Page 65 of The Time Of Kings

“Don’t hurt her!”

The asshole behind me, one it had to be said, had the biggest, bushiest eyebrows I had ever seen, snapped angrily,

“You should have come with us when you had the chance! Now move away from my brother!”

Fae did as he asked, giving the man she had been choking the freedom to get to his feet. Something he did, now coughing when trying to drag air back into his lungs. It was in this glorious moment that I also saw Pip and Sophia come to the rescue, making me sigh in relief.

However, this was soon proven to be premature, as something happened that none of us ever expected. Becausebefore anyone could do anything in response to the threat at my back, the Fates seemed to take it into their own hands.

As suddenly…

I disappeared…

“What the hell?”I muttered the second I fell forward, only to find my knees landing on hard gravel and my eyes now taking in that of my own reflection in the water. I watched myself frown before raising my head, realising I was bent over the small wall of a fountain.

No, not just any fountain.

But one I knew well.

Just as I looked up, the moonlight illuminated the shadowed figures of Perseus and Andromeda, making me slowly turn to take in the grand house I also knew well.

“Witley court?” I questioned aloud, shaking my head and asking myself why and how? What on earth was I doing here? I quickly looked around to find that I was alone, making me cry out painfully as realisation hit me.

They hadn’t followed me.

I was now utterly alone.

But then I looked back at the fountain, questioning whether I had just been sent back to my own time. Although, last time Janus had sent me back, I found myself inside his temple. The memory caused me to glance back at the house, seeing it not as a ruin but entirely intact. Something that should have only happened had Draven had a hand in it.

What was going on?

Had I been sent to a new timeline?

I had no clue, but one thing I did know was that I wouldn’t find my answers by remaining on my knees at the foot of thefountain. I also wouldn’t survive long should I have to spend the night out here, as it was cold and had quickly started to rain.

So, with no other choice, I got to my feet, wincing at both the fresh cuts on my knees and the one at my neck. Yet despite gritting my teeth at the pain, I knew that it could have been a lot worse. Which made me focus back on what I had left behind.

I tried not to worry, especially knowing that Pip and Sophia were there for Fae. But still, it was hard. I also felt for my daughter, who would no doubt be worried sick not knowing where I had disappeared to or why.

Well, at the very least, two things were on my side. One, I was at the fountain for a reason, as it was most likely my ticket home. And two, was the reassuring glow from the windows.

Meaning someone was home.

Now leaving me with only one last hope…

That the Masterof the house wasn’t.

28

BITTERSWEET IRONY

By the time I made my way to the grand house, the heavens had opened and it was lashing it down. Like adding insult to injury, I looked half drowned as I made it to the door. Unlike Muncaster castle, I knew Witley Court well enough to confidently navigate my way around it and I knew exactly how to get inside.

Because over the years, all three of the Draven siblings had told me many stories of the place. How much the grand estate had been added to throughout the years. Which was why I knew the year must have been at least past that of 1850, as most of the renovations and additions were here.

Including what I searched for now…

The Michelangelo Pavilion.

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