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Chapter25
Every single bone in my body ached, fire coursing through my veins as I catalogued the injuries.
At least I’m not dead.
I heard the blood pumping in my ears as a faint ringing noise echoed in my mind.
For how many times my head had taken a beating since arriving in Faerie, I was surprised I was still functioning. Especially at the moment.
I didn’t dare shake my head to try to lessen the nerves that were now threatening to take over and dim my drive to chase the attacker. I pressed my head into the frigid wall that had halted my tumbling down the stairs.
My body was bent at an awkward angle thanks to how I’d shoved my leg out to keep from falling any farther. I looked down behind me and said a silent prayer that I didn’t continue falling and break my neck. Actually, minus a few scratches and what I was sure would be future bruises, I was wholly uninjured; I just felt like hell.
I twisted, moving into a kneeling position on the stairs.
You’re running out of time. He’s getting away.
“I know,” I grumbled at my anxious mind.
I stood, slowly enough to keep the ringing from distracting me and throwing me off balance again.
I took a few deep breaths, training my eyes on the stairs ahead.
Move!my subconscious screamed.
I obeyed, flinging myself forward and up, up the winding staircase, and back to face the enemy that had so stealthily caused chaos for the prince and his parents. I ignored my own pain; it meant nothing compared to the gravity of the situation.
I couldn't hear his footsteps anymore, but knew I had to press on and fast to catch up to him. Not that he’d have anywhere to go once we got to the top of the roof, but still.
I lurched on, chasing the man higher.
Does this staircase ever end?
A few grunts ahead told me I was finally closing in and catching up. I pushed my feet to move faster, taking the stairs more quickly. I could hear the slow pace of the man ahead. He’d stopped his rushing, most likely thinking I was gone.
But only a few moments of my increased speed passed before he growled and resumed his quicker pace.
He was wearing out.
I was too, but it was a good sign that he was, especially for whatever inevitable fight was to take place.
That was what it would come down to after all. If the freaking royal guard would get their shit together and get up here and find us it might turn out okay. But otherwise, it was up to me. And judging by my last scuffle with him and his timed precision against Noah’s family, a pit formed in my stomach knowing he was far more skilled than me.
I hurtled onward, forcing myself to keep moving despite the terror building in my gut.
You've trained.
Not enough.
You’re stronger than you think.
It’s not enough.
The internal battle raged as I heard the attacker shout a list of obscenities. A loud pounding noise echoed down toward me in the stairwell.
He must have been trapped at the top of the stairs. At least for the moment.
It was long enough for me to see his figure as I rounded the last corner. The door jerked open and slammed shut as soon as he slipped through. I raced toward it, not wanting to be surprised as I busted through it and not wanting to give this man any more of an upper hand than he already had.
