Page 124 of Cages and Crowns
“Nero can’t protect you once you get there.”
“I don’t need him to. He willnotkill me.” I say for the thousandth time.
“You don’t know that for sure.” He says through gritted teeth.
“The second I tell him I am pregnant; he won’t touch me.” I place my hand over his.
“You aren’t even pregnant anymore.”
“He doesn’t have to know that.” I retort, squeezing his hand.
“I just got you back. Don’t make me lose my sister.”
“I love you, too.” I say with a smile. He releases my reigns and trots up to Nithe, forcing him to move. I take a long, deep breath, before squeezing my thighs against my horse. She starts to move, following after them.
Time passes and we crest the hill. Wistervale looks empty, dead. No smoke coming from the chimneys. No people running around the streets. Ships have already taken off, heading up instead of down towards Noterra.
There is a single ship left in the harbor. The one I am supposed to be on.
Nero glances back from where he is trotting behind the king. I nod once and he returns the nod.
My heart skips a beat as I try to lull myself into a sense of calm.
I think I see them before they attack, but I was ready for them. I was ready for all of this. Enzo glances back, a pained expression on his face as he reaches towards Nithe. Nithe opens his mouth in confusion before his eyes widen as he looks at me.
“Elaenor!” He yells as Enzo’s hand clamps around Nithe’s arm, and I see the purple glow spreading through his veins. Nithe’s eyes roll backwards, and he slumps against his horse. Enzo grabs his reigns and pulls.
I see them take off with Davenport following. He glances back at me once and I almost think I see a smile before I’m surrounded.
A hand grabs my ankle and I’m ripped off my horse. Nero is at my side in an instant, pushing people off of me. The hilt of a sword is slammed into his face and my arms are wrenched behind me.
“Nero!” I yell as I grimace in pain, begging the starlight to come. He was supposed to keep them off of me.
Red tunics and silver armor emblazoned with a rose fill my vision as I am grabbed and pulled in all directions.
“Get off of me!” I scream as I kick out. I feel the pinprick in my arm and my legs go numb instantly.
“She’s pregnant!” Nero yells as he’s shoved forward. I fall to my knees as my arms are released. Silence spreads like the plague and an uneasy feeling skates down my spine. Nobody is shuffling. No one is fighting. Not even Nero. I glance up to see one of the men handing him a handkerchief. My eyes widen as he takes it and wipes his bloody nose.
“Nero?” I ask as he looks back at me. His eyes narrow as he stares down at me. Horses surround us and I know in that moment he betrayed me.
“Cousin.” His voice is like ice, cutting through my mind with the swipeof a blade. I fall forward, my hands catching me.
“No, no, no.” I repeat as I roll onto my back.
His head blocks the sun, copper hair glinting in the light. “My Ela.” He whispers as he reaches for me. His hand touches my stomach, and he smiles. “You came back to me.”
ChapterSixty-Two
The Protector
I look back as she’s ripped off her horse. Men surround her and panic spreads. Nero’s face, he’s smiling. He’s smiling as if he expected this.
I stop my horse, the king racing past me to the harbor. I don’t even care. He’s there. His blonde hair shining in the sun as he stands over her.
“No.” I whisper. It wasn’t supposed to go that way. She was supposed to kill him. She said she was going to kill him.
Nithe stirs to my right, and I glance over as he shoots off his horse. I lunge after him, grabbing his arms as we both fall to the ground.
