Page 55 of A Kingdom of Lies

His words hit a chord inside of me, the note beautiful and deadly.

Duncan tore the cloak from his shoulders, leaving it in the mud at his feet. He spared me a final glance, lips pulled tight, and shoulders squared, his question hanging between us. Then he left, stalking around the cage to greet Erix.

I wasted no time.

Althea gasped as I took her by the shoulder and turned her away from me. “The second you are out of this cage, you run. Both of you. This is the chance you have waited for. Get to the army, tell them about the fey in Lockinge. Perhaps numbers to help.”

“No, Robin. We fight with you–”

I cut Althea off, panic surging up my throat and out in a wild scream. “Erix will kill anyone to get to me. You included. I can’t lose either of you. Please. You need to run. If we beat him, I get answers from Lockinge. If we lose, then at least he will not kill me.”

I hoped that was the case anyway. I was sure Doran had grand plans for me, death not being one of them. At least not swiftly.

The key slipped into the cuff around Althea’s neck with ease. Even with the violent shaking of my hands I managed to turn it and the cuff snapped open. It fell to the ground; the echo of metal against wood was beautiful, the sound of freedom.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t leave you,” Althea said, wet hair stuck to the curves of her face. “There are other ways of getting what you desire than going with the Hunter. Let Erix deal with him. I promise we will find another option.”

I saw it then, in Althea’s defiant amber eyes. The look of a woman who, like me, had made their mind up.

But Gyah was different. She wouldn’t risk Althea. Duty and pleasure, that’s what she said.

I couldn’t hold Althea’s gaze, instead turning to Gyah who was ready to be freed. “Gyah, you know what you need to do.”

“I do indeed,” Gyah replied, practically ripping the iron cuff from her neck, and throwing it to the ground just as I pulled the key free again. Her hand wrapped around mine and squeezed, golden eyes brimming with her power. “Good luck.”

I smiled, letting her take the key from my fingers and turn me around.

“Do what?” Althea studied us with wide, unblinking eyes. It was hard to tell if she cried, or if it was droplets of rain rather than tears that cascaded down her cheeks.

I couldn’t answer her. I’d let Gyah carry out the necessary.

The key also worked for the cage’s gate, unlocking it with ease. Old hinges groaned as I threw it open. One by one we clambered out of the iron prison and the feeling of power returned within a single breath. I almost lost my footing at the rush. My magic had returned, no longer imprisoned by the iron cage, or the cuff around my neck.

Magic flooded through my body, filling veins with ice and my soul with a storm. A pressure built in my bones, so intense it was a miracle my skin didn’t flay apart. It was wild, strong like the force of a wild boar, but I focused on it and kept it close. It certainly felt good to have my magic back. I’d need it against Erix – every last ounce.

It was clear Althea and Gyah felt the same, but there was no time to enjoy the feeling.

“You’ve come all this way for him,” Duncan’s demanding shout reached us. I looked in his direction, Gyah shifting forms in a twisting of flesh, wings and talons. “Not that my opinion matters of course, but do you not think that behaviour is rather… creepy?”

“Ready to fight,” Althea shouted, eyes ablaze with the fire that had been smothered until now; rain hissed upon impact with her boiling aura. “Follow me–”

Althea didn’t get very far.

Gyah snatched Althea from the ground, making her gargle on a surprised scream. Winds billowed as Gyah extended her wings and pounded them furiously. Her urgency was to get Althea away from here. That was our plan – removing her from harm’s way. I heard my name screamed from far away, but it faded as my friends flew away.

Slowly, I turned to Duncan who continued goading Erix.

I’m not ready.

But I didn’t have the luxury to turn away from this. I had to face Erix. The time would have always come around; I’d only hoped it would not have been this soon.

I walked around the perimeter of the cage to greet him.

“Nothing to say?” Duncan shouted. Bodies of the Hunters littered the ground, the horses they had ridden no longer in sight, fled from fear, most likely. “All this way, all this effort and you cannot even spare me a word. Come on – give me something big boy.”

Duncan held a sword, broad shoulders blocking out Erix who stood before him. His confidence was palpable, almost foolish and misplaced. Mud was splattered across his boots, his clothes drenched through. He must have sensed my presence for he stopped bouncing from foot to foot and spared a quick glance over his shoulder, not an ounce of worry creasing his focused, stoic face.

But Duncan was not the only one to see me.

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