Page 147 of The Kingdom's Reckoning
"Where’s Laurince?" Rian asked, his breath haggard.
"Fighting," she answered, as Phaia made quick work of unlocking the chains around Rian’s wrists. Once done, she instantly moved to the ones on his ankles. "Weaponless, mind you."
"He’s not weaponless," Rian said, a darkness swirling in his gaze. "He has become a weapon."
"Laurince isn’t like the others," Myra snapped.
"Not yet. The transition is still happening. Who’s to say?—"
"Stop!" Myra pressed her palms against her head. She couldn’t hear him say what she feared most.
"Now is not the time," Phaia said gently.
"Fine," Rian gritted out. He looked at Myra, his expression solemn. "But you are only delaying the inevitable."
"Maybe we should focus on getting out of here alive first, yeah?" Phaia suggested, dropping the last manacle.
Rian rubbed his wrists and thanked the handmaiden. Then all three of them peered over the bench. Quickly finding Laurince as if drawn to him, Myra watched in horror as the drakonis fell on top of Laurince.
Myra didn’t hesitate. She didn’t think. She didn’t look at Rian for permission or guidance. She ran.
Feet pounded behind her, but she barely registered them. Myra didn’t check to see if it was another drakonis or Rian and Phaia. She couldn’t afford to waste any time. She stamped down her panic and sprinted harder.
Only seconds had passed, but Laurince had yet to emerge from beneath the beast’s body. Was he hurt? Was he dead? She shoved the thoughts away.
In her peripheral vision, she saw Rian catching up, his arms and legs pumping faster than hers and quickly passing her. He skidded to a stop beside the fallen creature. His fingers dug into his dyed hair as he searched for Laurince. Then he sprang into action. He sprinted around the body and dropped to the ground, shoving at the beast’s deadweight.
Myra hurried over and jerked back in fright. The creature had fallen on Laurince’s lower half. The captain wasn’t moving.
"No, no, no?—"
"Help me!" Rian yelled, putting his hands on the beast’s side and lifting.
Quickly, Myra slipped her hands beneath Laurince’s shoulders and pulled.
And pulled.
Andpulled.
"I can’t," she wept, sweat dripping from her forehead. "He’s stuck."
Phaia reached and quickly put her hands under the drakonis' belly. She nodded at Rian. "Come on."
Riandidn’t hesitate. Together, they lifted the drakonis a couple of inches. Frantically, Myra tugged, finally freeing Laurince from the beast’s weight. Rian and Phaia immediately dropped the drakonis’ body once the captain’s feet were free.
"Laurince?" Myra called out, brushing his hair back.
There was no answer.
Tears streamed down her face and splashed onto his cheeks.
"Is he all right?" Phaia asked.
Rian pressed his ear against Laurince’s chest.
Myra’s tears were an endless river as she waited with bated breath. She peppered Laurince’s forehead with soft kisses, begging the gods to show him mercy.
"He’s alive," Rian called out just as another voice spoke.
