Page 298 of Night's Fall
Okay.
I was learning he had to shout it out, so didI, and then we could carry on like adults.
But now, he had to pull it together.
I was also dressing asIsaid with as much calm asIcould muster in the face of his pulsating wrath, and frankly, allI’djust seen anddone, “We’llbattle it out, but we can’t right now.Weneed to see if our loved ones are okay and find out what the farg is going on.”
My mate agreed with me,Iknew, because he yanked down his sweater, snatched up my hand, and dragged me through the courtyard to thePalace.
Once inside, there was still pandemonium.Icould see the green and orange flashes of constabulary craft outside the opened front doors, defense bots standing at attention just inside, ambu-lift medics were hard at work, beings were milling about in shocked stupors, and some had fainted and were on the floor.Tomy despair, the latter were intermingled with those who were battered and bloodied.Andworse, some who were obviously dead.
I sawDr.Fearsome,Ryanot too far from him (they were guests), both of them administering to some wounded.
And thenIlost sight of them whenAlekseipushed me intoTimothee’sarms and ordered, “Takeher to the king’s study, andIswear to fuck,Tim, she steps one foot out of it,I’llhold you responsible.”
Timothee nodded, but he also looked like he was fighting a smile, when,again,Ihad no idea what could possibly be funny, and he started pulling me to the stairs.
I didn’t want to go.Iwas no medic, butIcould wield aMedi-Aid, for goodness’ sake.
But my mate was in a state, soIsaid not a word and accompaniedTimotheeto the king’s study.
* * *
The first to join us wereMoniqueandMrs.Truelock.
Right.
Two down.
Good.
Seven to go.
“The others?”Iasked afterIrushed to them to give them hugs.
“In the crush to get back to thePalace,Ilost track ofGayleandCat,”Moniquetold me apprehensively. “I…Idon’t know aboutMr. andMrs.Vinestrong.ButMr.Truelockwas talking to a constable when we were located and escorted up here.”
Right, three down, six to go.
“The queen?”Mrs.Truelockasked, glancing atTimothee.
“I don’t know.Ibelieve she went inside at the beginning of the attack.ButAleksei,Aleece, and the king are okay,”Isaid.
“We sawAleksei,AleeceandFillion,”Mrs.Truelocksaid. “Butwe haven’t seenCalisa,” she finished as the door opened.
“I’m here.I’mfine,” the queen announced.
I hurried to her and threw my arms around her.
She gave me a brief squeeze, pulled away but kept hold of one arm, patted my cheek with the other hand, her eyes moving over my face, a strange light in them.
And she murmured, “MylittleIphelia.”
Whoa.
“I should have read it,” she said mysteriously, just as the door opened again.
Cat andGaylecame in.
