Page 61 of A Touch of Iron
It was now or never.
With a small cadre of rebels, Alec, Jon, and I stepped out into the middle of the street, blocking the processional. Several more rebels surrounded the guards, leaving them with no opportunity for escape.
Blissfully unaware of the impending drama about to unfold, the entertainers continued playing music and singing until they were clued in by the guards coming to an abrupt halt.
“What are you doing?” Ansel frowned as he looked between me and Alec. “This isn’t the time for—”
“This is the perfect time,” Jon interrupted. “This is your one chance to get out of the way and not get hurt.”
Ansel looked at me and his brother before slowly shaking his head. “I can’t do that,” he whispered.
A split second later, Jon’s hands were engulfed in flames, ready to attack… which wasn’t part of the plan. I jumped in front of his flames, feeling the comforting heat slam against my back and sparing Ansel in the process. I stomped the ground, sending a concrete wall barreling up through the soil at the same time I blasted another wall of air toward Ansel and the guards, knocking them down in one shot.
I turned to Jon with a glare. “That wasn’t part of the plan!” I seethed. “Ansel isn’t allowed to get hurt.”
Jon shrugged, his eyes cold as he shoved past me. “Things change.”
Alec grabbed his shoulder and halted his steps. “We stick to the plan or else you’re on your own,” he growled.
“You’re in too deep to stop now,” Jon retorted confidently.
The battalion of guards tasked with protecting the Seelie Queen were down for the count. All except for Ansel, who was an earth elemental. He darted to the Queen to protect her just as Kazimir moved to protect the Unseelie King.
The King’s guards formed a protective barrier in front of him, ready to attack. With Ansel safely out of the way, Alec released Jon.
“We have the dragon here,” Jon announced. “You’re finished!”
The Unseelie King threw his head back in laughter. “You think that little girl can slayme?”
I cracked my knuckles. “Let’s find out.” I stepped forward, inhaling a deep breath and heaving a gust of fire from my mouth, striking all the guards in my path. Some went down immediately, shrieking in agony, but the fire elementals held strong, although the force of the blast made them stumble a bit. Though they were unharmed, they couldn’t disguise the shock painted on their faces as confirmation that I was the last dragon was once again revealed.
My vision clouded and I was struck by a wave of dizziness. I fought to retain a sliver of energy so I wouldn’t black out. I still hadn’t perfected the dragon’s abilities.
The surrounding rebels attacked, aiming for the remaining guards who still stood in front of their monarch. It was pure and utter chaos.
Alec and I threaded around them, heading for the King and Queen. Kazimir looked cool as a cucumber, not moving an inch, while Ansel crouched low and prepared to attack.
“You wouldn’t kill your own brother, now would you?” the Seelie Queen yelled as a look of sheer terror crossed her lovely face. It was obvious she’d realized her guards were outnumbered by rebels at least three to one.
“No. I wouldn’t,” Alec said as we continued to approach them. “But my brother is going to step away real soon.”
With a predetermined signal, Ansel lifted his hands and raised the ground around him, forming a concrete box around the Seelie Queen. For the time being, she was trapped. Ansel stepped away from his monarch and came to stand beside me and Alec.
We’d informed him of the plan last night, concluding that the best way to keep him safe was to include him.
“I knew I shouldn’t have trusted you!” the King spat. “Dogs always turn on their masters and look at me now, getting bitten by one of my own!” he sneered at Alec. “Aren’t you worried about your brother finding out your deep, dark, secret?”
Alec chuckled. “No. I’m not concerned whatsoever.”
Ansel stood on my other side. “I already know.” He grinned, glancing at his older brother, taking great pleasure in working as a team for the first time in ages.
The King’s eyes widened and he grabbed Kazimir’s arm. “Take care of them. And find someone to alert the guards back at the castle!” he commanded.
I hesitated for a moment, wondering if Kazimir would attack or not. But then he shocked me – or I should sayus– by stepping away from the Unseelie King and ripping his hand away in just one tug.
Kazimir unbuttoned the top buttons of his shirt and started to roll up his sleeves. “I think this is where we part ways, Your Highness.”
“What?” the Unseelie King stumbled back, unable to fathom the betrayal of his closest servant. “You … you can’tdothis!” he yelled, his indignant voice almost drowned out by the Seelie Queen’s screams, still sequestered in the cement box Ansel created.
