Page 94 of Kingdom of Locks

“Yes, I’m here!” he cried, his voice shaking with shock and relief. “Where are you?”

“I’m…I’m right here.” Aurelia sounded tearful, and Amell felt his heart twist. What had she been through since he’d ridden away from her that morning? Could it really be the same day they’d shared those kisses? It felt like a lifetime ago.

“Aurelia, my darling, it’s going to be all right,” he promised her. “There’s no need to hide. You can come out, I’m going to keep you safe now.”

“I knew you wouldn’t shun me.”

Her relieved words confused him, as did her continued failure to emerge. He peered through the darkness, seeing nothing but trees in the thin moonlight.

“Who’s been shunning you?” he demanded. “Surely not your mother. Where is she?”

“I don’t know,” said Aurelia shakily, her voice sounding louder, although he could still see no sign of her. “She and Sir Furnis left for the capital hours ago. And of course she’d never shun me. But oh, Amell, everyone else has been awful.”

“Aurelia, where are you?” Amell demanded, perplexed.

“What do you mean?” She sounded as confused as he felt. “I’m standing right in front of you.”

Amell blinked, but no familiar form appeared. “I…I can’t see you,” he said, “I can hear you, but I can’t see—”

He cut himself off with a gasp as something touched his arm. His hand jumped to the spot, and he felt another hand, placed tentatively on his elbow.

“Aurelia?” he demanded, astonished. “Is that you? Why can’t I see you?”

“I don’t know,” she said, again sounding tearful. “I can see you.”

“But…” Something suddenly clicked into place in Amell’s mind. “Cyfrin,” he said grimly. “He said I’d never see you again. It must have been a separate curse, one the power didn’t fight off.”

“What?”

He had no opportunity to answer Aurelia’s confused question. A shout from behind him made him turn, and he gaped in astonishment at half a dozen soldiers racing toward him through the trees, lanterns in their hands.

“We found her!” one soldier shouted over his shoulder. His eyes flicked to Amell, recognition dawning. “Your Highness!” he gasped. “Step back! She’s dangerous!”

“What are you—?” Amell could have slapped himself as he suddenly understood what was going on. “She’s not dangerous,” he said, exasperated. “I can explain it all.”

“She’s likely bewitched you, Your Highness,” said another soldier gruffly. “Step away now. We had reports one was spotted on the main road, and we’ve come especially.”

“Amell!” Aurelia’s voice was full of fear, and he swung back around. Even in the blaze of the lanterns, the grove looked empty, his eyes unable to see the figure the soldiers were staring at. It was beyond bizarre.

“Amell,” Aurelia pleaded again. “Please don’t let them arrest me.” She clutched at his arms, but before he could close them protectively around her, one of the soldiers let out an angry shout.

“Step away from the prince! Step away now!”

He’d raised a bow, an arrow notched to it, and Amell felt his patience desert him.

“Stop,” he said sternly. “This is ridiculous.”

“You know the orders, Your Highness,” said one of the soldiers, his eyes fixed warily on a spot of apparently empty air.

“Of course I know the orders,” said Amell, exasperated. “I helped issue them. But they don’t apply here. She’s not a—”

Before he’d even finished his sentence, he felt Aurelia pull away from him. Whether she didn’t have faith in his ability to extricate her, or she just lost her head, he didn’t know. But seeing the soldier pull his bowstring hastily back, he didn’t pause to think. He was unable to see Aurelia to know if the soldier’s aim was true, but it wasn’t a chance he was willing to take. With a cry of horror, he threw himself sideways, straight into the path of the oncoming arrow.

The simple projectile did what none of Cyfrin’s magic had been able to achieve, and pierced Amell, burying itself into his shoulder. Pain radiated from the spot, and his vision spun as he fell heavily to the ground.

“Amell!”

Aurelia’s scream told him that she hadn’t run far, and he reached blindly for her invisible form. A hand gripped his, and he suddenly found his head cushioned in a soft lap.

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