Page 107 of Lady of the Drowned Empire

“Imperator, you have stepped out of line.” Aemon roared, leaping past Rhyan and Galen. He stood between me and Imperator Kormac. “She needs to be transported to Cresthaven immediately.”

Viktor laughed and squeezed my wrists tighter, pulling them almost to the point of breaking my arms.

“I’ll be taking Lady Lyriana into custody,” said the Imperator.

“Like hell you will,” snarled the Ready.

Rhyan grunted, struggling against Galen, who barely had a hold on him. Rhyan was a force of nature when he wanted to be, and he wasn’t calming down.

“Take your hands off her,” Rhyan shouted, finally breaking free.

“I’m afraid we can’t do that,” the Imperator said. “See, Arkasva Batavia, High Lady of Bamaria, has just given Lady Lyriana’s hand to my son, Viktor. For marriage.”

“What? No!” I said.

“Your wants are not in question,” the Imperator said, stalking closer. “This is between me and your High Lady.”

I struggled against Viktor’s hold, my stomach turning. “Why does this even matter now? There’s akadim! I need to get to Cresthaven!”

“Lady Lyriana,” said the Imperator, “Aemon has failed you greatly. I apologize for being the one to tell you. But as Imperator and your new father-in-law, your protection is of the utmost importance. Cresthaven is no longer a safe option for your protection.”

“Because you say so!” I yelled, no longer able to keep decorum.

“Because,” the Imperator screamed, “the Lady Meera and Lady Morgana were just abducted from Cresthaven. By akadim.”

My vision went out of focus, the world blurry. Dark. I felt like the wind had been knocked out of me. My knees buckled, and only Viktor’s grip on my wrists kept me from sinking to the ground. I opened my mouth. But there were no words. No breath. And then finally, as if someone else were speaking, I managed, “Abducted? By…akadim?”

I felt like I’d left my body and was floating above it. Everyone was yelling, but their voices were distant, like I was under water and they were on shore, and I was struggling to swim for the surface. And then I slammed back into myself, cold reality crashing into me.

“Akadim!” I cried. “Akadim you’re supposed to be protecting us from! Akadim that have been breaching our borders ever since you came here!” I roared, spitting in his face. “Where are they? Who’s gone after them? Why are you here and not pursuing them?” I felt like I was farther than Lethea. How were we all just standing here? Why weren’t we chasing after them!

The Imperator placed his hands on his hips, his head cocked to the side. “My men are already on their trail, fighting to catch the akadim, to bring your sisters back. And I am here because I care deeply for your safety.”

“By arresting me?” I screamed. “Now? Let me go! I can fight! You know I can. I’ll find them! I need to find them!” I was going to lose my mind. How was this happening? How we were all just standing here! How was this even real?

“You’re not under arrest, my lady,” the Imperator said.

“Then take your hands off of me so I can go after them!”

“We cannot risk you being captured as well. We don’t know why your sisters were abducted. Reason stands they’d take you next. Therefore, we’re taking you to the most secure place available until further notice.” He turned to the Bastardmaker. “She’ll be safe in the Shadow Stronghold until we can transport to Korteria.”

“NO!” Rhyan roared.

Aemon’s aura struck out like a hammer, black and heavy. “She’s not going there,” he said. “Protocol demands the heirs come to my home if Cresthaven is breached.”

The Imperator laughed. “She’s no longer an heir. She’s officially my responsibility. We’ll take her back to Vrukshire Keep when its deemed safe to travel.” He nodded at the Bastardmaker. “Take her to the Stronghold now.” He eyed me struggling against Viktor’s hold, kicking and thrashing like I was farther than Lethea. They couldn’t do this. They couldn’t take me like this. The Imperator glared in disgust. “The lady must be calmed.” He jerked his chin, and the Kormac mage stepped forward, his blue robes blowing in the frigid wind. The mage pulled a cloth from his belt, and a familiar, sickening smell wafted toward my nose.

My breath hitched. The cloth was soaked with the same drug Markan had used to keep me from going after Jules.

I shook my head violently, struggling against my captors, squirming and desperate. I bit my lips shut and held my breath, as Rhyan shouted in the distance, screaming my name and telling them to stop. He was racing forward, a look on his face like he was about to travel. But Aemon stopped him.

Viktor’s grin was the last thing I saw before the cloth covered my face and I lost consciousness.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

It was the same cell. The same fucking cell they’d thrown me into on my birthday. The same cell I’d spent a week in, scared and terrified while I’d waited for the examiner to come for me. I knew the walls, knew the floor, knew every groove of wood, turn of stone, stain, and Godsdamned smell.

I groaned, sitting up in the same bed, the same moldy, stinking blanket covering me. I threw it off, my head pounding as I swept my feet over the edge and stood. My body swayed. Rage boiling me inside me. Anger, fear. My stomach twisted.