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Chapter20
Ifought like my life depended on it, because in that moment it truly did.
The man behind the desk, some person high up enough to deal out death like he was dealing out cards in a poker game, laughed. “Do not fight it, no one can help you. Your treachery has been thwarted, fools.”
I gnawed at the gag inside my mouth moving my tongue and head around enough to wiggle out of it. “We’re not traitors. We’re not spies,” I shouted. “Please.”
He turned his back to us and marched out a door that was opened by two guards on either side of it, directly behind him.
Nicole wrenched away from the guard holding her and took him by surprise. She swung her foot out, and in that moment I saw her plan. As she made contact with his feet, I turned and elbowed the guard with me in the gut.
He hunched over and I ran toward Nicole, trying to get back to back to see what havoc we could bring on the guards. But someone lifted me up off the ground by the waist, and the menacing guard to my right wrapped a hand around my broken wrist and squeezed. “Enough,” he growled in my ear as I tried not to cry from the pain. “There’s no way out, girl. Have some dignity.”
He grabbed a fistful of hair and jerked my head up, stuffing the gag back in place and pulling it together so tightly I choked and dry heaved a few times.
Nicole was flanked by two guards holding her arms on either side, as was I. Our fight wouldn’t keep us from being dragged through the door the mad man had exited from moments before.
I didn’t whimper, I didn’t cry. Instead I gritted my teeth against the gag, not caring if the act made me feel like I’d vomit. There had to be a way out.
We were pulled, shoved, tugged closer to the door. A rough elbow to my back should have brought me to my knees. But the guards at my side laughed as they jerked forcefully upward on my arms at the same time their friend thrust into me.
Toying with me. These bastards were toying with me.
The pain in my wrist was so bad it was practically numb. The constant agony of it was dimming from my mind and I wasn’t sure what that might mean.
My eyes rolled back for a second, but I shook my head; I was going to pass out and I refused not to be conscious.
The door we’d been shoved through led to the outdoor courtyard. It was surrounded with stone columns, swirled carvings running up and down their lengths, decorated beautifully with flowers cascading down the sides. There were flowers everywhere.
The beauty was a stark contrast to the hate and jeering from the guards standing in it. Out here, there were also a few noble fae.
Their eyes shifted to Nicole and me, and I heard a few guards rallying people to come by. “We’ve found two of the many traitors of the castle. Our people will be safe. Your guard has you well protected.”
Their words drew in the fae like he was offering them life itself.
They came, staring. Their hauntingly beautiful faces watched us as their faces turned from surprise to anger.
The guards were rallying a mob.
“They need to pay,” a voice shouted.
I could practically feel the color drain from my face as all noise ceased, save for the words the rallying guard cried out in response to the fae giving him the reaction he so clearly wanted: “Call in the executioner.”
The guards holding me chuckled and I snapped. Now. I had one more shot.
Now.
I kicked my right leg up, hitting the back of the guard’s knee and making him wobble. I flung my head around to the guard on my left, bending my elbows out wide to hopefully connect with the guard behind me.
I grunted as I rammed into the solid body with my head. And kicked again, moving my legs as quickly as I could and calling on the last bit of my strength to give them as much hell as I could.
I pulled everything I could think of from training. For a brief moment, no one's hands were on me and I turned, bolting for freedom.
Only to be stopped by the crowd.
“No,” I breathlessly whispered behind my gag.
I flung myself forward but was caught from behind. The guard grabbed my leg and yanked so forcefully that my head slammed into the ground. With my bindings still strong behind me nothing broke my fall.
