Page 104 of Tricky Princess
“I know how to stop her.”
“Yeah, by capturing her and bringing her here so you can live happily ever after in the pits of Hel,” Ellea said over her shoulder.
“She’s too strong, no one will get near her. But if you stopped time…I could show you how I did it with the vampires,” he offered.
Ellea closed her eyes, finding the strength to continue to be anywhere near him.
“If you hate her so much, do it yourself.”
“That’s the thing about blood vows,” he said. “If I tried to stop her from doing what she wanted to do, if I tried killing her, I would die. Even now, I grow weaker after escaping her.”
“Looks like you’re going to die here anyway.” She smiled wickedly at him.
Cato stood. If she didn’t know any better, she’d say he looked sad. He strolled toward the bars, then stepped through them. Ros was at her side in an instant, pulling her away from him.
“I’m only here because I want to be, daughter,” Cato said before Ros’ shadows circled his neck and held him in place.
Ellea knew he could fight them off, but he didn’t; he only stared at them with that sad look in his eyes.
“Let me show you how to stop her. You alone have the power to kill her,” he whispered.
“I would rather die,” she hissed in his face.
“I’m sorry. I am so very sorry for all of it,” he said as tears streaked his face.
Then he was gone.
The moment Cato vanished, a deafening noise surrounded her. Shadows, guards, and chaos all tore through the place; two guards sandwiched Ellea against a wall as Ros stood in front of them, shouting orders and snarling. Next thing she knew, Garm appeared and shadowed her directly to Azzy’s office without giving her a chance to think. Billy was there in a moment, and now the two of them sat in the king’s office. Seven guards kept watch over the past few hours; three lining the large window, three standing near the doors, and Mythis standing beside her. Their gold armor glinted in the afternoon sun streaming in through the windows.
“This is a bit dramatic,” Ellea drawled. She sat sideways in the massive armchair as her crossed foot bobbed.
Billy grabbed it and gave her a look.
Stop being a brat and talk to me, she said telepathically.
Ellea rolled her eyes and pried her foot from her familiar’s clawed grasp. There was nothing to talk about, nothing had changed. No matter what her father said, they were in the same position. They had zero leads and no way to capture him or Cerce.
My father spewed some pretty lies and then he escaped. I’m not sure what you want from me, Ellea thought, not wanting the guards to know.
I can get those details from Ros, Bug. Stop blocking your emotions from me. Ellea practically felt the pleading in her voice.
She would not; there was no time for how she was feeling, it didn’t matter. That’s what she kept telling herself as a door slammed open. Azzy strode in, and all the guards stood at attention. His long horns glinted, and a snarl spread across his mouth.
“Leave us,” he spat, and all the guards moved out on stiff legs. Mythis was the last to go, giving Ellea a nod bowing to the king. “You too, Billy.”
Billy looked as if she would refuse for a moment, but even she wouldn’t argue with his request. It seemed only Ellea was immune to his knee-wobbling command. Billy kissed the top of her head before bowing to the king. Ellea swiveled her chair to stand, and Azzy reached for her hand, holding it tight. She held her chin high as he searched her face.
“Ros?” she asked when he finished his assessment.
“Talking with the generals,” he said, sitting on the edge of his desk in front of her.
“And he told you what my—what Cato claimed?”
“He did.” Azzy took a deep breath, and she couldn’t help but feel more settled in his presence.
“We’ve never covered stopping time in our studies and training.”
“And I’ve never heard of it,” he added. “Rosier described it to me; I’ve never witnessed a witch, demon, or God doing something like that. It doesn’t mean it isn’t possible.”
