Fireblood

FIFTEEN

I’m relieved my riding shoes have thick padded soles. I easily slink along the corridors, my footsteps light, making little sound as I search for Devlan.

I saw him turn left down the hallway toward the back of the castle. I know I did, but now I’ve lost him. I look between the two corridors once I reach the open hall. Each passage is long, leading to either wing of the castle, and I could roam for hours before discovering I took the wrong one.

Damn it.

Avoiding knights, maids, and the courtiers of the castle is taxing. Finally, I decide to take the right. If nothing else, I’ll explore and learn my way around here. Or get lost, and have to call Devlan on the communicator and look like an idiot.

The torches cast creepy shadows along the corridor, and I walk for what feels like forever before finally reaching the end of the hallway. There’s only one way to take: back the way I came. It’s a dead end. Rooms along this end of the wing are empty, I suppose used for guests, but there is no one here.

I’m two seconds from turning around, ready to end my search, when I hear muffled voices. I freeze, straining to hear which room they’re coming from. But they don’t drift from a room. They’re coming from behind the wall—the dead end.

I place my hands to the stone. It’s cold and solid. A cool draft blows across my ankles, and I follow the chill air to the corner of the corridor. I press my hands along the crevice, feeling stupid. Then, something clicks, and the corner swings in, revealing a dark passage.

My heart hammers in my ears, and apprehension coils tightly around my chest. Devlan might not be here at all. This might be some secret room of the servants, or the Force. I could stumble into something that will get me tossed into the Oubliette or worse.

I consider what I’m about to do—sneak into some hidden chamber where I may learn things I never wanted to know—long and hard.

Curiosity wins out.

Against my better judgment, I force my fear away and take a step inside, beginning my descent. Stairs lead down a dark tunnel and only one torch is lit to guide my path. The voices grow louder the deeper I go. I can hear them, strained, angry. Footsteps pace back and forth.

With each footstep I grow braver until I reach the bottom step. I stop and press my back to the side of the narrow tunnel. Shadows flicker against the wall before me, and from around the corner the voices come clearly now.

A loud bang echoes as something slams. “You don’t get to make that call, Larkin.”

My heart constricts. It’s Devlan’s voice, and he’s shouting at the Round Table knight who stormed my home. I should leave now before I’m found out spying on their meeting.

“Devlan,” Larkin says, his voice gravelly. “You said it yourself. You’re not sure where her loyalties lie now.” He pauses a moment. “Her affections for the prince could play out in our favor. We should stick to the original plan.”

I grab my chest and squeeze my bodice. They’re talking about me.

Another voice, one I don’t recognize, says, “The original plan is no longer in play, as Micah is no longer the leader.”

“Oh, shut up, Xander,” Larkin says. “We get it. Stop reminding us your precious Fallon is in charge.” He huffs. “Wish I had bedded her. Maybe then I’d get to call some shots around here.”

“You fucking bastard,” the guy growls. There’s a hard smack, and shouting among all three breaks out.

“You hit me!” Larkin accuses. “You asshole. You’ve been here all of what…two days? And you think you can come in and change everything? Devlan should’ve never demoted your ass to footman. He should’ve thrown you out. Actually, I should just finish out my orders.” He laughs hollowly. “You were a sorry excuse for a knight of the Force, anyway.”

“What’s wrong, Larkin?” Xander asks. “Scared I’ll tie you to a tree and leave you there this time? Or that my girlfriend will kick your ass again?”

“Shut. Up,” Devlan shouts. “Both of you.”

“You’re not the commander anymore, Devlan.” Larkin chuckles mockingly. “And your first knight status doesn’t mean you get to call the shots, either.” A beat. “Why are you even here, Xander? Really?”

It’s silent a moment before Xander answers. “I have my reasons.”

There’s a long pause, and I hear Devlan’s footsteps pace again. His movements are shadows cast on the tunnel wall before me, shaky in the wavering torchlight. “I need to go to the camp. There’s something I need to discuss with Fallon.”

“That’s too dangerous,” the guy—Xander—says. “We have to be cautious.”

“I don’t care,” Devlan says. “It’s important to assess new information before I proceed.”

“I say we off her tonight,” Larkin says. I slap my hand over my mouth. “If what you say is true, Devlan, that will weigh heavily in our favor. That is the mission, remember?” He pauses. “To get closer, gain access to Excalibur. Or are you a coward now?”

“The mission, Larkin,” Devlan says, frustration lacing his voice, “was to wait until after the wedding.”

Oh, my God. No, no, no.

I stumble back, and my backside hits the stone steps hard.

“This meeting is over for now,” Xander says. “Before you get too carried away, Larkin, Devlan and I will find a way to meet with Fallon.”

Their footsteps quicken and I panic. They’re moving toward the tunnel. As quietly as I can, my limbs shaking, I climb the stairs. I reach the secret door but before I push through, I glance over my shoulder making sure I’m clear—

—and meet Devlan’s eyes.

We stare at each other, his eyes wide, my breath struggling past my lips. He turns toward the other knights. “You two take the back way,” he says. “We need to make sure both are clear.” Then he races up the steps.

I don’t think.

I run.

Whatever their plan, whatever reason I’m to be killed, doesn’t matter. He knows I know, and he’s coming for me.

He’s going to kill me.

“Zara!” Devlan calls out.

I barrel down the hallway and round the corner into the back hall. He’s fast. I know he is. He’s going to catch me.

I don’t stop, and I don’t look behind me. I have no idea where I’m going to go, but I need to get away. It comes to me quickly. My chamber. I turn into the hallway leading to my room and run faster, my legs pumping. My dress tangles between my legs and I grab it up, forcing it above my thighs as I ignore the aching burn in my calves.

His footfalls sound closer, but I don’t turn to look. As I come up on my room, his arms wrap around my waist and pull me to a stop. His hand clamps over my mouth, muffling the scream I barely work through my stinging throat. I kick and struggle as he hauls me inside my room.

“Stop,” he pants into my ear. “Please, Zara. Just listen.”

I twist and push against him, but his hold on me is solid. I could do this all night and he’d kill me eventually. I fall limp in his arms. I need him to release me so I can get away. I nod against his hand.

He takes in a deep breath. “I’m going to release you. Don’t scream.” He removes his hand from over my mouth, then drops his arms. “Sit down.”

The hell I will.

I quickly scan my room. My choice is made. I’m getting out of here. For all I know, Sebastian is part of this sadistic plan. I can’t trust any of them. My father was right. Something is very, very wrong here, and I have to get out.

I turn and knee him in the groin. Hard. He drops to his knees. “You really don’t know me, Devlan.”

I race over to my desk while Devlan is still holding himself and pick up my wooden chair. It’s heavy, but I’m able to lift it high enough to get leverage, then I drop it on his head. He hits the floor face first. I scramble to the ground, reach inside his vest pocket, and yank out his keychain. I stand and kick him in the head for good measure.

Cursing myself for not having packed a bag, I grab the only things of importance: a pair of sturdier shoes and my father’s dagger. I strap the leather sheath around my thigh, slam the dagger into it, and fly through the doorway.

I hurriedly move down the corridor toward the atrium. It’s the closest way out, and on the side of the castle nearest the stable. When I reach the glass door, I slide the giant rusted key into the lock, the same way I’ve seen Devlan do many times. I don’t have time to worry about the Eyes. I have to get out.

Dim lanterns sway in the breeze, barely lighting my way. Once I reach the stable fence, I climb over the railing and run toward the door. It’s eerily quiet. Fear prickles my skin, and my hand shakes as I bring the key ring out. I push the key into the lock and turn. The latch opens and I stare at the dial pad. Will Sebastian’s code work with Devlan’s key?

I close my eyes and bounce up and down, thinking. If I put in his code and it triggers some kind of alarm, I’m done. I’m seconds away from taking off on foot when I realize I don’t have anything to lose. Devlan has probably already gathered the Force to hunt me down.

I hit the numbers.

The green beam shoots out the top of the door. I nearly collapse as relief floods me. The door slides open and I hurry inside. I don’t have to pause and think about which horse to take.

A horse with determination to match my own.

I unlatch the gate to Fireblood. I don’t waste time with the saddle, but I climb the gate to work the bit into her giant jaws and fix the bridle, then jump on top of her, legs straddling either side. My legs squeeze her sides as I pull the reins. She takes a few steps back, unsure of my command, but then she snorts and walks toward the open door.

As we head toward the gate, I curse. I should have opened it before I went into the stable. I stop her right next to the fence and dismount, sloppily, falling to my knees. I scramble up to the gate and yank the latch open. Climbing to the top railing to mount Fireblood once more, I look up and spot Devlan. He’s running at full speed toward the stable fence.

“Come on, girl,” I say. “Time to run like there’s fire at our heels.” I grip her mane and jump onto her back, then kick hard, and she sprints through the gate.

Darkness swallows me. The moon is half-full and shrouded by treetops. The grass is gray and flat before me, the night veiling the curves of the earth. The black sky is laced with the faint blue lines, and they dimly light my way. I want to pull the reins, slow us down, but I trust the horse knows what to do. We hit a hollow and I nearly tumble off. Fireblood bounds on, and I sink against her back, letting her lead.

We forge on toward the open plain, and the moon brightens. I glance back, just once, and wish I hadn’t. Devlan follows not far behind on Hawken. He’s just hit the open plain and is gaining on me. I kick my heels and deepen my seat, launching Fireblood into a full gallop. “Come on.”

The treeline just before the wall is coming up on us, and I know it’s not long before we near the opening Sebastian took me through that leads to the meadow. Once I’m through, I can try to lose Devlan in the forest.

We enter the trees and the moonlight wanes. The darkness is thick, and I beg Fireblood to see the way. We can’t slow now. Branches reach out, grabbing at my hair and dress, but I sink closer to the horse and squeeze my eyes shut for a moment. “Just get us there, girl.”

I hear the trickle of water and rise up just enough to see the shimmer of moonlight in the winding brook. I dig my heels into her side, commanding Fireblood to enter. The boulders breaking the surface of the water are slick, and Fireblood’s hooves search for footing. She whinnies and dances back, refusing to cross the stream.

“Please, girl,” I plead. “We can do it.” I kick my heels, and she stamps forward, pushing off the bank and splashing her hooves into the dark water.

We’re nearly to the crumbled opening when a splash sounds from behind. I jerk my head around and see Devlan and Hawken coming up on us quick. “Go!” I kick her harder, and she digs her hooves into the riverbed.

Fireblood wavers to the side, her footing unsteady. I lose my balance and my grip on the reins. As I’m about to go over, arms reach out and grab me, pulling me off the horse and into the river. I land on top of Devlan. “Ow.”

The cold water rushes past my skin, and Devlan’s arms grip my waist tighter as I fight against him. “Ow?” he pants hard. “You landed on me.”

I elbow his side. “Get off.”

“No.” He circles his arms around me.

The freezing water rises to my waist as he traps my arms under his hold. I stop my struggle. I’ve lost. I know it. I’ve come so far, risked so much, and failed. “Just…” I stutter out, my will gone, lost as the adrenaline leaves my body and is replaced by resignation. “Just do it quickly.” Tears sting the corners of my eyes. I refuse to hold them back. My body shakes, wracked with sobs and shaking from the biting water.

Devlan sighs into the back of my hair. His arms loosen, and he folds me into him. His hand cradles my head to his chest. “I’m not going to kill you. No one is.”

I shake my head against him, loathing the comfort I feel from his arms, and slam my fist against his shoulder. “Don’t lie to me. I heard you. I heard all of you.”

Fear gives me one last surge of adrenaline and, ignoring the icy water and my shaking limbs, I elbow his ribs. He releases his hold on me and I bound up, splashing my way toward the hole in the wall.

Hunching, I crawl through and take off in a sprint. I’m just entering the meadow when his arms circle me. I stamp his foot, and he curses. Spinning on him, I shakily lift the hem of my dress and unsheathe my dagger.

Devlan’s eyes lock onto mine. “Zara. Don’t.”

I hold the blade out, my arm locked taut, and place one foot in front of the other, moving to the side of him. “I’m not afraid to use this.” I lift my chin, forcing false bravado into my voice.

He lowers his hands and stands straight, tall. “Then use it.”

“I just want to leave. You’ll never hear from me again. Just let me go.” I glance around at the trees, remembering the Eyes. “And use your communicator to call your knights and the Force. Stop them from pursuing me as long as you can.” I raise the dagger, making my point.

“There are no Eyes here. Sebastian and I disabled them when we were kids. And we made sure the monitors never noticed a missing section.” His mouth hikes up on one side. “We were good at escaping back then.”

Relieved, I begin to back away, putting one foot behind me. I stumble over a root, taking my eyes off him only for a moment. He springs forward and grabs my wrist, forcing my dagger hand out to the side. I struggle as he pushes me into a tree. My back scrapes against the rough bark, snagging my dress.

Devlan secures both my wrists, pinning my hands above my head. His breath is heavy, coming out in hard clips as he stares down at me. His face mere inches from mine. “You misunderstood what you heard back there.”

I force my head up and stare into his eyes. “I don’t care how you try to spin it. You said I was to be offed after the wedding.” My chest rises and falls against him, taking in deep breaths. “How, Devlan, did I misinterpret that?”

His blue eyes bore into mine, pale as the moonlight. The freezing water from the stream soaked my skirt, and it clings to my thighs. I shiver. Whether from the fierce look in his eyes or the cold, I’m not sure.

“Larkin’s a fool.” He shakes his head. “He only brought that up to get a rise out of me. He’s a bastard. He knows the mission has been changed.”

“What mission?” I shudder again as the biting night air seeps through my wet dress. “King Hart brought me here to be killed? I don’t understand. Why even bother with a wedding?”

“Zara.” He breathes my name, his breath warming my skin. “I don’t serve King Hart.”

“What?”

His lips press into a firm line, and his eyes widen as they steal over my shock. “I’m a Rebel.”