“You can’t bullshit me, Lena,” he said as the corners of his lips tilted downwards. I felt my heart speed up. Merrick wouldn’t be happy either, finding out our leader essentially banished his cousin. “What happened?”
Before I could reply, the sound of screaming coming from outside made Merrick and me startle. “What the hell?” We glanced back at each other before bolting outside.
“What’s going on?” Heildee called from the kitchen, but we were already out the door.
I nearly fell to my knees at the sight. My eyes and Merrick's widened simultaneously as we witnessed an army of soldiers infiltrating the town, raising their weapons on the innocent people who remained outdoors.
Otacian soldiers.They found us.
“I-I need to find Elowen,” Merrick trembled.
“Go, I will fight.” I assured him, and he ran off in the direction of Fabel’s house.
Within moments, Ames was in complete chaos. Soldiers kept pouring in, attempting to capture who they could, or killing who they couldn’t. Their numbers were easily double ours, but magic was powerful. We could win. We had to. Blood was already spilling, that of both Otacian soldiers and people of Ames.
I looked around frantically, familiar faces fighting for their homes. When Otacia had put in place its kill order, its other territories followed suit. They made it their goal to capture as many Mages alive as they could—it seemed the King got a kick out of killing us for all his citizens to see.
But our people were prideful. If we were going to die, it would be protecting our homes and each other, not dying as entertainment.
I raced forward, dodging soldiers as they swung their weapons at me and using forcefields as necessary. I had never killed anyone before, but I had a feeling that was going to change. I didn’t see Elowen or Merrick, and I didn’t see Mother either.
Where are they?
Panicked, I turned to my left, and a soldier was lifting his sword at me. I pushed a forcefield into him, causing him to stagger back.
His wide eyes focused on me as he kept himself upright, his legs trembling beneath him. Gods, he couldn’t have been older than sixteen years old. I was not about to let this boy take me, but I couldn’t kill him either.
All I did was blink, and a shard of ice went clear through his throat. His eyes bulged, his blood spilling out as he collapsed on the ground. I whipped my head to Merrick, who made eye contact with me briefly before fighting off two men charging for him and Elowen.
I began to run to them, but I was slammed back—a man pushing me down with all his strength. I fell and landed on my tailbone, the force knocking the air out of me as pain shot up my back. Adrenaline coursed through me, and I raised my arm above my face and produced a forcefield to block whatever blow was coming my way. I took a chance to meet eyes with the man attempting to kill me, and everything stilled.
Not just any eyes. Golden eyes.
He froze with his sword about to strike, his eyes so wide that the whites were completely visible.
“Lena?” he whispered in disbelief.
My eyes welled with tears. “Silas,” I breathed.
I didn’t have time to process anything when, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a dark figure—a lion—charging towards us. Silas didn’t move, so lost in shock that he didn’t sense the threat coming towards him.
But I did.
“No!” I howled as I lunged in front of him, crossing my arms and creating a magical shield so powerful that when Viola crashed into it, she flung backward, shapeshifting back into her regular form. Her braids tumbled in front of her face as she gripped the grass and dirt, coming to a complete stop. Her head whipped up.
She was stunned. Enraged.
I quickly shifted back to Silas, who was staring at me with the same look, shaking as he still held his sword. He wore his crown, black Otacian armor, and a navy cape.
As his gaze burned into mine, the horns atop Igon’s tower went off, causing my head to whirl in its direction. It couldn’t be…
An order to surrender.
The Mages of Ames looked at each other in disbelief at the blaring noise. We were holding them off well. Why concede now?
I looked back at Silas and got to my knees, hands in the air, as did the rest of my people. Though we did not have a King, we followed our Supreme, especially when ours had the power of foresight.
Without saying a word, Silas sheathed his sword, grasped my wrists, and placed silver handcuffs around them.
