Page 113 of Phoenix Falling
“Indeed he is, including the codes to open those doors, my king.”
I made the only decision I could. “Go to Lyris. Take the women and children to the dorms.” We couldn’t risk keeping them here. The dorms were farthest from the throne room, with their own steel security doors to lock everyone securely inside. And only Lyris and I had that combination in our heads.
“Done.” James was off the dais and running toward the group that, even in the chaos, was clumped together well, the women holding the children, carrying them, ensuring their safety and, hopefully, a little calm despite the dire situation. I prayed James and Lyris got them to the dorms without incident. The Anigma had attacked at a time they knew everyone would be in a single location. Who knew what they were capable of.
* * *
IMOGEN
“You fucking traitor!”
The words came through the door to Sun’s study loud and clear. As I jerked my head toward the sound, the tiara I wore slid to one side. Damn it. I loved that it was a gift from Lyris, worn by Demetri’s mother at her matebond ceremony, but I couldn’t seem to keep it flat on my head. I tried my best to straighten it as I hurried toward the door.
“She’s the king’s mate!” I heard as I pulled it open. “She can communicate with him.”
That was Jacob. He’d been in the room with me until just a few moments ago, when he’d stepped out. What was he—
Risk was running straight for me across the long expanse of the throne room. A crowd of shifters gathered on the far end, led by a male of such obvious power that I felt myself start to shake. Jacob had left the group to beeline for Risk as if trying to intercept her.
“Demetri!”
Could telepathy reach him this far away? Did he know what was going on?
“Get inside, Imogen,” Risk screamed.
I ducked back behind the door, but I didn’t close it. Not with my friend on the other side. As I watched, Risk slid to a stop and turned to face Jacob.
“No! Risk, no!”
The next moment, a gust of wind passed by me into the room. The thick wooden door jerked out of my hands and slammed shut. Risk appeared next to me, huffing to catch her breath.
“Oh my God, you scared me half to death,” I screeched. “I thought you were still out there.”
Risk winced. “Yeah, sorry. My gift, remember. I needed to slow Jacob down; I didn’t have time to explain.”
Loud banging shook the door.
“Grab something to wedge this?” Risk suggested.
I glanced frantically around the room. On one wall, a display of medieval battle axes hung. I hurried over to grab one, which dropped to the floor immediately, it’s weight too much for me to fully lift. So I dragged. When I made it to Risk, I wedged the blade into the wooden floor, shoved the handle into a ridge on the door, and prayed it held.
It did. For now.
“There are too many of them out there for this to last long,” Risk said over the shouts and banging coming from the other side. “We’ve got to find another way out of here.”
“I tried reaching out to Demetri. I can’t seem to connect from here.” Adrenaline and fear were making me lightheaded. I desperately wanted my mate.“Demetri?”
No answer. I had no idea if I could reach him from here. Most of the time I was pretty sure Demetri established the link between us, it was so easy.
“Yeah”—Risk was frantically searching the room—“I don’t know what the range on telepathy is. I’ve been able to reach Sun.”
I began removing the axes from the wall, hoping to find one light enough to actually use. “How did you manage that?” Maybe I was doing it wrong.
Risk hesitated. “Sun and I share a matebond.”
“You what?” I couldn’t stop to stare in shock, but I wanted to. “When did this happen?”
“At my apartment.” Risk cursed. “This is a fucking king’s study. No king in his right mind would have a room with only one exit. So where the hell is the other one?”
