaking the sound of approaching guards.

“Let her go,” Velian demanded. He gritted his teeth and the muscle in his jaw jerked. His entire body was radiating rage in a way I’d never seen before.

Leoro laughed. “Or what?”

“I’ll kill you,” he replied. A host of guards appeared in the doorway behind us, blocking any escape.

“Seize them,” Leoro commanded. We were outnumbered, but it didn’t stop us from putting up a fight. The scuffle was short-lived and our weapons were confiscated as a guard held each of us by our arms. More guards hovered nearby, ready forthe king’s next command. Leoro scanned our faces, pausing on Enverro.

“It seems you have a death wish, boy. I told you I would not spare your life again.”

Enverro didn’t reply, but struggled against the guards and spit on the ground, his lip bleeding. Kezara’s face lit up when she saw Enverro, and they held each other’s stares, a thousand emotions crossing each of their expressions.

“Let her go,” Velian repeated in a calmer tone than before.

“Ah, Velian, it’s too late, you see. Your darling sister is my wife, Queen of Terrune.”

My stomach plummeted to the floor as Kezara shifted her gaze to the side.

“No,” Enverro whispered beside me.

“Yes,” Leoro hissed. “I guess that makes us family now,brother.”

Velian’s nostrils flared and his chest heaved.

Leoro stepped off the dais, leaving Kezara behind, and he walked to stand in front of Velian. “It also means that you better behave, or I will take it out on your sister.”

Teeth bared, Velian lunged forward and one of the guards punched him in the stomach.

Leorotskedand paced in front of us, looking each of us up and down, glaring at Corman and Paolef, and then stopping in front of me. He crossed his arms over his chest and arched a thick, black eyebrow. “Velian, who is this delicious morsel you have brought here with you?”

Velian leaned forward and shook his head at me, telling me to be silent, but staring into Leoro’s eyes, I saw red.

“Mihrra Nowen,” I answered, jutting my chin out. Velian groaned, but I continued, “I’ve been told you knew my father.”

Leoro assessed me with eyes so black the iris and pupil were nearly indistinguishable. “And who might that be?”

“Gorham Nowen, but I think you knew him as Gory Novenna.”

The king’s eyes widened, and he began to cackle, his head thrown back. “Gory Novenna. Now that is a name I have not heard in quite some time.” He stood close and held my chin with one finger. He brought his face within inches of mine and whispered, “Are you a troublemaker like your pathetic father?”

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