Page 32 of Destiny of a King

None answered.

One of the men moved forward.

“Stay back,” Feena warned.

He continued toward them.

Feena reached inside her cloak, her fingers closing around the small knife she carried when gathering herbs, but before she could draw it, the man was upon her and seized her wrist. She fought him, kicking at his leg and trying to wrench herself free.

Adira went to join in the struggle, fearful Feena would be harmed, but another man caught her around the waist and dragged her backward.

Her hand tore from Feena’s.

“Adira!” Feena screamed as she struggled wildly, but the man holding her twisted her arm behind her back so hard that the pain forced her to still.

Adira fought harder than Feena had ever seen her fight. She kicked and clawed at the man who held her, her mouth opening in a silent cry as she reached toward Feena.

“Leave her be!” Feena shouted, feeling helpless.

The man holding Adira cursed as she landed more punches than he expected and he tightened his arm around her.

Adira drove her elbow hard back into him.

He grunted. “Enough.”

A fourth man stepped from among the trees.

He approached Adira, and Feena’s heart pounded with fear as he reached beneath his cloak.

“Nay! Do not hurt her!”

He pulled out a folded cloth and when he unfolded it, Feena saw dark petals nestled there.

Adira twisted away, but the man holding her trapped her arms while the other pressed the cloth firmly over her nose and mouth.

Her eyes widened, but still she fought.

Feena screamed her name although she could not hear her, but surprisingly Adira’s gaze found hers and held it.

Feena watched the fight slowly leave her, her legs grow weak, and then her eyes fluttered closed.

Fear had Feena screaming out again. “ADIRA!”

The man holding Feena released her so suddenly she stumbled forward and fell to her knees in the snow. By the time she was able to get to her feet, one of the men had lifted Adira into his arms.

Feena rushed toward them and a man stepped in her path.

“Move!” she demanded.

He said nothing. He simply stood blocking her way with a threatening glare until the others disappeared deeper into the forest with Adira. Then he backed away and followed them.

Feena stood frozen, too shocked to move. They had not harmed her, had not even tried to take her. They had wanted only Adira.

The realization struck with such force that Feena nearly lost her footing. Then she turned and ran as best she could.

“THE KING!” she screamed as she stumbled through the snow. “FETCH THE KING!”

Chapter Nine