Page 44

“Could this person have infiltrated the castle?” one of the men asks. A chill runs down my spine.

“If the person can change form like she believes, they can infiltrate anything.”

The old woman they were searching for?

“We can’t very well check the castle, though, can we?” This one sounds put out, as if he’s quite done with the entire thing.

“No, we cannot, and being near the elementals is a risk we can’t keep up.”

I purse my lips at the use of the archaic term. Our magic isn’t even referred to as elemental anymore, much less the holders of it being elementals. They argue amongst themselves a bit longer before a tree sprouts up next to me, bringing Rylan, Marcus, Nina, and Jamys.

I ensure our privacy and gape at Jamys. “What are you doing?”

“If you’re here, I’m here.”

I squeeze his hand in appreciation. Rylan focuses beyond the wall, and I peek over to see a gradual thickening of the trees blocking off their retreat. “What have they been saying?” he asks.

“Nothing that makes any sense.” I pull the shield down just as they speak about returning home. Now if only they’d say where that is.

“You there!” a voice calls from the direction of the gates.

The intruders lurch toward the wood, only to find it impassable, thick branches having filled in the spaces they’d have come through. “They’re here,” one whispers.

Marcus’ sly grin looks like he is all too pleased to be spoken of as if we are malicious spirits haunting these men. They look along the clearing by the wall but stand their ground rather than attempting a chase around the castle.

Lord Horace, Tomas, and a retinue of guards come into view. “Who goes there?”

The men look back and forth between each other, and one rolls his shoulders back. “We are looking for someone who has been prowling your lands, my lord.”

“I see several people prowling my lands,” Horace replies.

“We are sent by Queen Elea,” the one who has taken the mantle of leader says.

Tomas scoffs. “You can’t possibly think that will work here. I travelled here from Mirador on the Queen’s orders. She sent her sons and daughters, not you.”

“The princes and princesses might not have been made aware. The Queen does not tell them everything.”

Heat rolls off Nina as flames dance over her shoulders.

“You are aware,” Horace says, “there is no escape for you. Let us make this simple. Put down your weapons and come with us so you can tell a more accurate story indoors.”

After a pause, they unsheathe their swords and drop them to the ground. A couple of them reach for other weapons, then, quick as lightning, two daggers dart through the air toward Tomas and Horace. Terror slows it down. I see the blade on a direct path to Tomas’ neck as clear as day. That skin where I’ve possessively felt his pulse under my lips would split open and coat his perfect chest in crimson.

No.

A shield materializes before them. The daggers strike it and fall.

Before I know what I’m doing, I’m over the wall. The barrier that protected Tomas and Horace thrusts toward the attackers, sending them sprawling to the ground. It curls over them like an animal attacking until a hardened bubble of air surrounds the imposters. I compress it to throw them against each other. The space shrinks by degrees as I hover there. Every nerve in my body tingles, and though there’s a faint background of shouting, all I hear is blood pounding through me.

Until one word gets through.

“Bell.”

It isn’t the loudest voice. It’s firm but quiet.

I glance back at Tomas, who fixes me with an understanding stare. “Stop.”

It pulls me back to the reality of the situation. I look at our enemies as they’re crushed together. A snapping bone reverberates through the shield I’ve trapped them in, and I close my eyes for a breath. Stop. Tomas’ directive isn’t for the sake of those men—it’s for me. The force pushing in on them dissolves as I lower to the ground. They collapse in a cacophony of groans. Every nerve in me trembles, but I’m otherwise still until a warm weight settles onto my shoulders.