Page 47 of The Lies of Lena (The Otacian Chronicles #1)

Chapter Forty-Six

W e hurried down, the sounds of yelling from the Western Wing becoming less and less audible. Just before we reached the chamber doors, Roland took extra precautions to ensure the guards were gone—and they were, thanks to Silas. We entered and ran down the stone steps. The last of my people were being led out of the back entrance just as we emerged.

“Where is Silas?” I asked.

“Outside with the others,” Hendry replied.

“Merrick and El are with them,” Viola added as she and Hendry helped guide our people out of the exit.

I nodded, and then my head snapped as footsteps began to come down. I turned to Roland. “You may want to watch out.”

He smirked and got behind me. Tapping into my rage, I created a wall of fire just as soldiers filled the hallway. They shrieked, stumbling back before I couldn’t make any out due to the flames. I could still hear their profanities.

Because the cellar was made of stone, I had to keep position until it was time for me to run.

“Get out of here! I’ll hold them off as long as I can!” I called back. Hendry and Viola nodded before running, the last of my people with them. Roland didn’t budge.

“What are you doing?” I shouted.

“I’m not leaving you—let’s go!” Before I could protest, an arrow shot through the flames, just missing Roland.

I cursed and did the next best thing I could think of. I smothered the fire, and just as the soldiers went to charge, I made a wall of ice, trapping them on the other side. I knew it only had moments before they effectively shattered it.

“Smart girl,” Roland quipped, then grasped my hand, wincing at the cold before pulling me to the fortress exit out back. When we made it out the door, I froze that entrance as well, then ran across the balcony and down the steps to where everyone was waiting. My people were already distant, running like hell, just as I had ordered.

Hendry was on a horse with Edmund holding on, Elowen and Merrick on another. Silas was standing by the same black horse he rode before, his wife sitting atop it with a scowl on her face. While Merrick, Elowen, and Viola still wore their prison clothes, they were each given cloaks.

“You made it,” Silas breathed. He nervously looked up to the eastern watchtower, and I followed his gaze, seeing that the catapult had been frozen. He must have allowed Merrick to do that .

Silas mounted his horse, Erabella wrapping her arms around his waist. I then realized there was only one more horse.

“This was all we could get without getting caught, considering how many horses the Undead killed,” Hendry explained.

“No worries for me,” Viola smirked, then shifted into a dark stallion, her violet eyes still present.

“You should’ve let me know, Viola,” Merrick teased. “I would’ve much preferred to ride you.”

Despite everything, I choked on a laugh. Elowen slapped him on the arm, and Viola grunted.

I turned to Roland, who was also grinning from Merrick’s stupid comment. “So, I’m supposed to share with you?”

He continued grinning, then mounted the white horse that was meant for us, I guess. “Hop on behind me, Ginger Snap.”

“How come you get to be in front?” I protested but quickly got on behind him as there was no time to spare.

“I think you’ll be more useful than I on the back, with your fireball-wielding abilities and whatnot.” I wrapped my arms around his waist, and he sucked in sharply before tilting his head back to me. “And I really just wanted your arms around my waist,” he purred.

I reached down and pinched his thigh as hard as I could, and he yelped, causing me to grin.

“Vicious thing,” he muttered.

“Let’s get on then, shall we?” Silas snapped. I looked over at him and couldn’t ignore his grimace. “Where to, Lena?”

The last of my people were hardly visible.

“South.”

When we eventually caught up with the rest of the Mages, deep into the forest, they stilled, all catching their breath and cheering. However, the cheering quickly quieted as they saw the Otacians accompanying us.

“What are they doing here?” someone snarled.

“Is this a trap?” another cried.

“KILL THEM!”

Multiple people began to charge toward us, and I urged Roland to guide our horse forward before I created a forcefield so large that everyone advancing came to a halt.

“No one is killing anyone!” I yelled calmly yet sternly. “The Prince set us free. He betrayed his kingdom so we may all live. If anyone tries to lay a finger on any one of them, you’ll have me to deal with.”

A few protested, but after how horrid the past few weeks had been, they decided to obey, and we continued onward.

We rode for hours, finally stopping just before dawn. Our diversions had proven successful, as no soldiers were on our tail. However, it was only a matter of time before some found us. We were to rest up for a couple of hours before continuing onward.

When we dismounted, I ran to Mother and hugged her tightly, tears of relief pouring down both of our faces. Everyone then awkwardly went to our own areas. Merrick and Viola were talking by the crackling fire I had started while Elowen looked over to Edmund, him returning her gaze. The Otacians stayed near us. With an angry group of Mages surrounding them, they had to have felt safest with me nearby to stop any attack if need be.

Silas’s group had also gathered wood for a fire, and Hendry was attempting to start it himself. I sighed and walked over, the group giving me raised brows as I crouched down and conjured fire from my fingertips. The wood began to smoke as the flames ignited.

“Thank you,” Edmund said kindly, Hendry nodding. Erabella just sat with her arms crossed, and Roland smiled smugly. Silas gave me an unreadable golden gaze.

What an interesting group.

I went to head back to my friends before Silas spoke. “Can I speak to you for a moment?” He stood and gestured to the privacy of the trees. Erabella frowned at him.

I nodded, and we ventured off.

It was quiet for a moment when we made it deeper into the forest, nothing but the sound of crickets audible.

“How are you feeling?” Silas asked.

I blinked. “Tired. Stressed. I will feel much better when my people are where they will be safe.”

He dragged his bottom lip through his teeth. “You still won’t tell me, will you?”

I tensed. He studied me with a look that didn’t frighten me, but I still remembered how angry he was that first night at Fort Laith.

“You have to understand—”

“Have I not proven to you that I am with you?” he pushed.

“That isn’t it, I…” I exhaled through my nose. “I’ve never been to this place before. I know you've risked it all…” I bit my lip. “I trusted you. Now I want you to trust me.”

The muscles in Silas's jaw feathered, but he conceded, nodding while his eyes went to the ground. I grasped his hand, and he froze.

“Thank you,” I murmured as my eyes bounced between his. “For everything. Once we are there, we will come up with a plan.”

He looked back towards the dancing fires in the distance. “If you really don’t know where the rest of your people are, we should go to the southeast territories.” His gaze shifted to mine. “The sooner the better, before word gets out of my betrayal and there’s a bounty on my head.”

“I agree.”

He nodded, and my hand slipped away as we silently made our way back to camp.

After a couple of hours and very little sleep, we continued onward, marching for a few hours at a time and then resting. Each stop a handful of Mages were released from their cuffs, and I stood by to ensure no one hurt Silas or his friends.

Silas smuggled as much food as he could carry, and my people had eaten just before we escaped. Still, with rations so short, my people were growing hungry. Once we reached Mount Rozavar, Silas would give my people enough coin to feed themselves and feed them well.

By the evening of the following day, everyone was spent. “How long until we reach this place?” Roland asked as he helped me off our horse at our resting site .

“Hopefully, by tomorrow.” I stretched, and he nodded. “Why don’t you guys stay by us?”

Roland raised a brow, that infuriating but sexy grin forming on his face.

I punched his arm. “I’d feel better knowing you all were near in case someone decides not to follow my orders. They’ve done well enough so far, but still.”

“You won’t find me complaining about sleeping near you,” he winked.

I rolled my eyes, the corners of my lips raising as I strolled to Silas. He agreed with my plan, and we all set up around the same campfire just as the sun began to set.

Merrick and Silas agreed they would take the first shift and stay awake while the rest of our group slept. I drifted to sleep watching Silas stare off into the forest, the flames giving me an intoxicating view of his beautiful, tanned face.