Page 46 of Between Despair and Hope

Pushing past her, I started down the hallway, only stopping a moment later when she didn’t follow. Peering over my shoulder, I saw her slide down the wall, head in her hands as she coughed, tears running clean tracks down olive skin.

For fuck’s sake.

“You’ll be dead too, if you don’t get the fuck up.”

Ignoring me or unable to hear me, I wasn’t sure which, she didn’t move. Her head tilted forward, and all I could see was the dirty tip of her nose behind that curtain of dark hair.

“I have shit to do. Get up,” I said as I approached her. I’d drag her out if I had to, then I’d go help with Rainier. When she refused to move, I bent over her and reached down, tilting her chin up with my fingertip. Eyes I couldn’t tell the color of in this light looked back up at me, sadness and hatred whirling behind them.

“It wasn’t the fire that killed her. I’m assuming it was Declan’s fault. You can’t make him pay for it if you die here with her.”

Her eyebrows tilted up in the middle, pitiful sadness on her face, before it hardened into something stony. She pushed my hand away and stood, slamming into the wall once more as she started coughing again. My own lungs were aching, but she’d clearly been in the building far longer than me. Though we were farther back where the smoke wasn’t nearly as bad, I didn’t trust her to make it out.

“Sorry about this,” I said as I bent down, picking her up beneath the knees and behind her back.

She didn’t fight me, dissolving into a fit of coughing against my chest. Heavier than I’d have thought, I realized the loose novice attire hid her shape. She had been tall for a woman, but what surprised me most was the corded muscle of her legs I felt through the thin, loose pants. She was strong. No wonder she’d been able to kick open the fucking padlocked door. Once outside, I surveyed her as I set her down. I was glad to no longer be touching her, not trusting her to stay out of my gods damned head. Situating her clothing on her body, she winced as she tugged on her shirt, and I saw red injured skin on her exposed arm.

“Shit, you’ve been burned. Are you alright? The queen is a—”

“Skies, you’re lucky you’re handsome,” she said.

“I’m sorry, what?”

“You’d have to be, because you aren’t too bright,” she coughed out, and I stared at her. “These are scars, you buffoon.”

I studied her arm, realization dawning.

“You winced like it hurt, so I thought it was new…”

“It’s fine,” she muttered, sounding offended as she tugged her ripped shirt to cover the mottled skin.

I averted my eyes, turning back toward the palace, feeling ashamed. The woman clearly just lost someone she was close to, and I seemed to have insulted her. Pushing the thought out of my mind, I caught sight of riders on horseback, one carrying the novice I’d sent off before going inside the building. At the same time, a Folterran soldier with a crossbow took aim at the rebels, and I knew there would be nothing I could do to stop it.

It was a good thing Lux was there.

White fire drew a line where the soldier had once stood as she veered, scorching a path of earth on her way back toward the palace. I spotted Irses perched on the gods damned fountain, his tail laying in the water below him. He waited for Emmeline—I was sure of it.

Glancing across what I realized was an expansive courtyard with elaborate gardens, I realized most of the enemy had been killed or had fled, making it easier as I urged the surrounding novices toward their ride out of this carnage.

“Where are they taking them?” A soft voice whispered in my mind as she put her hand on my shoulder, even as Irses let out a deafening roar. I didn’t jump this time, but I turned and scowled.

“Anywhere but here—probably to Evenmoor. Now, hop on.” I nodded to the last horse, ready to assist her.

“No, I can’t stay—” She shook her head, cutting herself off. “I have to get back to Astana. Take me with you. The king knows me.”

I chuckled, guiding her toward the horse as Irses roared once more. I needed to go see if Emma needed my help.

“He told me to help you but didn’t tell me to go out of my way. Horse. Now.”

That was when I heard the horns.

“Fuck, go on. Now!” I shouted at her.

“No! Take me with you,” she pleaded.

“We’re getting out of here. Let’s go!” The man who’d led the rebel horses yelled out, turning his steed, and his other men followed. The horse this woman was supposed to be on took off, its rider not bothering to wait.

“Fine. Follow me.” I took off at a brisk walk, annoyed. “I bet you’ve never had something this deadly between your legs.”

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