Page 99 of MidKnight
I shot a stream of green magic at those who fled across the drawbridge, hoping that at least I could stop someone from getting trampled, keep the evacuation under control. I scanned every face that went past, looking for my knights.
There were maids in tears, guards fully armed, cooks, and courtiers hurrying out side by side. I didn’t see the nobles.
When one young boy saw my floating head and started to scream, I pulled the cloak over my hair, hiding myself, peering through the parted material. I kept up the trail of green magic, though my arms ripped open to the elbow. I pulsed the green, trying to touch each person as they fled. My blood flowed freely, and my arms began to ache.
Donaloo and Cerena faced the castle. They linked hands. They lifted their arms toward the sky.
Donaloo uttered one word, “Stop.”
And everyone froze.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Istopped pulsing magic, because everyone who had not crossed the drawbridge was suddenly still as a statue. They were frozen mid-step, mid-blink.
I didn’t wait, I ran toward the drawbridge, letting my cloak fall around my shoulders once more. It took Quinn a couple seconds to realize what had happened, what I was doing.
Bloss, wait!He mentally yelled after me.
But I didn’t listen. I ducked and dodged around frozen people as quickly as I could. My eyes were searching, always searching, for my knights.
I made it to the castle steps before Donaloo materialized in front of me. “Don’t go in, not yet, the clock has started, and your plan’s not set. Seventy-two solid hours, the castle will stay frozen under these powers. But after that, to melt the spell, you must go through the gates of hell.”
“STOP! Just stop!” I screamed at him. I reached for his arm to push the wizard aside. I was done with rhymes and riddles. “I need to find my knights!”
Bloss—Quinn’s hands wrapped around my waist, yanking me backward.They aren’t here.
What?I whirled to face him. His grey eyes stared back at me. It was the first time since the explosion that he’d looked directly at me.
They followed the Countess Malia after dinner. Remember?
So, Malia’s not working with the rebellion?
Quinn shrugged.If she is, at least she doesn’t seem to want you dead.
I ran my hands through my hair, yanking on it. My legs felt like butter. My stomach churned. Relief coursed through me and it felt awful. I needed to puke. But more than that, I needed to see my knights. I needed to know they were alive.
Quinn led me out of the courtyard, toward the orchard. Cerena and Donaloo followed slowly, at the pace her limp would allow.
Blue flew ahead, scouting through the trees. He looped back toward us, flying fast, faster than I’d ever seen. He didn’t stop to perch on me but started dive bombing, blocking my path.
“What the sard?” I held up my hands to cover my head. Blue smashed against them. Then he flew lower and I felt him pluck at my coat with his beak.
Declan’s still disguised as you,Quinn thought.He’s telling you to cover up. Just in case.
I sighed in relief and annoyance. “One day, I’m gonna ask Donaloo to make you into a speaking bird,” I muttered as I pulled the cloak over my head and hid my face.
Quinn jogged back to tell Cerena and Donaloo to stay back and accompany me while he went on ahead.
I followed him slowly through the clearing. Blue flew near me, as if he were a tiny blue bodyguard. Whichever prince of Cheryn he was, he clearly didn’t have his father’s famous disdain for others.
I peered around the trees as I walked, eager to get my eyes on my men.
When I slid behind and oak and peered at them standing in a clearing, my chest loosened. I hadn’t realized how tight it had been until it unwound. Ryan stood near the disguise-spelled version of me. Connor was arguing with Malia.
“We need to move!”
“Where is everyone? You need Quinn. Declan. You can’t move without them—” she whispered furiously.
