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I am better than this,Kallie told herself.
She approached the gate and inhaled. Distorting her body so she could slither her way back through the metal bars, she led with her uninjured leg. The iron bars pressed against her, squeezing her, and she used her hands to push herself through.
Once she passed the bars, Kallie took a deep breath, then she recited her mantra in her head as she made each step, her right foot dragging behind her.
I am capable.
One step.
I am powerful.
Another step.
I am control.
And another.
I am worthy.
She would make it back to the palace. She would storm through those tall oak doors. And she would finish this.
Then she would prove tohimthat she was more than what he believed her to be capable of. She would show him that she could stifle the pain surging throughout her body. That she could shut down her emotions in order to achieve what she wanted—whattheywanted.
She would prove to him that she was worthy of his time. Worthy of his love.
She was not going to let them take everything away from her, everything she had gained.
No one would take that from her. Never again.
Chapter32
Her hand scrapedagainst the cool stone wall of the castle, rubbing against the burns on her palm from the grass.
Kallie straightened out her plan as she thought of where the attackers might try to enter the castle. Depending on how many they had with them, they might have tried for one of the side entrances, taking out any guards along the way. Or if there were only a few of them—or if they wanted to be more subtle—the attackers might have tried to go through a window.
But Kallie didn't know. There was no way for her to know. So, she decided to head toward the western entrance which led to the servants’ quarters and, conveniently, was the closest entrance to her now.
She neared the corner and slowed her approach, creeping as quietly as she could as she hobbled over to it. She peered around the corner.
Through the crack between the wall and the tall bushes, she didn't see anyone guarding the door. And she thanked the gods as she exhaled. Kallie rounded the corner heading toward the door, but something on the ground caught her eye forcing her to stop in her tracks. Her hand swung to her face muffling the gasp that had slipped from her lips.
The ground was covered in soot and the smell of smoke in the air was prominent, thick. And then there was something else in the air. She had never seen nor smelled anything like it. It was . . . horrifying. Gagging, she plugged her nose.
Then, amidst the black dust were three Pontian guards dead on the ground. Two of the bodies were nearly unrecognizable, their bodies charred. As Kallie stepped over the third body, which had been stabbed in the gut, a gurgling sound had her head swiveling.
The guard was still alive.
Her heart tightened as she took in his face. His cheeks were soft, and patches of stubble grew on his chin. He couldn't be more than eighteen. Blue eyes flung open, hazy but alert. He held his side, his breathing quick and short, filled with an unnatural wetness.
His gaze met hers as she knelt beside him. She reached out and placed her hand over his, pushing down against the open wound, trying to prevent more blood from spewing out of his body, but too much had been spilled already. There was no saving this man.
Still, she could offer him some comfort. Swallowing, she dropped her hand from her nose and lay it on his cheek. His face cold beneath her warm skin, and at her touch water filled his eyes. Kallie hadn't spent much time around the dying, but she knew he didn't have much more time left.
"It's okay," she said, forcing her words to sound calm, soothing.
"I—I failed," the man's voice shook.
Her lips formed a soft, sad smile. "You did all you could."
