Page 70 of A Tongue so Sweet and Deadly

Lessia’s eyes widened as she took in his words.

Why would Stellia attack now?

She wasn’t in the election anymore, wouldn’t have anything to win.

Unless she wanted to take out every nominee and force a reelection…

Loche’s back straightened as he unstrapped the sword hanging by his waist. “Where?”

Placing a hand on his shoulder, Zaddock spoke urgently. “There’s a dozen or more of them. You can’t afford to be captured or injured. Not now, Loche. You need to go to the safe room.”

Loche shook his head, his jaw set. “I won’t hide, Zaddock. This is my fight.”

“All your men have been called in. They’ll catch them in no time. Please, Loche. We need you.”

Her eyes sliced between them as Zaddock’s face filled with worry and Loche’s features twisted with defiance.

But when Zaddock squeezed his shoulder, Loche’s eyes shifted down.

Slamming his fist into the wall, he cursed but finally nodded.

Zaddock’s eyes found hers. “You need to come too. Is your guard around?”

Lessia shook her head, the whirlwind of thoughts in her mind not allowing words to form.

Bowing his head, Zaddock motioned for the guards surrounding them. “You follow them to the safe room, and do well to remember these are two nominees, including your current regent. You give your life for them if it comes to that.”

After patting Loche on the back, Zaddock hurried off the way he’d come.

Loche didn’t spare her a glance as he followed the guards down another hallway, his movements jerky, as if he was about to turn around at any moment.

Soon they stood outside two thick metal doors, and one of the guards tapped on one of them—some type of code, Lessia guessed, as it swung open seconds later.

Hushed voices clung to the air, but as she was about to step over the threshold, she realized the room was veiled in darkness.

Freezing with her foot in midair, Lessia made to turn around, but the guards behind her ushered her in, slamming the door closed behind them and leaving her in complete blackness.

Her heart began thundering as she listened to the heavy breathing and quiet murmurs around her.

Closing and opening her eyes, she tried to make out anything in the room, but whenever she opened them, there was only impenetrable darkness. Clenching her fists, she tried to draw air into her lungs, but heaviness planted itself on her chest, and only a wheezing breath made its way down her throat.

“I need to get out of here,” she got out, not caring that her voice wavered, nor about whoever was in this room.

“You can’t leave, miss. We’re on strict orders to keep you here until it’s safe.”

She had no idea who the voice belonged to but clung to the arm of the person next to her. “Please. I don’t care, I’ll tell them I made the decision. I…” She sucked in what little air she could as her pulse roared in her ears. “I need to get out.”

“Calm down, miss. It will all be all right.”

No.

She needed to get out.

Dizziness began swimming in her mind, her limbs tingling, and she knew she would faint if she didn’t get out.

Now.

A chilling chorus of clinking chains, falling water, and rusty hinges filled her ears, and another voice drowned the subdued murmurs in the room.

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