Page 92 of The Rose in the Shadows

Power rippled out of me, and I threw her through the air. She slammed into one of the iron rod chandeliers. A spire pierced her through, so deeply that she remained suspended, hung,there upon it. I could only watch the life fade from her as I clutched at my side.

All I could do for a moment was sit and struggle to catch my breath as the pandemonium continued. I’d never seen so many Descendants using their powers in one place. People were moving at inhuman speeds. Fire, lightning, and water erupted into the air, and small explosions constantly sounded. I used my powers to push back servants who rushed at me as I struggled back to my feet and immediately was grateful for having such an offensive power.

There were plenty of Descendants whose magic was useless in combat. The Whisperers of House Herea, for example, whose gift was communicating with animals. Or the empaths of House Harmonia. Or the Truthseekers of…

Lorelai.

I scanned the room for her wild red hair in an anxious rush.

Rankor and Kent had trained as members of the Athenian military. Iris was a fast and calculated fighter. Camilla was likely ruthless in battle, given her typical attitude. Lorelai, though, her power would be useless here, and I had never actually seen her fight. I was sure she had been trained; Iris said they were all required to train, butI’d never seen her fight. I had no idea if she could defend herself in this.

A servant launched at me, and I slammed my elbow into his nose, feeling it break against my skin. He fought on, jutting his blade toward me, but I stepped aside, driving my sword under his ribcage. He roared in pain as I ripped it back out. His body fell onto me, knocking me to the ground, and I groaned against the pain of my still-open hip wound. I rolled out from under him with a magically assisted shove and struggled to my feet.

I needed to find Lorelai.

I caught sight of Iris in the corner, fighting three larger men with unnatural speed. She seemed to be holding her own, butthe fight was requiring her full attention. As she briefly found my eyes, her face was a picture of fear, not for herself but for the woman she loved.

Lorelai!She mouthed to me, ducking under a swinging sword.

Iris couldn’t go to protect her. She was trusting me to do it. I nodded my understanding.

With a quick glance at the throne to ensure my prince was still standing and fighting, I darted through the crowd, swerving away from stray lightning bolts and miniature storms.

Where was she?

Suddenly, a Detonator sent a table next to me, bursting into a massive explosion that sent me flying backward. I tucked my shoulder, rolling into the fall as I skidded across the floor. My backside hit the wall, and my head bounced against the stone so forcefully that it was all I could do to stop myself from vomiting right then and there as the world spun around me.

I sat on my hands and knees, struggling to catch my breath, when I finally saw her. I’d recognize that hair anywhere. Lorelai was only a few feet from me, caught on the ground. A massive man with dirty brown hair and clothes soaked through with blood wrapped his hands around her throat. Instinctively, I threw out my palms, attacking with magic and pushing him across the room, but he didn’t go as far as I intended.

My power was waning. I’d been using it sporadically all day, even before the battle. And now? Well, I had only ever used it in practice settings. This was the first time I’d actually had to use it in controlled, repetitive strikes. I wasn’t used to that. I wasn’t strong enough for it. Exhaustion was pressing on the edges of my consciousness.

Still, I pushed onto my feet, limping to where Lorelai coughed on her hands and knees. Gripping onto her, I pulled her to her feet.

“Thea?” Tears streaked her face. “What’s happening?”

“I don’t know right now. But we need to get you somewhere safe. Come on, let’s go behind the throne. Clay’s there.”

I pulled her toward safety, only to lock eyes with the man who had been trying to kill her. He stood tall now, well over six feet. Sometimes, I thought Rankor had to be the strongest man in the Kingdom, but this man’s bicep alone seemed twice the size of my head. By the Gods, he would murder me.

“The daughter of Hyrax,” he called to me, grinning toothily as a cut from his forehead leaked blood down the side of his cheek. “We’ve been looking for you all night.”

That unknown part of my magic roared angrily in my stomach forcefully and it took me a moment to gain enough control to push it down. A moment was all he needed.

He backhanded me so sharply that I fell violently to the floor, clutching my face. By the time I spun back around to face him, his blade had already struck through Lorelai’s chest.

A moment was all he had needed.

“No!” I screamed.

Things moved slowly, like a series of events I watched more than I actively took part in.

He dropped Lorelai and walked to me.

His fingers wrapped around my throat, lifting me off the ground as she fell.

Lorelai sputtered, gasping for air and clutching the wound.

“Such a shame a pretty girl like that had to die for you,” he growled.

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