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"Shh. It's ok. We're here. We'll get you back to our kingdom, wash this filth from you." The double meaning of his words did not go unnoticed as his gaze flicked toward the people in the safe room before returning to Kallie.
Kallie gave him a tight smile, his gaze shifted. Her stomach almost turned as she took in the ecstasy that coated his eyes. It wasn't for her though, but rather a hunger for blood. She forced her face to remain neutral as she looked at him.
"Let me deal with these savagesfirst, then we will leave and take you back to the ship and to my brother."
Was King Rian here?
Kallie recalled them mentioning a king's orders earlier. And her heart beat faster.
Shuffling sounded from the room and she glanced over his shoulder. Terin, Airos, and a few other guards had taken up fighting stances in front of Esmeray. Kallie turned her gaze away from the people now held hostage by Sebastian and his men.
Kallie feigned a smile and focused back on Sebastian as she reached down inside her. "Prince Sebastian?" Her voice was quiet, feminine.
Sebastian looked at her. “What is it?”
Speaking so only he could hear, she commanded, “You and your men will take me to your ship, but you will leave these people unharmed. And if your men kill or harm them,youwill kill him in return.”
His eyes glazed over, and Sebastian looked back to his men who stood just inside of the room. He tilted his head, ordering them to leave the room.
One soldier headed out as the other turned to the people inside the safe room and addressed them, "If you follow us, you die." He turned on his heels and waited behind Sebastian as the other took his place in front of him.
Kallie rolled her eyes at the threat. Then without bothering to ask if she needed his assistance, Sebastian put one arm behind her knees and lifted her into his arms. Kallie wanted to shake him off. She didn't want to appear weak or in need of his help. It was not who she was. But it was exactly what she needed to do.
Sheneededthese men to think she was weak, small. And so she let Sebastian lift her off the ground.
"My brother would never forgive me if he knew I let you walk on an injured ankle,” Sebastian said, walking forward.
And then the sound of footsteps behind them had her sighing. For once during this journey, she wished things could be easy. But it seemed the gods had other plans.
"Kals," Terin said, voice rough.
She should have known her brother wasn't going to let her go that easy. Kallie looked at him, giving him a tight smile. "Terin, don't. It will only make it worse."
"But Kallie, you can—"
One of the soldiers stopped Terin in his tracks as her brother dared to take a step forward despite the previous threat. And Kallie prayed to the gods for mercy here. He was not the fighter. Fynn was. And Fynn was not here.
Kallie knew what her brother wanted her to do. He wanted her to command them all, Sebastian and the other two Frenzian soldiers. But even if her gift was stronger than it used to be, she hadn't had the chance to practice using it to command multiple people at once. They were supposed to do that in tomorrow's session. And she couldn’t risk failing, not again.
And even then, Terin didn't understand what he was truly asking her. It was so . . . complicated.
Still, he wouldn't let her go without an explanation, so with pain in her voice, she looked him in the eye and said, "Terin, I can't."
He took another step forward, the Frenzian soldier raised his sword. "But I can—"
Kallie caught him off. "Terin, stop. Stay with them. Protect them." Heat rose behind her eyes and her voice ached. "Please."
Fog seeped over his eyes and he took a step back, his outstretched hand falling to his side, limp and lifeless. He gave her a single nod before he turned back to the safe room where Esmeray had popped her head out. Esmeray reached out her arm and pulled her son toward her. She looked at Kallie, meeting her blue eyes, the blue eyes they shared. And Kallie couldn't help but think of that horrid moment years ago as it replayed in front of her.
But this time it was different. This time Kallie was choosing to leave. This time Kallie knew what was happening.
The parchment hidden in her corset rubbed against her skin and burned against her chest as her heart began to shed another layer that crumbled to ash. But this was the only way. The only way to save them.
The only way to achieve what she wanted.
Chapter33
Outside of the palace,Sebastian's men talked among themselves while Kallie lay in the prince's arms, not hearing anything they said, their words floating past her. Only the sound of screams filled her ears. They descended the hill and Kallie bounced in Sebastian's arm. Her body became numb with every step as the spring night settled around her.
