Page 56 of Elysian

“This is how I can aid your mother,” Lord Tagon croaked. “I loved her.” He stepped forward, and I put a hand up to stop Cassiel from attacking. His hand hovered over my cheek. “You look just like her.”

Lord Tagon’s eyes widened, and he pushed me into Cassiel. An arrow slid right through one of his eyes. Blue blood splattered across my face, forcing me to close my eyes.

I screamed, whipping my head toward the one who had done this. The bastard with the cropped hair was notching another arrow.

Cassiel hissed.

Officers swarmed through the connecting hallway between the council and feeder wings.

“Not now!” I shouted. “We must run.” All the sacrifices that had been made. All the bodies lost, they could not be in vain.

He snarled and turned back to me, capturing my hand. I struggled to keep pace with him, especially with my limp. I tripped and Cassiel caught me before I collided with the ground.

“Hold this.” He held the pommel of one sword out to me, dropping the other. I tucked the grimoire under one arm and took the sword in that hand while my other still held the effigy.

He pulled me up and into his arms. Cassiel shot forward, the explosion of motion whipping my hair around my face. I held onto the sword for dear life.

Cassiel rushed through the bland, stone hallway that led in one direction.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Chaos

Cassiel drove his foot into the door the path led to. Wood splintered and opened to a parlor I had never stepped foot in. Women sat before a small table with pastries stacked upon the silver platter.

One of them stood screaming, and it set off the rest of the women sitting about. Wineglasses splashed across gowns. Cassiel barreled through the crowd, vaulted over the couch, and was past them before more screams caught up with us.

Cassiel shoved past a servant, knocking into the platter they carried.

Doubt began to creep in. Insistent and overpowering, but this was our only chance of escaping. If we were captured, we would not survive. Cassiel rounded another exit and onto a long path denoting the sections between wings.

A body slammed into Cassiel, sending me into the air. I grasped at the sword, effigy, and grimoire. My weaker hip landed first, and the items skidded away. Panic gave me the strength to claw my fingers against the polished floor and drag myself closer to them. I just managed to slap my hand on the effigy. At the same time, another hand had a hold of it. I followed the arm to Egan.

“No,” I spat. He crouched and took my arm, hoisting me up against him.

“Do not move!” he shouted, staring behind me.

‘Careful,’ Cassiel said.

I stilled, my mind attempting to catch up.

Cassiel stood slowly and quite a distance away. We were facing off in the hall, dusklight spilling in from the large window that spanned the wall.

“I do not want to hurt you, Amara,” Egan said, shaking me. “Stop moving about or I will crush him.” Egan warningly squeezed the effigy I had yet to release.

“I will do as you order.” I kept my voice even and faint.

“Release it then.”

I looked over at Cassiel. He had climbed to his feet. There was no way he would be able to close the distance without Egan crushing every bone in the lower half of his body. I turned back to Egan. His eyebrows scrunched together.

“Amara, I do not want you harmed. If you leave, I will turn a blind eye.”

I could only stare in surprise. Is he offering me an escape?

“Go,” Cassiel said. “Let her leave here. I will cooperate.”

I reeled, mind racing. He was not staring at me. His focus was on Egan. Was he trying to fool Egan? To lower his guard?