Page 54 of The Queen of Ash and Magic

“She deserved it,” Eyrx teases.

“I’m pregnant,” I say bluntly. They go silent and I sit up. “I don’t know how I know, but I know. I’m pregnant and I can’t shift. If I can’t shift, the plan is ruined. I won’t be able to offer you two invisibility.”

“Hey,” Eyrx says, cupping my cheek. “It’s okay.”

“It’s not okay,” I say.

“We have another plan,” Drake says with a smile. “But you need to trust us.”

“Oh Gods…” I sigh.

Chapter Eighteen

Prisoner of War

I have my armsbound behind my back and a hood over my head. I trust everyone to stick to the plan. I have confidence in Drake and Eyrx and get me back safely. I am still so worried though. Anything could happen. All I need to do is keep my mouth shut and go where I am lead.

“Remember the plan,” Drake says.

“I know,” I reply simply.

“Almost there,” he says. He grabs my arm as if I am actually a prisoner. He is believable, because he is practically dragging me now.

“Well. Well. Well,” Aldric chuckles. “Here to surrender?”

“Trade,” Drake says.

“Trade?”

“My mate for yours,” he says. “I want my sister back.”

“Why?”

“Because she is my sister,” Drake says.

“And she is your mate,” Drake says.

“Do you want her or not?” Drake asks harshly.

“I could just take her,” Aldric says. “But…”

“You’re not seriously going to…”

“What did I tell you about speak when no one gave you permission?” Aldric shouts as he slaps Julianna. She goes silent and I smile under my hood. My face drops when Aldric pulls off the hood. I hold my breath and wait, but then he smile wickedly.

“So?” Drake asks.

“Take her,” Aldric says, waving him off and staying focused on me. Julianna starts to cry. When I glance at her, she has her hand on her chest, and she looks heartbroken.

“You’d think you’d know who it was you raped repeatedly,” I say simply as I let the body modification spell drop. Lysa and I look so similar that it didn’t take much to get it to stick. She wasn’t happy that she couldn’t be here to watch him die, but none of us want to risk her losing this pregnancy. It would break her heart andprobably destroy Eyrx altogether. She will get to see what happens to Julianna though.

Drake simply pulls the ties on my wrists and the restraint falls away. We both step back. Aldric casts a spell to attempt to bind my magic, but I immediately put up a protective shield. The timing was perfect, and it bounces back, and he binds himself. Realizing his mistake, he backs away from Julianna as she shifts.

Aldric doesn’t get a chance to plead before Julianna bites down on his hand and shakes her head, violently jerking his body. His hand stays in her mouth, but his body detaches and continues through the air before smacking against a wall and tumbling to the ground.

“That’s one way to get rid of a problem,” Drake says nonchalantly. “On to the next one.”

“Drake,” Julianna says tearfully as she rushes to him.

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