Page 145 of A Crown Without Mercy

“Hold on, Sylvana, I’m coming,” she heard from a voice in the distance.

“I’m here! I’m here!” she called out. However, she felt as though she was merely whispering, her voice was so hoarse.

The lid slowly scraped to the side and then someone lifted it open. “I’m so sorry, Sylvana. I had no idea they were going to do this.”Sylvana looked up and beneath the gentle glow of the lantern, Muriel was staring down at her.

“You fucking bitch! How could you do this to me?” Sylvana cried.

“Sylvie, I didn’t know—I would never have helped them,” she whispered.

Sylvana slapped her hand away when she reached down for her. “Don’t fucking touch me!”

Muriel stepped into the box and kneeled over her body. “You have to let me help you. I know you fucking hate me, and you have every right. But we have to go—now.” Muriel placed Sylvana’s arm around her neck and helped her to sit up.

Sylvana listened to the ominous sounds drifting through the forest from somewhere off in the distance. “What is happening?”

“The Faye and Lycans have gone to war. Now get up—I need you to move.”

With Muriel’s help, she crawled out of the shallow grave and took a deep breath; the cool air felt as if it were a breath of life. She dug her fingers into the soft dirt and pulled herself the rest of the way up and fell onto her stomach.

“Sylvana, get up,” Muriel demanded. “We have to go—we have to go now.”

She pushed herself off the ground and Muriel helped her to her feet and ran as quickly as she could manage having to drag Sylvana along in her weakened state.

“Why are you barefoot and in nothing but an oversized cloak?” Sylvana mumbled.

“It doesn’t matter,” Muriel replied.

Sylvana’s mind was clouded and disoriented, and the pain from Muriel’s arm wrapped around her back was almost too much to bear. Sylvana’s muscles cramped with spasms, and she tripped over a branch causing both of them to fall to the ground.

“Come on, you can do this,” Muriel coaxed, as she helped her to her feet again.

Sylvana’s entire body was knotted with pain and as they ran and stumbled through the rough terrain, the sounds of the battle faded further into the distance.

“Where are you taking me?” Sylvana asked.

“There is a cave I can hide you in. You will be safe, and I will do everything I can to get to your mates and tell them where you are.”

“After everything you did, why are you helping me now?”

“It wasn’t supposed to happen this way. Ranan said he would take care of you. He gave me his word, as my mate, you would not be harmed. Wouldn’t you do the same for your mates?” Muriel questioned.”

“I would do a lot of things for them, but I would never betray a friend the way you did.”

“You say that but until you are in the situation you don’t know what you would do. He promised me he wouldn’t hurt you. Would you have reason to believe your mates would deceive you?”

“I suppose there is some truth behind your bullshit, but I can feel it. I’m going to fucking die because of you,” Sylvana rumbled sarcastically.

Muriel let out a forced laugh. “You are not going to die, Sylvana. I won’t let you.”

Sylvana fell onto her knees again and placed her forehead on the ground. “I can’t—I can’t go on.” She looked to the side when her stomach churned, and liquid spewed from her mouth.

“It’s the toxin, Sylvana. Can you call to your mates?”

“Don’t you think I’ve been fucking trying? What did he do to me?” Sylvana bellowed.

Muriel cupped her hand over her mouth. “Shh, be quiet!” she demanded, as she helped her to her feet again. After what felt like an hour, they were crawling over boulders and fallen logs. “Sit here for a minute.”

Muriel gently set her down and then pulled a few large logs out of the way. She picked Sylvana back up, led her into the cave and laid her down. She then pulled the logs back over the entrance and pushed the pine branches between them. She removed a satchel from her back, hastily opened it, pulled out a thin, wool blanket, laid it over Sylvana, and held out her wrist. “Drink, you need your strength.”

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