Page 53 of The Prince and His Stolen Throne

“I don’t hear any now,” his soft voice cut off my rambling thoughts.

I opened my mouth, then froze as I registered the silence. “Maybe they’re asleep?”

“Ghosts don’t sleep.”

I reached for one of my swords, but I’d taken them both off to sleep. “Fuck.”

“Treasure—”

I snapped the compact shut and shoved it into my pocket as I ran toward the house. Something sharp whistled past my ear and embedded itself in the ivy on one wall. I ducked my head and dove through the doorway, shouting, “Wake up! We’re under attack!”

Maximus bolted upright as if he’d never been asleep. He lunged for the door, trying to force it closed while the vines clinging to it fought to keep it open. Arrows flew past him, bouncing off the dirt floor. They were small, sharpened twigs with colorful bird feathers tied to the end.

Fitz floundered in his tangled bedding, then swore under his breath. “Where are my glasses?”

Delilah bounced to all fours and ran straight for the threat, only to trip over some hidden danger in the herb garden. She tumbled head over heels and skidded hard against the ground, leaving a trail behind her. “Ow.”

At least Kit wasn’t around to see their daughter’s failure.

I drew both swords and ran after Delilah. One arrow struck my shoulder, piercing the skin like an oversized splinter. The pain was bearable, so I ignored it while I positioned myself between our attackers and Delilah.

Behind me, she yipped and exclaimed, “They shot me in the butt!” Then she jumped to her feet and pushed past me, ignoring my attempts to protect her.

“Delilah!” A new wave of arrows prevented me from following her, chasing me around the house’s front yard. One was manageable, but I refused to become a pincushion.

From the high angle, our attackers were probably hiding in the trees. Delilah dug her claws in and started to climb up. She’d only made it a few feet before the tree undulated, like it was trying to throw her off.

Tiny cries came from above as several small figures fell out of the upper branches. A pile of sticks crashed to the ground and scattered. After a few seconds, they rolled together and gathered themselves up into two little creatures.

For a stunned second, I stared at our tiny assailants.

They released high-pitched battle cries as they charged forward.

A gold point intercepted one, piercing it straight through the middle and scooping it up.

Angelica hadfinallywoken up to join the fight. She raised her rapier to examine the creature caught on the end. It slid down a few inches before grabbing onto the blade to hold itself upright, then shook a twiggy fist at her.

Its companion lunged at her, digging the sharp end of one arm into her ankle.

Scowling, she scrambled out of reach. “You little monster!”

More creatures dropped from the surrounding trees, breaking as they hit the ground and rapidly reassembling again. They charged at us, and I struggled to ward them off. Every time I struck one, it collapsed, then rebounded in a few seconds.

“Net!” Fitz shouted behind me.

An arrow flew past me, expanding into a net in midair. It landed over the rising hoard, capturing a dozen creatures.

Who promptly squeezed themselves through the holes.

“I’ve got the door!” Maximus shouted.

Delilah stopped chasing one of the creatures around the tree and changed trajectory toward the house. One creature clung to her shirt, so I smacked it off with my sword. It tumbled to the ground, then redirected its anger toward me.

Angelica had collected several creatures on the end of her rapier. She swung it wildly, sending them flying in every direction. Then she turned around and ran for the house.

Fitz had been firing from the doorway, which meant I was the only one left outside. The hoard turned their full attention to me.

“Trey!” Delilahcried.