Page 114 of Phoenix Falling
The axes weren’t helping. To hopefully reinforce the one holding the door, I abandoned them and instead threw my weight against the heavy desk, hoping I could get it across the room in time to help. “Try the walls?”
Risk began pushing at the walls at regular intervals. I groaned, pushing at the desk, and felt the tiara on my head do a slow slide to one side. Snatching it off, I swore as it tangled in my hair. “Damn it!”
“Ah-ha! Found it!”
Whirling around, I saw Risk pushing at a narrow opening in the wall. The door must not have been used much, because it was taking all her effort to move it inch by inch.
At the same time, a loudcracksounded at the door. The edge of a thick blade broke through.
“Risk!” I redoubled my efforts to get the heavy desk to the door.
“Shit!” Risk strained against the exit, forcing it open little by little.
We were never going to make it.
“I want that female!” I heard from the throne room. Another crack, and the blade sank farther through the door.
I abandoned the desk. “Risk, we’ve got to get out.” Joining in her efforts to open the exit forced the door a bit farther before it stuck again.
“I think I can fit,” Risk panted. She began trying to squeeze through.
I looked down at myself. Risk might fit, but with the skirt on this dress, I never would. I reached over my shoulder and began undoing the buttons I could reach. “Keep going.”
More chopping at the door. I winced at the image ofThe Shiningthat popped into my mind.
Risk was almost through.
The buttons weren’t cooperating, and no matter how hard I pulled, the fabric seemed to be made of steel—nothing was giving. A frantic glance at the door told me the Anigma would break it down any minute.
Both of us weren’t going to make it.
Abandoning my dress, I placed both hands on Risk’s side and shoved. She popped through, grabbing my hand on the way. “Come on, Imogen!”
“I can’t fit. Go get help, Risk!”
“No, I can’t—”
“You can! Hurry! If you get someone here quick enough, they won’t be able to get me out of here. Go!”
Risk hesitated, but the sound of the door splitting down the middle got her moving. “I’ll be right back!”
“Go!” I pulled the door shut behind her.
Facing away from Risk’s exit, I waited for whatever would happen next.“I love you, Demetri. I know you can’t hear me, but I love you.”
* * *
DEMETRI
“I love you.”
The words were a faint echo in my head. Imogen’s words. I was almost to the throne room.
The Anigma poured from that direction into the halls, flooding us with bodies, making it almost impossible to get a killing strike. The best we could do was maim, hoping they stayed down long enough for us to finish the job on the return trip. But right now all that mattered was getting to my mate. Imogen was in the epicenter, and Jacob knew her location. He’d been guarding her, for fuck’s sake.
“I’m coming, mate!”
Could she hear me? Was she under attack? Would they harm her before I could get there?
