Page 18 of Cages and Crowns
“Come on.” I spit out, tightening my grip on Laenie’s hand as I pull them to the staircase. We hit a crowd of people as we make it to the bottom floor, all trying to get to the bunkers. I steer us past the door that leads us down to the basement and pull us into the throne room.
Davenport is already there, his hands on his hips as he stands in front of one of the thrones. Enzo and Kassius are standing off to the side, looking confused. Mal is standing behind Kassius, holding onto his arm. Her strawberry hair in its usual messy ringlets. Her yellow eyes are wide, terrified, and I feel for her. No ten-year-old should be in the middle of a war.
“Where is my son?” The King of Labisa asks, staring right at me, and I glance around. Why is he looking at me?
“I am not sure, Your Grace.” I respond softly.
“He was the one who alerted us of the bombing, but he didn’t follow us to the throne room.” Kassius interjects.
“It was a bomb?” Laenie speaks up softly, and I turn to look back at her. Erik has his arm wrapped around her, holding her tightly against his chest. My throat constricts at the love in his eyes, the possession he has over her. I want nothing more than for someone to look at me like that.
“Someonefind my son.” He says slowly and sternly, his teeth clenched as he looks around.
“I’ll go.” Enzo speaks up.
“No, please don’t go.” Mal whimpers, fisting his tunic. He bends down and wipes her tears before kissing her nose.
“I’ll be right back, Malie.” He whispers. He’s good with her, with his little sister. She idolizes him. I didn’t have siblings growing up, just Elaenor, Laenie, and Rhea.But the way he treats her makes me realize I wish my littlebrother never died. I could have been that for him.
“I’ll go with you.” I interject. Enzo rolls his eyes in my direction as he stands but doesn’t stop me as I follow him out.His hands are shoved in his pockets as he walks through the halls, I can see the tension radiating off of him in waves.
People are still pushing to get to the bunkers, and I almost feel like I should send Laenie with them, but Erik will keep her safe. “Where is Emery?” I ask as he steers me towards the back of the palace.
“Probably wherever Ni is.” He mutters and I sigh.I know we aren’t the best of friends, but I’ll never get over his attitude. Why is it that he insists on treating me like I am less than him? As if I am not worthy of respect?
We step out into the courtyard, debris and crumbled stone scattered about. I cough as I inhale dust and Enzo sends me a scathing look. What is his problem?I look around and see that the back wall to the training room and another storage room is gone, wood and stone rubble in its place.
“What is that?” He asks as he tilts his head to listen. I can’t hear anything, but he must have. He quickly unsheathes the dagger on his thigh and takes off. I stumble after him, barely catching myself from falling. I lift the skirts of my gown as I pick up the pace, trying not to lose him. He weaves in and out of the rubble and the people running before he reaches the front gate.
Nithe is there, a sword to someone’s throat. Emery has an arrow knocked and aimed at the man’s head. He’s alone, wearing a dark cloak, his hands held out as a sign he isn’t a threat.
“Why?” Nithe yells, his sword pressing farther into the man’s neck. I can see a small trickle of blood sliding down his throat from where the blade slices into his skin.
“A distraction.” The stranger spits, and I instantly know who it is just from those words.I can still hear his voice, see his face, as it washisarrow that hit me that day. In all the confusion, all the blood and chaos, he was the one who aimed for Elaenor and hit me instead.
He was the one who almost killed me.
“Tano?” I question, and he whips his head around. It’shim. “Oh gods.” I run at him, screaming, and if it weren’t for Enzo’s arm snaking around my waist, I would have tackled him. “Where is she? What did you do to her?” I scream, trying to break free from Enzo’s clutches. I dig my nails into his arm, trying to get loose, drawing blood.
“Who is he to you, Scar?” Emery asks, her voice loud and commanding. I am seething, wanting nothing more than to rip his eyes out of his skull and shove them down his throat.
“His name is Tano. He’s one of Elaenor’s guards and the person who shot me. He was aiming for her and hitmeinstead.” I spit between ragged inhales as my feet dangle. Enzo is holding me up in the air as if I was nothing more than a bag of flour.
“Iwasone of her guards.” Tano retorts with a sneer.
“What has he done to her?” Nithe asks, dragging his attention back to him.
“She is nothing more than a husk at this point. One we have all been eager to play with.” Enzo gasps behind me, his grip loosening a fraction as my feet touch the ground. I kick out at his leg, hoping to break free from his grasp, but he moves me at the last second, lifting me back up.
“Let me go!” I yell, squirming in his arms.
“No, you’re just going to hurt yourself.” He snaps, his arms tightening.
“I’m going tokillhim.”I spit, my eyes glaring holes into Tano’s smug face.
“Scarlett, please.” Enzo whispers. I can feel his forehead press into the back of my neck and only then do I realize he’s shaking. He’sactuallyshaking. I stop fighting and listen to his slow deep breaths as they fan across my bare skin.
“Guards!” Nithe yells, and men file out of the dust clouds. “Take him to the dungeons and make sure he doesn’t escape.” He drops his sword at the same time Enzo releases me, but he keeps his hand loosely on my arm. Tano is pulledto his feet and dragged back towards the palace. I watch as he disappears into the half-crumbled walls of the courtyard.
