Page 24 of Legacy of the Heirs (The Lost Kingdom Saga #2)

Larelle

“ S hhh. It is okay,” hummed Larelle, rocking Zarya beneath the table and muffling her cries against her chest. “It is okay.” She did not know if she was reassuring her daughter or herself and flinched as a roar echoed throughout the hall.

When Kazaar shouted for everyone to take cover, Alvan had been quick to pull the tablecloth up and push Larelle and Zarya beneath it, cocooning the pair in his arms to protect them from whatever had crashed through the ceiling.

“Where is Lillian?” Zarya sniffed. Larelle exchanged a look with Alvan. Lillian was getting drinks when the attack happened. Alvan’s eyes widened, and he clenched his jaw.

“I will look for her,” Alvan said, stroking Zarya’s hair as he shifted onto his knees. Larelle grabbed his arm as screams sounded from outside their table, followed by crunching that she did not think was simply the splintering of wooden tables.

“You cannot go out there,” she pleaded. Alvan looked at Zarya and then Larelle.

“I cannot let her lose someone else,” he said, and Larelle turned his face to meet hers

“And what would I tell her if we lost you?” Larelle argued, blinking back tears.

“I told you: I am here. I will always be here,” he said before pushing himself out from under the table.

“Alvan!” She tried to call after him, but it was no use.

That felt like an eternity ago now. Something thudded above them, and Zarya cried into Larelle’s shoulder as it shook the table. “ Where is Mr Alvan?” Zarya sobbed, trying to lift her head. Larelle kept her head down and stroked her hair with trembling fingers.

“He will be right back,” Larelle murmured. “He will be right back.”

Larelle could see blood dripping onto the floor through a short gap under the tablecloth.

Screams filled the hall, and Larelle tried to cover Zarya’s ears while intently assessing the gap.

She refused to blink as she watched the stone, preparing to move should anything pass into her vision.

The shadows that had crawled across the floor prior to the crash were gone, but she could not forget the display of darkness seeping from below Kazaar’s feet as he and Elisara stood toe to toe.

Larelle had sought the Historian immediately, who watched with a knowing look.

How could she deny the darkness after witnessing it with her very own eyes?

It appeared like a fog at first, trickling beneath their feet and floating across the stone before darkening around the pair.

It did not reach the crowds or attempt to inflict harm; it simply sat, waiting, until Kazaar called to take cover.

Yet Larelle could not discern if the darkness called the creatures or if it warned of their arrival.

Nobody had gasped or pointed at the shadows buried under dancing feet.

She felt as though she was the only one to notice.

With Alvan having acted so quickly, Larelle had not caught sight of the creatures until feet appeared beneath the gap in the tablecloth.

Larelle pulled Zarya closer and held her breath.

The creature crouched, its front two feet curled under like fists, almost as if they were once hands.

It dragged its claws through the blood accumulating next to the table from whoever had been thrown above her, and a foul stench drifted under the table as the creature lowered to flick its tongue in the crimson puddle.

She hoped the beast would not hear her daughter’s muffled sobs.

Larelle’s heartbeat pounded in her ears as she held her breath, waiting and preparing.

She glanced at the space beside her, readying to throw Zarya towards it and lunge at the creature should it reach for them, sacrificing herself.

The creature’s tongue paused before flicking back into its mouth and angling its head towards the table.

It growled low, and Larelle felt its rumble in her chest as she removed one arm from Zarya and placed her hand on the floor.

Fog rose from the creature’s nostrils when it exhaled and hooked a claw beneath the tablecloth.

“Over here!” Alvan shouted. The creature raised its head from the ground and leapt over the table, allowing Larelle a moment to finally breathe. She jumped as the tablecloth flew open but sobbed to find Lillian crouching before them.

“Quick! While Alvan is distracting it, there is a clear route to the servants’ entrance.

” Lillian reached for Zarya, who crawled out from the table, sobbing harder upon reaching Lillian’s arms. Larelle followed closely behind, her stomach turning as she took in the blood and limbs scattered throughout the room, a river of red flooding the stone floor.

Zarya lifted her head on Lillian’s shoulder, but Larelle gripped her cheeks, forcing her eyes to hers.

Her daughter’s midnight blue eyes were rimmed red as she looked at her mother.

“You do not look. Do you understand?” Larelle told her. Zarya stared back, her lip quivering. “You keep your head down on Lillian’s shoulder until Lillian tells you otherwise. Okay?” Zarya nodded and buried her face into Lillian’s hair.

Larelle searched for something to protect them.

All the creatures were distracted, including the two battling Elisara and Kazaar at the far end of the hall.

When Larelle spun, she found what she needed.

Summoning water from the outside fountain, she brought it towards them and created a barrier as they clambered over bodies and debris to reach the door.

The three reached it at the same time as Alvan, who scanned Zarya and Larelle. She nodded to answer his silent question before expanding her thin barrier of water to include him. A man huddled behind them.

“Are you okay, sir?” Larelle asked the Historian. He met her eye and nodded, his face pale. Larelle opened the door and hurried them all inside, where multiple citizens sat crowded on the steps, frozen in fear.

“Lillian,” Larelle said, grasping her free hand and scanning her eyes intently. “Please look after her.”

“You know I will,” Lillian said with a squeeze. Larelle took one last look at her daughter before closing the door on them.

Peering through her shield of water, she assessed the chaos. Bodies lay strewn across the room in pieces, except for those whose necks were slashed. Surviving citizens crawled or scrambled for the stairs or tree line now the glass walls had fallen.

“Is that Tajana fighting with Soren?” Larelle asked with wide eyes. Alvan lowered his head.

“I heard Tajana call to protect the queen, but then she ran for Soren with that other woman.” Alvan pointed to someone who looked very similar to Tajana.

Nyzaia and one of her guards fought to their right, alongside the captain of Elisara’s guard, who held two swords.

Larelle looked ahead, following their path.

Elisara and Kazaar stood back-to-back, facing two creatures.

A scattering of Nyzaia’s guards surrounded them, aiding the pair.

A large, leather-clad man stabbed at the back of a creature, who spun, outraged, before noticing the Sword of Sonos.

Shrieking, the beast staggered for Nyzaia, who had not yet noticed.

Larelle moved her water barrier to shield the Keres queen, and the creature stumbled back, momentarily confused.

Yet it was not long before it stalked forward again.

Nyzaia spotted the beast and ran as it swiped a claw through the wall with ease.

Larelle swallowed. It could have easily caught Nyzaia’s flesh had she still been there.

Yet Larelle had stopped Nyzaia by forcing her to change direction and offering a clear route to Elisara and Kazaar, who now faced only one creature while the Keres guards cornered another.

“We need to reach them.” Larelle grabbed Alvan’s hand, placing it on the hem of her gown. “Rip it,” she said.

Alvan was quick to do as his queen commanded, but she noticed the blush creep across his cheeks as his hands brushed her thighs and tore the fabric. Larelle reached for his hand and interlocked their fingers, holding him tightly as they ran into the chaos to defend their kingdom.

Together.