I screamed from my cell, hoping that someone would hear me and get me out. Where was Talia? Was she safe? And Matthew? I shook my head and pounded my fists against the cell door, screaming louder with each strike.
I could hear the clashing of swords outside the door as the screams continued. The shakes seemed to come every few minutes in a constant barrage, never getting a reprieve. While I didn’t give two shits if Trystan’s lair came crashing down, I’d be damned if this was where and how I died.
Without warning, the wall collapsed as an explosion hit the outside wall of my cell. My body was thrown back from the door by the blow, and my head crashed against the floor as debris flew in the air around me. I couldn’t breathe from the extreme pain that radiated over every inch of my damn body, couldn’t even catch a breath. My vision was blurred. As I felt something wet dripping down my neck, I reached my hand behind my head, and it came away covered in blood.Shit.
I tried to stand, but quickly tumbled back down to my knees. My heart was racing. I was trapped. I screamed out in frustration, spending the little energy I had left in my body as I attempted to stand once more. Stumbling forward, I caught myself on the door before I collapsed once more, but I also noticed that the explosion had blown out part of the wall near the door and I could open it just enough to slide out.
Pure chaos was reigning outside of my cell, but if I stayed, then it was almost certain death. I took the steps one at a time as I descended further into the hallway, keeping to the shadows as much as possible. Plus, I could use the wall as my leverage to keep myself up and moving.
I hadn’t made it far when rough hands gripped the back of my neck and pulled me back. I couldn’t help the scream that escaped, and the other hand closed over my mouth. They jerked my body back against theirs, hot, rancid breath tingled on my skin.
“Where the fuck do ya think you’re going, girl? Did ya think no one would notice a pretty thing like yourself slinking around in the dark?” His hands roamed over my body as I fought back, but I was too drained to do anything. I couldn’t even drag my magic to the surface. Tears leaked from my eyes as I clamped them shut, willing this to all be a terrible nightmare.
The man got sloppy as a finger hooked into my mouth. I saw the opportunity and stole it as my teeth clamped down. The unmistakable copper tang of blood filled my mouth as he screamed and jumped backward, clutching his hand. I looked to my left and noticed the sword he had dropped before he grabbed me.
Hobbling over, I hoped I would get there in time. I took it in my hand and spun around to face him as he made his way over. I was at an obvious disadvantage given my many injuries, but I refused to go down without a fight.
The man smiled at me, stalking me in a circle. “What do ya think you’re going to do with that, hmm? Ya gonna gut me, little girl?”
My eyes met movement behind him. “No, I’m not going to gut you.” I paused, lowering the sword. “He is.”
He didn’t have time to turn around before a sword came crashing down, knocking the man’s head clean off of his body. It fell and rolled away; a look of horror permanently etched across his features. I tore my eyes away from the scene and looked at my savior.
“Matthew,” I said as I collapsed into his arms. He hugged my body tightly to his, careful of my injuries. His hands reached up to cradle my head in his hands as he kissed me gently on my forehead.
“Gods, Eva. I’ve never been so terrified in my life. I don’t think I could live if anything happened to you,” he whispered on my skin. Another explosion shook the walls. We stared at each other for just a moment, holding so many unsaid words between us in the silence. “We need to go, now.”
He bent down to pick me up. Amidst any protests I might make, I knew I wouldn’t make it far without his help. We tiptoed through the confusion that plagued the castle. Sentries and staff ran amuck, and there was no sign of Trystan that I could tell. It was a war zone; the destruction was intense. Bodies remained where they were struck down, blood pooling around them. I retched at the sheer extent of the carnage as the battle continued to rage around us.
“Who is doing this?” I whispered to Matthew as we crept past the body of a young maid. My heart hurt for the woman. This was a senseless loss of life.
His lips pursed. “I’m not sure. I have an idea, but I could be very wrong. Let me rephrase that… Ihopethat I’m very wrong.”
We slipped through the servant’s quarters and out of a door that led to a small garden. Smoke clouded the air, and the trace of fire was prominent. The destruction was limited on this side, but that didn’t make it easier to sneak out of the grounds.
My mind wandered back to those that hadn’t made it out and the number of bodies that we passed. I did not know where Talia was or if she was safe. It felt rotten leaving without her, but I was barely hanging on. I knew I had a concussion from the earlier blow in the cell. Despite the danger surrounding us, it took all I had to keep my eyes open. I wanted to sleep and have peace. I was so sick of fighting and running. My arms clenched tighter around Matthew’s neck, pulling my body closer to his.
“Stay with me, Eva. Not far now,” he murmured, sweeping a kiss across my temple.
“Hmm… Matthew?”
“Yes, darling?” The name made me smile, it always made me smile.
“Stay with me, don’t leave me…” I whispered, a tear sneaking down my cheek.
He looked down at me, stunned. A frown settling on his sweet lips as he wiped the tear from my face. “Eva, I would never – “
“STOP!” a deep voice bellowed from behind us. Dread pooled in my stomach. I could see how close we were to the woods. He couldn’t teleport with me in my current state. There was no telling how my fragile body would react, but it might be our only option.
It was as if he read my mind, looking into my eyes for permission. I nodded my head, the only movement I could make. His lips drew into a tight line before drawing me tightly into his arms and disappearing from the field of destruction we left behind.
32
MATTHEW
Gods, I was terrified.
Terrified of losing her, of hurting her, of my brother finding us.
