Page 103 of Under the Lion Star

“Then let us hope your daughter has a bit of that viper in her,” Leor said, his eyes remaining on mine.

My fingertips reached for the vial under the hem of my trousers, and although it wasn’t graceful, I managed to pull it out.

Just before I flicked off the cork, I watched as Leor’s mouth tipped into the ghost of a smirk, his eyes glinting with pride and mischief. In my head, I could hear his voice giving me an approving ‘that’s my girl.’

I tossed the vial, letting it slide along the ground. Gamril’s grip on me tightened, as did the guard’s who was holding Leor, but neither of them were quick enough to react. The vial skittered across the floor to Leor’s waiting foot, and he smashed it under his boot.

With a loud hiss that echoed off the stone dome we stood in, the billowing brown cloud rose around my husband, blocking him from view. I used the confusion to duck out of Gamril’s hold, dropping to the floor and pushing myself across the marble.

Shouts rang out around me, as did the clang of metal on metal beyond the entryway. A few whimpers and groans followed.

I turned to find Gamril waving his arms wildly, trying to be free of the thick gas as it filled the chamber. The plume rose in swirling wisps, rising up through the circular cutout and marring my view of the stars.

The smell that surrounded us was vile. Akin to dog shit that was left in the sun for too long. I winced, wishing that I could free my hands so that I might cover my mouth and nose.

As the fog cleared, Leor stepped through the curtain of smog. The feet of the guard who’d held him at knifepoint lay limp on the floor behind him. His sword, no longer at his waist, was now gripped in Leor’s large hand as he pointed it at Gamril.

“You’ll never escape on your own,” the lord stammered. “I have guards outside who will cut you down as you attempt to flee.”

“Nah,” Atlas’s voice preceded him through the dissipating smoke. “Took care of them.”

“Pfft,” another voice came through the fumes. “You’re lucky as fuck we showed up.”

Liras stood, his eyes narrowed on Leor’s back. He bent down, using the dead guard’s cloak to clean the blood that dripped from his morning star.

Leor sighed, staring at the ceiling and dropping his arms.

“Really?” He groaned.

“They just showed up,” Atlas shrugged. “Orin’s still out there eating people or some shit.”

Orin’s graveled chuckle filled the space as he entered.

“Who gets the honors?” He pointed his dagger at Gamril.

“Atlas?” Leor turned to face his friend.

“I think I’d love a few minutes to bond with my dear old dad.”

Leor nodded, moving toward me. His hands moved over every inch of my body, but I noticed the slight tremble they held. He cupped my face, giving me a relieved smile and pressing his lips to my forehead.

“I knew you could do it,” his voice was tight as his eyes misted over.

“Leor,” the rest of what I wanted to say was lodged in my throat.

“I got you,” he rasped.

I nodded, but as the relief flooded my system, my body began to tremble at what could have been. As much as I hated to doubt him, there were several moments when I wondered how we would get out of this bind. I never doubted that he would come for me, but I wasn’t entirely confident we’d both make it out alive.

His arms moved to untie my wrists, his fingers tracing over the angry pink marks the bindings had left on my skin. He let out a low growl, turning to look at Atlas, who only nodded at him.

“Hey, Liras,” Atlas called over his shoulder. “Lemme try that thing.”

Liras grinned, running his fingers through his blood-stained blue hair as he handed Atlas the morning star. Orin chuckled under his breath in response to the pained whimper Gamril let out as he pressed his back into the wall.

“I don’t want to watch this,” I whispered.

“Good, because I’m going to carry you out of here and then scold you for the next ten hours.”

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