Page 49 of Queen of the Crimson Throne (Queen of Blood and Stardust #2)

49

LENNOX

I had never been to this part of the city before. It was well past the city center to the south—I wondered if it was even considered part of Alethen’s or if it was out of its boundary.

But the building in front of me looked the same as in my vision.

I was still on edge after Luka had called out to me, I don’t know how I was able to hear him, maybe it was the effects of the spell still lingering, but it was like I could sense he was in agony. There was a prickling at the back of my mind that urged me to call out to him. Even through the connection, I could hear the pain in his voice. It had caused my own knees to buckle—giving everyone else around me a scare as we made our way through the city.

His screams still echoed in my mind.

Once I recovered, I was more determined than ever to get him out of that hell hole.

Luce figured it was a lingering effect of the spell we used in the catacombs to connect to one another—a lasting effect of the Ichor magic that let us remain connected somehow. I didn’t question it— right now I was grateful for it.

We separated when we came to the building—Luce, Declan, and Kara would go around the back and try to find a way in.

Nico and I would walk right in the front door.

We both cringed as the door creaked open, eliminating our element of surprise as the male and female standing in the middle of the room turned towards the sound.

They were both shocked for a minute at our intrusion, but quickly their faces turned to delight.

“The Queen has come to retrieve her Prince,” the male crooned.

“Sooner than I anticipated.” She tilted her head to the side as she spoke, her light braid falling over her shoulder. “You must love him a lot.”

I didn’t pay them any attention before I struck. I lashed out with my sword. The female shrieked as my sword slid across her chest. She stumbled forward and I caught her, forcing my sword into her side. When I released her she stumbled to the ground, moaning as she clutched the gash in her side.

I fell to the ground on top of her, my legs falling on either side of her chest, pinning her wrist beneath my knees. Despite her wounds, she squirmed underneath my hold.

“I hope you regret ever laying a finger on him,” I all but growled. I slid my dagger through her chest without another thought, my heart pumping in my chest as I watched the life leave her eyes.

I glanced over at Nico, who had the male on the ground at his mercy with his dagger to his throat.

“You have that one under control?”

He threw me a wicked smile. “You go get Luka, I’m going to make sure this one regrets ever going against his Queen.”

I dipped my chin and rose to stand, resheathing my weapons as I jogged towards the stairs.

I would have thought the vision would have prepared me for what I found at the bottom of the stairs, but it didn’t .

The metallic tang of blood filled my nostrils along with the scent of— burnt flesh .

I rushed down the final few stairs—my eyes immediately searching for Luka, hoping and praying to the Goddess I wasn’t too late.

Maybe cursing her was a bad idea after all.

For a brief second, relief flooded my system at the sight of Luka still hanging from where I had seen him in the vision. But the relief was short-lived at the sight of the freshly branded skin on his chest.

I placed my hand over my mouth to stifle my sob. They had fucking branded him.

They had branded him like an animal with the symbol of their group.

I would delight in watching each and every one of them burn.

I ran to him, his name slipping from my lips. “Luka.”

His eyes fluttered open. “Lennox,” he breathed. “Is that you?” He lifted his head slightly.

“It is. I’m here.” I reached for him. I wanted nothing more than to press myself against him and wrap my arms around his ruined body—but I didn’t want to hurt him. “I’m going to get you out of here,” I promised.

I let go of him, and looked around the room, my eyes catching on a bucket in the corner. I brought it over and stood on it so I could match his height.

My fingers brushed his blood-matted hair out of his face as I brought our foreheads together. “I’m here. I’ve got you. I’m sorry it took me so long.”

I pricked the tip of my finger with my dagger until it drew blood, sketching a symbol with my blood on each of the shackles on his wrist. “Looks like the spell I learned to open your grandfather’s office is coming in handy again,” He watched me as I worked, struggling to keep his eyes open.

Once the symbol was sketched on each of the cuffs, I murmured the spell. There was a hiss before the locks clicked open. I wrapped my arms around his torso as he slumped to the ground—trying to slow his fall as much as I could.

“I’ve got you.”

“Thanks.” He panted.

“Can you walk?”

“I think so. I just need a minute to feel my legs again.”

“Do you know—was there more than the male and female upstairs?” I flopped his arm around my shoulder.

He shook his head. “I only ever saw them, but I’m sure there are more of them that know I’m here.”

“We need to get out of here.”

I wrapped my arm around his waist as he continued to lean on me as we made our way up the stairs.

When we made it to the top only Nico was waiting for us. “Where is everyone else?”

“They ran into some company outside—they’ve got it under control now but I didn’t want to leave you two unprotected.”

At that moment the three of them came rushing into the building—all of them splattered with blood as their eyes scanned Luka propped against me.

“You ready to get out of here?” Luce asked.

“Fuck yes.” The normal cadence of Luka’s voice was returning.

Within minutes we were back in the palace.

I wasted no time in giving everyone tasks—needing supplies and a healer to tend to Luka while Declan helped me get him into the bath.

“I’m fine.” Luka swatted away Declan as he helped him into the tub. “Stop babying me.”

“You were tortured, Luka. Let us help you,” Declan argued.

“Fine,” Luka huffed. “But I’m not letting you bathe me.”

Delcan raised his hands in surrender. “Fine by me.”

“Declan, I think I’ ve got it from here.”

Luka looked over his shoulder at me. “I can bathe myself, I’m fine.”

His face was no longer swollen. The healer had given him a tonic and with mine and Luce's combined healing abilities he was already looking normal, the wounds were healing and the color was coming back into his face. But there were dark circles under his eyes, and blood coated his body.

And that fucking brand, it was starting to heal, but the remnants of a wound that severe would remain.

“Please, let me help you. I want to,” I said softly. He eyed me for a long moment before finally dipping his chin.