Page 102 of Glass and Bone
“Theo, wait.” I stop abruptly and he nearly staggers back.
“What? What’s wrong?” His hands cup my face, searching my eyes in the shadows. I don’t allow myself to think before I stand on my tiptoes, pressing my lips firmly against his. He freezes before melting into my kiss. My lips quickly warm his icy flesh as our mouths part and tongues meet. I push, deepening the kiss as much as I can, my arms wrapping around his neck. Theo pulls back, breaking our connection, before leaning back forward and pressing his lips to my forehead.
“I’m sorry I didn’t realize it sooner.” I whimper. I never let myself realize it. Realize what I felt. Admit that my heart never belonged to my husband.
“We have time, Nora. We can figure this out later, I promise.” I nod, his hands still cupping my cheek. I don’t believe him. Something is telling me not to step out of this room, but I follow him anyway.
He kisses my lips briefly, before dropping his hands and opening the door. He lets out a small whistle before he freezes and waits. The same two-note whistle is returned seconds later, and he pulls me into the darkened hallway. Not a single torch is lit, making the palace completely black. My bare feet slip on the cold marble as we hurry towards the staircase, and I tighten my grip on Theo’s hand.
“We are almost there.” He whispers as we turn into the doorway leading to the stairs. We don’t pass a single person on our way down, which isn’t normal for this time of night. We reach the landing of the first floor and an arm grabs mine. I open my mouth to scream when I hear Donovan telling me to be quiet.
“We have to hurry.” He whispers, helping to guide me to the door. The servant’s exit is empty as we step into the snow. The sky is a deep purple, and the white, powdery snow brightens the courtyard. My feet instantly burn as the ice burrows into my skin.
My pulse quickens as I see the open gate and not a single guard manning it, my legs uncontrollably pulling us faster forward. I can just barely make out Sybil’s black mane in contrast to the white everywhere else. A cry of relief escapes my lips as we cross through the gate. I can feel the tension radiate off of Theo and Donovan, and their hold on me relaxes as we step through.
Everyone stops as a sword is pressed to my neck. The tan arm holding the sword connects to Tobias as he steps around the outside part of the wall. I can feel the blade biting into my skin, and I fight back the urge to swallow against the lump in my throat.
“Did you really think you could just escape, and I wouldn’t notice? That I wouldn’t notice that all of the guards are suddenly confused on where they should be? Or why Laris was in the dining hall when he was supposed to be watchingher? That the torches being extinguished in half the palace wouldn’t alert anyone? Or how today of all days, Elaenor seems to be lucid? How stupid could you be, brother?” The cold steel presses harder into my skin and I shut my eyes, tears pooling beneath my eyelids.
“Tobias, I don’t want to fight you.” Theo’s voice is loud, stern, but I can tell he’s scared. He doesn’t want to have to hurt him, but I know he would. He’d do it for me, and that makes my heart hurt.
“You wouldn’t win in this fight, brother.” He steps closer, his hand snaking around my hips as I open my eyes. I’m turned and pulled against his chest, the sword still threatening to slice my throat. My arms are crossed in front of my chest, still being gripped by my two companions. The icy snow is making my feet numb, causing my breathing to grow ragged. “If you both don’t remove yourdisgustinghands from my wife, I will cut them off.” Donovan hesitantly removes his fingers from my arm, taking a small step back, but Theo doesn’t. He glares at Tobias and opens his mouth to say something, but Tobias speaks first. “I don’t give second warnings.”
I don’t even have a moment to breathe or even think before the sword moves from my neck and comes down onto Theo’s hand that’s laced through mine. Blood paints the snow crimson as he screams, blood spraying across my stomach and staining my dressing gown a deep red. This is what he tried to do that day outside Chatis. He was going to cut Theo’s hand off, and he succeeded.
I stare at the frozen hand lying next to my foot in the snow before I look up at Theo. He’s holding his arm, blood pouring out of the hole where his wrist should be. My eyes and mouth are open wide, frozen in disbelief.
“Oh my gods.” I whisper as Tobias kicks out at Theo’s abdomen, knocking him to the ground. “Theo!”
“Guards!” Tobias yells into the darkness and we are instantly surrounded.
“Don’t stop fighting, Nora.” Donovan whispers as he closes his eyes.No.This can’t be happening. Tobias drags me backwards towards the palace as I watch multiple men encircle Donovan and Theo. I push against his arms, clawing my nails through his flesh, but he doesn’t loosen.
“Tobias, no.” I whisper. I quickly shut my eyes as I hear Donovan begin to scream.No no no no no.I cover my ears to try and drown out the despair echoing through the courtyard. This isn’t real. This is another nightmare.
Wake up, Nora. Wake up!
Tobias bends down and throws me over my shoulder, stomping through the palace doors. I keep my eyes shut, trying to get rid of the image of Theo’s bloody hand and Donovan’s face as he closes his eyes. I can see that the lanterns are relit through my eyelids as I squeeze them shut tighter.
“Tobias.” I whimper, shaking my head as the tears start to fall. This can’t be real; they can’t be dead. “Tobias!” I say louder as my fist hits his back. He grunts before he lets out a dark chuckle.
Tobias’s hand leaves my back and I ungracefully roll off his shoulder, landing hard on the marble with a yelp. I gasp as the wind is knocked out of me. I open my eyes to the brightly lit throne room, pain shooting from my shoulder. He’s pacing, walking back and forth in front of the dais, his hands on his hips, muttering to himself.
“After everything I have done for you–”
“Don’t you mean donetome you piece of shit.” I spit, blood landing on the marble as I pull myself up onto my knees. He turns towards me, his eyes widening. He kicks out, hitting me square in the ribs. I grunt against the pain and grit my teeth as I roll away from him with the force. One deep breath tells me my ribs are broken, or at least badly bruised. I exhale loudly, a small gasp of pain breaking through.
Footsteps come rushing in and something is dropped down next to me. I lift my head to see Donovan’s open eyes and mouth, staring at me but unseeing. I let my gaze travel down his face to where his shoulders should be, but there is nothing there.Oh my gods.I scream and scramble backwards into someone’s legs. I look up at Tobias peering down at me with clenched teeth.
He bends down and grabs my hair, dragging me across the floor until I am sat up against the dais. I kick out, trying to get away from him, but I can’t back up anymore. He crouches down in front of me, and I spit blood on his face.
“What the hell iswrongwith you?” I scream, his eyes flinching as the droplets of blood hit his skin.
“It didn’t have to come to this.” His voice is even, unwavering as he lifts a hand and wipes the crimson away. Shouting and the dragging of feet sound behind Tobias as Theo is brought into the room. He’s kicking, fighting against the guards restraining him. There is blood dripping from his temple, his shirt torn in threads, blood pouring out of his stump. I look back at Tobias, unable to hide the relief I feel from seeing Theo alive.He’s not dead. There is still time to fix this.
“Why? Why are you doing all of this?”
“You defied me!” He yells as his hands slam down on the ground in front of me. He stands and paces before walking back over to me. “I told you to love me. I told you time and time again to stay away from Theo. You lied.”
