Page 119 of The Blood Crown

They were wasting what little precious moments they had left to defend this place. She didn’t want to put him down, but if he stood in her way—she’d do it.

Lightning flared in the distance, answering her call as her magick flooded her veins.

But Asher stepped forward—

Landing a solid punch on Bastien’s jaw that cracked through the silence.

Seth stepped beside her brother, facing down the row of blue cloaks that seemed at a loss as to how to deal with their Captain knocking a Councilor out cold. Then Nira took a step forward, and that seemed to tip the scales in their favor as the blue cloaks backed away with a dip of their chins to Asher.

“Right,” Asher said, shaking out his knuckles, “let’s get back to it.”

Karro clapped her brother on the back. “I knew I liked you.”

Aurelia caught the fleeing smirk that graced Seth’s chiseled features as he shouted to the dozens of Wraiths behind him, “Positions!”

Chapter 62

Civilians flooded through the gates of the palace, seeking safety from the danger sweeping through the Valley, but it was eerily quiet beyond the chaos of the Capitol.

Every male, young and old, split off from their families as they passed beyond the palace wall.

Fathers kissed children goodbye. Husbands embraced their wives—silent, stoic tears as they left. Sons clung to their mothers.

Aurelia had seen for herself what became of the things the King of the Void claimed—but she could not let that happen—would not. They might not have been her people, but for her mother, Wellan, her father . . . for Tanis, she would protect them.

She’d taken the last stallion in the stables, guiding the people of the Capitol through the gates. She was faster on foot, but the risk of terrifying the already frightened crowd was too great. As it was, she made the horse uneasy, as if it too recognized she was a shadecat wearing lambskin.

She ushered a young mother and her babe through the thick stone walls as someone called “Aurelia!”

If hearing Bastien’s voice had been a kick to the gut . . . hearing her mother’s was nearly enough to rip out her heart.

She turned, feeling out of control of her own body—her own actions.

Lady Norrick’s small figure emerged from the crowd of faces, her auburn hair a mess of curls around her shoulders as she stood frozen, green eyes lined with silver.

Aurelia grasped the reigns of the restless beast beneath her, emotion making her throat thick with unspoken words. It was twice now that she’d left her mother with no explanation, leaving her to wonder what had become of her.

“Mother—” she began, as Lady Norrick approached, her eyes focused on her daughter as if she so much as blinked, she might vanish again.

“Don’t,” her mother rasped, holding up a delicate hand. “Tell me nothing at all before you tell me a lie.” Her veridian eyes were assessing as they swept over every inch of Aurelia.

But there was no fear in them as they lifted to her face—no disappointment. Only deep, unrelenting relief.

Aurelia wished she had more time—more time to explain all of it . . . the truth in its entirety. “I—” But as she opened her mouth to speak, nothing came out.

Her mother cut her off. “When this is done,” she glanced behind her, to the disorder unfolding, “you can tell me everything.”

Without another word, her mother donned the easy grace of Councilor Norrick's beloved widow. Kneeling to comfort a crying child, pressing a reassuring hand into the mother’s as she handed them off to the guards finding places for the influx of people.

Her mother gave her a final, parting glance before Aurelia spurred the stallion beneath her.

A hulking pile of rusted weapons had grown in the courtyard by the time Aurelia ushered another group of people through.

Servants and blue cloaks alike passed buckets of tar and oil up to the archers on the battlement.

Above, she caught Lanthius’ tall silhouette pacing amongst the Allokin soldiers, the spellmasters hefting large crates up onto the wall at his order.

Agius and his men had positioned themselves between the blue cloaks and the Wraiths, and though the humans gave the strangers wary glances, they nodded to them all the same as they picked up their weapons.

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