Page 113 of Eternal Captive

Cedar was behind me, her presence suffocating. Since the night she spilled just how many people from the organization had been after us, I hadn’t been able to relax.

Every night, I stayed with the princess. Every night, I looked outside of her windows, praying not to see another one of my people show up.

It should have been reassuring that I hadn’t seen any of them yet. But instead, it made me all the more paranoid.

“Today we have a special show,” the king said, stepping forward and pulling a golden sword from one of his guard’s outstretched hands. He motioned for each guard to stand behind one of the victims-to-be. “Take off the bags!”

I hadn’t been prepared for what was waiting for us under the head coverings…orwho.

All of them—all seven—were people I knew. People I had gone to school with. Families I had gotten to know during my upbringing in the secret organization that ran my life.

I couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe. It took great effort to remind my heart to keep beating. I took calming breaths through my teeth.He found them. Found us.

Just like Cedar had said…it had been him all along.

But what made him do this in front of everyone? Something big had happened.Did one get too close?

The thought alone of one of them getting close enough to warrantthiscaused the hair on the back of my neck to rise.

Two of them had rats on their necks. Three had horses. One dragon. And then there were two snakes.

Snakes.Meaning that at some point, far in the past…we had been tied by blood. Family. Like Tate. His young face and ghost of a smile flashed across my face.

Who are they?How far removed were we?

The families spanned generations. The more proficient the killers, the more they were rewarded, and the more likely they were to expand for the chance that their kids would someday carry on the family business.

I didn’t want to look into their eyes, but forced myself to keep my gaze still on the stage.

No wonder Cedar had been so close to me.She knew. She was there to remind me how vital it was that I didn’t react.

Last she told us, there had been thirteen… How many did this make? Had there been more?

I had been so diligent. Every night, I had been up, watching, waiting for them to show up.And they were getting closer and closer…but how did I miss it?

“These vile creatures have been sent to harm us,” the king said. “And not in small numbers. I have been trying to keep this under the radar so there was no panic, but it looks like we are waging yet another war.”

Aurelia’s gaze shifted to mine. Even if it was just for a second, I could see the question on her face.

What are we going to do?

“We won’t stop, not until she’s dead!” one with the horse on her neck screamed. “You think this will scare us? There’s nothing you can do to protect her!”

The king stalked across the stage and thrust his sword straight into her chest.

Her words rang through my head even as the blood gargled in her throat.

We won’t stop. There’s nothing you can do to protect her.

“This is number thirty-five,” the king said, his voice lowering to a growl. “So take this as your warning—if you’re out there watching, you can try, but it will all end the same.”

Thirty-five. And I missed every single one of them.

How close had they gotten? How many times had I been sleeping next to the princess, completely unaware, while they were just a few steps away?

He pulled his sword out of her chest, her body jerking against it as the light dimmed from her eyes. He motioned for the other guards to finish the job. There was no hesitation in their movements as they sliced their throats.

One of the ones with the snake on their neck looked at me, a flash of recognition going through their eyes just before the end.

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