Page 73
“No.” He shakes his head, taking a step backward. “You’ve misunderstood. This is a fabrication. He stole that scroll from my office and—”
“You admitted it,” a woman calls from the crowd.
“I didn’t admit anything!”
“You knew about the mushrooms before he told you.”
The king opens his mouth, but nothing comes out.
Around him, the guards exchange uneasy glances before taking cautious steps toward him. The crowd parts as several of them move toward the king, their spears lowered but no longer aimed at Micah.
The king backs toward the royal carriage.
“You cannot arrest me,” he says, his voice rising. “I am your king.”
One of the guards stops a few feet away. “Not above the law, Your Highness.”
The king’s eyes widen.
“The laws of the ancient treaty are clear,” the guard says. “Mount Embercrest is sacred territory. The dragons are a protected species.” He turns toward the king, his expression hardening. “Violating the treaty and deliberately harming a protected species is grounds for dethronement.”
A horrified gasp ripples through the crowd.
The king stumbles backward. “No!”
The guard steps forward, reaching for the restraints at his belt. “King Castor, you are under arrest.”
Two other guards move to either side of him. The king struggles against their grip as they clamp his wrists with iron cuffs.
“You cannot do this! I am the king!”
“You were,” someone shouts from the crowd.
A cheer rises as the guards drag the king toward the carriage.
He twists around, glaring at the townspeople. “You will regret this!”
The king is hauled up the carriage steps as the crowd jeers.
Then—
Thump!
A pumpkin sails through the air. It smashes directly against the king’s head. Pumpkin guts slide down his face, the gooey strands sticking to his white hair.
The crowd erupts into laughter.
Another pumpkin flies toward the carriage. The guards hurry the king inside before anyone can land another shot. The horses pull the carriage away from the square as the townspeople continue to boo him.
I watch until the carriage disappears down the lantern-lit street. A heavy sigh escapes me as the tension finally drains from my body.
Maple gives a happy little chirp from beside my boots. Her tiny wings twitch. She looks up at me with those enormous orange eyes.
A smile spreads across my face.
Lucan steps toward me. Before I can say anything, his massive arms wrap around me. I laugh as he pulls me against his chest, lifting me off the ground and twirling me around.
“You did it,” he murmurs.
