Page 17 of Dreams of Ash and Smoke

He takes in my attire, eyebrows raised. “What happened to your arm? Where did you get fighting leathers? And a sword? Can you even use it?”

“Allyric, please let me go.” At his name, he looks back into my eyes. “I know it’s surprising hearing me call you that. The king can barely remember my name, let alone all his guards. But guards and maids and everyone else who works here talk and you all know I know your names. Hundreds of them. I made it my job to know. I know of your family and where you’re from and I care about your lives. He does not. But I am not going to hurt him. Not today. I am going to grab Hadeon and leave this castle before we are both executed for a treason we did not commit.” I can see the gears turning in his brain, completely unsure of what to do. “Please. He does not deserve to die. And I do not deserve to be trapped here.” My voice was soft. But, for Hadeon, I was prepared to fight this guard. Was I prepared to end his life? No. But I will do what I needed.

“You’ll have to knock me out. If I let you go, I’ll die. You have to make it look like this was not voluntary. You know how to hit with the hilt of your blade?” He asks me, making a breath release from my body in relief. I nod and he stands like he was before I came out before adjusting his body and allowing me to knock him unconscious. I whisper a prayer to our healer goddess, Althea, to make sure he heals quickly after.

I rush down the halls, hiding in the shadows along the walls to make a clean getaway.

It was relatively easy so far. Most of everyone in this court was in bed by the time nightfall hit and asleep well before midnight like it was now. It had been hours since the coronation and I’m hoping Hadeon is fine.

A scuffle and voice sounds from around the corner and I froze, not seeing anywhere to hide. They round the hall. Two guards freeze at the sight of me. I can be mistaken for someone else since I wasn’t dressed in a way anyonehad seen before but recognition flares in their eyes. And for some reason, I know this time won’t be as easy as it was with Allyric.

“Gentlemen, thank the gods I’ve found you. Someone knocked out Allyric who was stationed at my door!” I raise my voice and force tears to well in my eyes. “Please help.” Males love being heroes. They look at each other before the older one spoke.

“Jordan, go check on him. I’ll ask Princ-LadyVerena some questions.” The title halts my fake tears and my expression harden after the younger one left us.

“So, I am no longer a princess to anyone else either?” He looks at me cautiously at my voice change.

“When you commit treason by sleeping with your guard, that’s usually what happens. Although you got lucky with your fate. You get to spend your days as the king’s whore wife.” He sneers as I walk closer. “Where do you think you’re going dressed like that?”

“I do not have to explain myself to you.”

My hand instinctively reaches for my dagger as he makes a move for his sword. We both know one wrong move and this could be the end. But I can’t risk using my weapon, it will make too much noise. So I lunge forward, catching him off guard, before he can draw his sword. With a swift slice, I cut through his wrist, causing him to let out a strangled cry of pain and shock. Blood spurts from the wound, coating us both in red as I hold my weapon steady. “Get that to the medic,” I command, my voice low and deadly. “You might just survive if you go now.” He hesitates, torn between his desire for revenge and the need for medical attention. But eventually, he turns and runs toward the infirmary, leaving a trail of blood in his wake.

I cannot keep getting this lucky. There’s no way.

I rush even more now since there were two people aware of my whereabouts. The way to the dungeon was further than I wished for. I hurry down three flights of stairs and many halls before coming across the dungeon stairway. Luckily, no one else had been around to see me. After living here for your entire life, you know this sort of information. I know there would be barely anyone out.

I pull the heavy door open, running to the bottom of the steps and rounding the corner. A few men are in the cells, some sleeping, some mumbling to themselves, and a couple are whistling at me while making kissing noises. I roll my eyes. Typical.

Hadeon’s cell was at the end and while I am not surprised it was, I am surprised he has a guard assigned to his door. Lucky, again, for me he was asleep. Hadeon, however, was not.

As soon as our eyes meet, I am gripped by a sudden shock. His face is marred with bruises and splatters of blood, stark against his once flawless skin. Deep purples and dark blues form a grotesque canvas over his features, streaked with angry red gashes. The sight takes my breath away and for a moment, I am too stunned to react.

My hand covers my mouth, choking back the emotion before I steel myself and continue quietly forward. He sits up, eyeing me and not saying a word. I spot the key from the guard and expertly retrieve it to unlock the cell.

Just as the bell starts to ring.

I can barely slip the key into the lock before the guard wakes and stands, wrapping his arm around my throat. “He knew you’d come for your lover.” I roll my eyes again, trying to steady my breathing as Hadeon taught me. I watch the man in the cell, beaten so badly I wasn’t sure if I’d have to carry him out of there. He can’t help me right now. Not with the look of worry in his eyes as he watches me.

The guard’s hands press hard against my body, the cold metal of his blade digging into my side while he tightens his grip on me, cutting off my air supply. I struggle against his hold, widening my stance and drawing in a deep breath before unleashing all my force into a brutal elbow strike to his solar plexus. He grunts in pain and his grip weakens, giving me the opportunity to stomp on his foot with all my might. As he recoils from the pain, I use all my strength to break free, driving another powerful elbow strike into his nose. Blood spurts from his nostrils as he releases me completely. With no time to waste, I draw my sword and point it directly at him, my eyes blazing with unbridled fury. “I am leaving with Hadeon,” I growl, the sword trembling in my hand. “Whether I have to kill you or not.” A menacing grinspreads across my face as I prepare for whatever comes next.

“Then you’ll have to kill me.” The man states. I shrug, feigning nonchalance at the idea of murder. But my heart is racing faster than the horses we race.

“Your choice,” I growl before lunging toward him, my blade flashing in the dim light. He blocks my attack with ease, his muscles bulging as he swings his own blade in retaliation. But I am relentless, slamming my weapon against his again and again, fueled by a fierce determination to stay one step ahead.

Despite his towering stature, I refuse to back down. Instead, I use every ounce of strength and agility to land a deep slice across his forearm. As he howls in pain and falters, I see an opening and go for the kill. But at the last second, I pull back, unwilling to cross that final line.

With adrenaline still coursing through my veins, I bring down the hilt of my sword with brutal force onto his temple, knocking him unconscious. Another enemy defeated.

“You should’ve killed him.” Hadeon coughs out. I gather my wits before walking over to him pushing open the cell door.

“I couldn’t.”

“I know. You did well. What’s your plan?” I stop moving from the question.

I look down the hall, making sure it’s clear before wrapping my arm around him after sheathing my weapon. “Escape. I didn’t exactly have a lot of time to plan this. I couldn’t let you sit there till morning. You’d be dead by then.” He grunts as we move. “How bad is it?” I ask, nerves wrecking my body.

“I’m fine.”

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