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She was soaking wet when she walked over. “How are we going to beat them on horses?”
I swallowed. “We’re going to run.”
She cringed. “Yeah, I’m not too good at that—”
I swept her into my arms. “Hold on, Josephine. Tuck your chin and legs.”
She did as I said. With what strength I had left from my fight with the hellhounds, I took us a different direction toward the cabin.
If we didn’t have Ernest, we didn’t stand a chance at beating Deidamia.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Josie
The rush back to the cabin only increased my adrenaline. I’d been on cloud nine when the guards showed up to ruin the first release I’d had in ages.
Everything about Kellan’s touch had broken down all my insecurities. I felt wanted. Beautiful. The longing look in his dark eyes seared me in half, leaving ashes on the ground.
Now we were on our way to the cabin, praying we made it back in time to warn Ernest. To be honest, I thought Deidamia would have already burned us all to the ground.
Sending the guards to kill Ernest meant she was insecure.
There was something stopping her from being as powerful as she wanted to be, but as I clung to Kellan’s shoulders was not the time to figure it out.
Twigs and branches tore at my skin even though Kellan attempted to take the blow of it. “Are we gonna make it?” I whispered.
Kellan’s dark gaze shifted toward mine. “I hope so.”
I didn’t appreciate his lack of certainty.
Kellan took us near the edge of the woods and walked us around to the front door. He was drenched in sweat from running through the forest. I was sure carrying me made it harder, but he didn’t complain.
Kellan swung me to my feet in the yard and pounded on the front door. Ernest opened it with wide eyes. “Dear Lord, Kellan. Break down my door—”
Kellan grabbed my wrist and pulled me into the house, slamming the door shut. I sat down the herbs Ernest needed on the arm of the chair by the doorway. “The guards are on their way. Deidamia sent them to arrest you for dark magic. She’s scared of you.”
Ernest smiled softly to himself. He looked pleased that she was afraid and unbothered about the guards.
Kellan stormed through the house and looked out the back window. “They’re here.”
Ernest lifted his gaze to the hallway, where an attic door sat. “Help me up.”
Kellan grabbed the swinging string and pulled it down. The stairs unfolded, and Ernest took his time climbing into the small space.
The guards pounded on the back door as Kellan stopped the string from swinging. Fern looked over her shoulder to make sure we were set and opened it.
The guards looked like what I figured they would with old-timey armor, stern faces and healthy builds. The tallest one spoke first; his long blond hair was tied at the nape of his neck, while the other had short, ebony-colored hair that matched a set of soulless eyes.
“Is this the residence of Ernest Killway?”
Fern nodded silently.
“Is he here?”
“No,” she said.
The guard didn’t look like he believed her. His gaze shifted around the room to Kellan and I. “Mind if we take a look?”
