Page 87 of The Soul of the Dragon

A hard hand grabbed me out of nowhere at the same time the dark slither of magic washed over me, causing my vision to narrow and my stomach to pitch. Immediately I realized that the king had phased into my room and grabbed me and now we could be anywhere.

His ability to move between time and space was a rare and coveted fae trait, and part of the reason he’d managed to stay king for so long.

“You have become a serious problem, my dear.”

“Kitra!” I could hear Isaac’s dragon roar, but it sounded like it was miles away instead of just behind me as it should have been.

“What have you done to him?”

“You should be far more worried about what I’m going to do to you. You have been a thorn in my side since the day I married your mother, but now you are a total embarrassment, not to mention costing me time and money.”

“Then let me go. It’s all I want. And you of all people should know that I’ll never stop. You can lock me up in your dungeon again, keep my magic bound, and even fuck me against my will. But I will NEVER stop. NEVER.” Spit flew from my mouth in my rage, but I didn’t care. No one ever spoke to the King like this without the fear of death. But we both knew that he wouldn’t kill me. Not as long as he wanted something from me.

“I don’t have to do anything against your will, you little bitch. One way or another you will come to heel. I am your King, and as long as I live, my will is your will.”

“Those are just words, and they mean nothing. No true King would do the things you do.”

“If you believe that, then you are an even bigger fool than I thought. But fortunately it’s not your mind I’m after.” He grabbed my arm again, with a magic-infused hold that I had no chance in hell of breaking, and dragged me down a dark corridor.

We didn’t make it ten steps before the house began to shake. I screamed as plaster from the ceiling rained down on us and the King cursed. “He had one fucking job. One! And he couldn’t even do that.”

I had no idea what he was talking about. I only knew if I didn’t find a way to get away from him, I was going to end up dead or worse. Magic was my only hope. I had to stall whatever this was until Isaac could get to me.

“Where are you taking me?”

The floors shook and we both had to reach out for the railing to keep from stumbling.

“Somewhere secure I’d hoped. But now I’m not so sure.” He looked around worriedly. “My nephews are going to tear this place down.”

“Nephews?” He looked at me again like I was stupid but as everything shook, cracks appeared and raced along the walls. Even the railing I was holding onto broke free, forcing me to my knees to keep from falling into the abyss below. “We have got to get out of here.”

He looked at me for a moment, and I couldn’t tell what he was thinking. But the moment his magic began to shimmer I figured it out quick. He was leaving me here to die.

A second later he was gone as he phased away. “That motherfucker!”

I crawled away from the open balcony and pressed my back to the interior wall. Every few seconds something new would crash down and so much plaster had come down it created a cloud of thick dust that made it difficult to see.

I needed to figure out where I was and find my way out of here. We’d been heading somewhere down this hall and maybe if I knew where I could find my way out. I didn’t think there was a single area of this house I hadn’t explored—

Except the north tower.

I’d been forbidden to go there. And although I’d tried, my magic repelled me every time I got near it.

Great.

On my hands and knees I rushed toward the end of the hall until I was somewhat certain I could stand without being flung over the edge of the open balcony. There was only a single door in this direction, and while I seriously doubted it would lead to an escape, I had to know what was going on.

I turned the knob, noticing there were a series of locks on the outside of this door, and to my surprise it opened with ease.

I stepped in and gasped. My belongings had been moved to this room. My bed stood in the middle, my dresser next to it. My chairs…

I turned in a circle, and bolted around the room. I even checked the attached bathing room. Dear Goddess, it had to be here. I searched every nook and cranny until tears were streaming down my face with hopelessness. I slid to the floor with my back against the wall. It wasn’t—

Was it? I didn’t want to get my hopes up, but I couldn’t help it. There was something under…

I crawled on my hands and knees to the bed and felt around until my hand hit the corner of whatever it was. I wrapped my hand around it and yanked as hard as I could. It didn’t budge much, but it did move. I did it again and again and it moved a few inches.

Goddess, when this was all over, I was going on a vacation somewhere. I was exhausted and running on pure adrenalin now. And I wasn’t sure how much of that I had left. By the time I got it far enough out to confirm it was the dollhouse, I was soaked in sweat.

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