Page 61 of Wicked Enemy

They had managed to get in more hits than I had planned, but oh well. The bruises would heal. And they also made sure that no one thought that I had actually done something that would help them escape.

And because they were all professionals, Tyler and Chris and everyone else glared at me and spat threats in my direction with very convincing venom as I walked away. But on the inside, I was sure they were grinning as much as I was.

Mission accomplished.

Chapter25

My footsteps echoed against the black and gold metal walls. I knew that I should be sleeping. Or at least resting.

It had taken almost five hours before I had recovered enough to leave that house. And while I was now able to summon magic again, the deep well that contained my power was still dangerously low. Which was why I was currently pacing through my bedroom like a restless demon instead of taking out all of my anger and frustrations on the metal walls in my throne room.

Drumming my fingers against my thighs, I tried desperately to relieve some of the panic and stress that was swirling inside me like a lightning storm. It didn’t work.

I felt trapped, and I still didn’t know how to get out of it.

The other three Houses were getting bolder with their attacks. And if the ambush earlier today was any indication, they had also set aside their differences and decided to work together to take me down. And there was no way that I could go up against all three of them together. Not when my own Court was in complete shambles.

And Maggie hadn’t gotten in touch yet, which meant that she still hadn’t found the location of another healer. Without that, I couldn’t make a deal with the worldwalker. So he was going to keep showing up every day, trying to find the rest of my people and slaughter them. And if he did, a lot of civilians were going to die too.

Raking my fingers through my hair, I tilted my head back and forced out a long breath.

And then there was Tyler, and Chris, and my other battle mages. They were due to stand trial in less than two days. After that, they would be executed.Executed. And not because they had been stupid and gotten caught. No. It was all because of my own incompetence.

I didn’t tolerate incompetence in others, and yet I had gotten my own people arrested because of it. Because I hadn’t been able to see that Eve Sterling had been a fucking undercover white boot.

And she was the final stone on my already massive mountain of regret. Eve, who had called the all-clear today. That little spitfire who I once again found myself indebted to.

Movement in the corner of my eye drew my attention. I snapped my gaze towards the window.

Alarm flickered through me, trying to wake my survival instincts back to life again. But what I mostly felt was just a sense of tired resignation.

A mass of people surged into the street and hurried towards my front doors.

One of the other Houses had come back to finish the job. Or maybe all three of them.

Turning away from the window, I strode into the corridor and then down towards my throne room. When I passed Shinji’s room, I banged a fist against the door and told him to get the hell out of here because we were about to be overrun. Then I continued walking.

Firelight danced over the metal walls and the massive throne at the back as I strode into the high-ceilinged hall and took up position in the middle of the room. With all the metal around me, this space would always be the best battleground for me.

Though, I already knew that I would lose. I still hadn’t recovered enough energy to fight off an entire House. Let alone three.

So I supposed that here, inside the throne room that I had built after years of blood and sweat, was as good a place as any to die.

Soft footsteps sounded from my left.

I glanced over my shoulder to find Shinji taking up position next to me.

“I thought I told you to get the hell out of here,” I said, arching an expectant eyebrow.

“Yes, you did.”

“And?”

“And that is one order I will refuse to obey.” He met my eyes, a small smile lurking at the corner of his lips, as he added, “Sir.”

I let out a disbelieving chuckle before inclining my head. “Alright then, let’s get ready for one last battle.”

Dark orange flames whooshed down his arms as he called up his magic. I summoned mine too, but let it flow through the metal around the room instead. We might die here tonight, but I was going to take as many of those bastards with me as I could.

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