Page 25 of A Royal’s Soul (Soul Match #3)

Selene Borealis

The first detonation was little more than a rumble beneath my feet, but I recognised the explosive nature of the event. Rylan didn’t so much as wait for my instruction—Percy’s name had barely left my lips before I heard him running past the office, in the direction of the main foyer. The direction of the blast. The direction of the servant’s kitchen, because it was lunch time and we both knew that my pet would be seeking something to eat. The cook had been given orders not to overly indulge her sweet tooth. Had she eaten already? Was she somewhere else now, far from the foyer? I hoped so. Rylan would find her.

“Elise,” I called. The head servant was always somewhere close. I wondered if it was by design—to be within summoning or spying distance.

“Marchioness,” she greeted as she entered, her heart racing.

“Do you know what has happened?” I asked her.

“No, but Ardens guards have been deployed to the lower levels,” she informed me.

“And Adamantia?”

“I do not know.”

“My pet—have you seen her?” I continued.

“Last I knew of her whereabouts was the servant’s dining room,” she answered.

“How long ago did you know of her location?” I questioned.

“Maybe half an hour ago. One of the kitchen staff informed me that she had rabbit stew with no desert, keeping with your request for only healthy sustenance for your pet.”

I nodded.

“Gather all estate servants to the orchard evacuation point. This is an emergency,” I commanded.

“Yes, Ma’am.”

“Elise, there is to be no bravery from non-armed and untrained servants. Evacuate. The safety and preservation of life is now your highest priority.”

“Understood,” she answered with a grave nod.

I had no option but to trust Elise and that the others of the estate would follow evacuation protocols. Yet I did not trust my head servant. And I knew that none of the estate had ever had need to evacuate before.

Lydia and her useless husband were behind this. It was undoubtedly a foolish attempt to take Ardens Estate by force. It would end in their deaths regardless, but if Percy was harmed in anyway—even the smallest of scrapes—I would skin them alive and force feed them their own flesh.

I wanted to scream. Ardens was meant to be our refuge in the North. Far away from politics, from public intrigue, and the danger associated with the wealth and power of my Royal titles. Ardens Estate could be our home. It could provide the safety and peace that Percy required. I would not allow one of my half-baked, dim-witted, arrogant, delusional cousins to destroy what Ardens could become.

If Ardens and the North was not our refuge, I would condemn it all to ashes and hunt down every remaining relative I had to ensure no such attempt by my blood was ever made again.

I straightened my back, inhaled deeply, and left my office to see for myself what level of attack was taking place. Rylan would find Percy and remove her from any potential danger. She would be protected by my Royal Guard.

As much as I wished to go to her, if I was to hold Ardens Estate and secure the future she deserved, I could not flee.

Adamantia would be in the midst of the chaos. She was greeting the two fools. She would not abandon her home. The smell of fuel from the explosive made it near impossible to search for Adamantia by scent. But the scent of fuel was revealing—Lydia most likely used an improvised explosive. My lessons with General Creel on recognising the type of battle one was waging had been extensive. It was crucial to know the style and tactics being used in order to adequately defend and attack.

Explosives that smelled like fuel were improvised, not military grade. This was likely a small-scale attack, by those lacking any real resources.

I saw Adamantia as I reached the main staircase. Her expression was stern as she commanded the Ardens Guard, removing rubble from the entrance foyer that blocked the main doors.

“Adamantia,” I called. She turned to me her expression softening.

“Selene, Percy is with Sasha,” she informed me immediately as I began to descend the stairs.

“Is this the work of Lydia?” I asked.

“I believe so,” she answered and turned her attention to a guard.

“I’ve sent men to escort and assist the servants and staff to safety,” he informed Adamantia.

“Lady Petra and Flores are in my wing.”

“I have already sent the Royal Guard for Percy. Sasha would not be left unprotect,” I reassured her.

Adamantia nodded and turned back to the guard. “How long before this rubble is removed? Do we have eyes on the attackers?” she asked.

“Men are making their way to the roof and outside to the front now to get eyes on and engage with the enemy.”

Almost immediately, the sound of gunshots began to be heard. The guards radio crackled.

“At least one hundred fifty combatants—bringing them in by the bus load,” the voice on the other end announced.

“How did they get past the gate?” the guard asked.

“It’s open, sir,” the voice replied.

“Equipment? What are we dealing with?” he asked.

“Automatic weapons, it looks like.” There was shouting and more gunfire that crackled over the radio and could be heard just beyond the quickly decreasing rubble. “Sir—combatant making their way inside—explosive vest—"

The radio was cut off.

I looked through the still-settling dust to see the silhouette of someone running towards the entrance.

The guard took aim and fired.

The combatant detonated.

The shock of the blast threw me back and up the stairs, the wooden steps cracking and splintering beneath me.

“Selene!” Adamantia called, her voice weak and coughing.

I pushed myself up. A grey cloud of smoke, dust, and debris made it difficult to see. More gunshots began to fire—a pitiful pop pop in response to what I could see were combatants entering the mansion.

I looked to where Adamantia had been and found her some twenty feet away, a large metal support having landed on her. She would be reached in moments by combatants. I went to her, ignoring the ache in my back and lifting the support beam from her.

“Selene, this is too much,” she cried as a guard stepped between us and took out two combatants.

“We don’t have enough men,” I agreed. Even with my Royal Guard our men numbered only fifty-two. And with at least one hundred fifty militia outside—plus explosives, automatic weapons, the upper hand of surprise, and clearly inside help to get past the gates and all the way to our front door—we would not be able to hold Ardens Estate.

I helped Adamantia to her feet.

“I told Sasha to take Percy with her to Petra,” she told me.

“My guard will protect them,” I promised.

I tried to feel Percy—tried to tug at our bond, feel what she felt. Nothing. It made me nauseous. But as much as my enchantments were beginning to fail, they were working now. That’s what I comforted myself with.

“You will protect them,” she said, standing on her own.

“Adamantia, now is not the time to fight. We must retreat. Summon the entirety of Ardens’ forces and take back the estate later. For now we must retreat.”

“We both took our first breaths within Ardens Estate. You were quickly whisked away to Borealis, but I have known only Ardens my entire life. This is my home. It will not be taken from me while I still live,” she insisted, pushing me away.

“We stand our ground and fight to the death. That is the Ardens way,” General Efstratios agreed, the head of Ardens Guard as he arrived standing with Adamantia. “They may take Ardens Estate, but it will be a Cadmean victory.”

“Violence begets violence,” Adamantia agreed. “Only a few will be left alive. They will not hold Ardens Estate for long.”

So she wished to take her last breath where she took her first.

“What of Sasha?” I asked.

She looked away from me.

“Sasha will understand.”

I couldn’t speak for Sasha, but I would never knowingly leave my Percy. I would follow her in death and not a moment before. I would never leave her willingly.

I nodded in acceptance of Adamantia’s decision, as chaos grew around us. If I was to leave and ensure that Percy and Sasha both escaped with their lives, then I had to leave immediately.

“No great Houses will be born of this battle,” I promised my aunt.

“You were always my favourite niece,” she said with a smile.

“I’m your only niece,” I replied.

She nodded and turned from me, running towards one of the many droves of combatants that entered through what was once the entrance to Ardens Estate—but was now a gaping mouth.