Page 52 of Knight's End
“I can’t,” he shrugged, looking her right in the face.
And I was proud of him, because I knew how hard that must have been for him to say.
Diamoni gestured and another of her husbands walked closer. Again, Dane stayed in his seat.
The queen took her husband’s arm. I noticed the move put his hand close to his scabbard, within quick reach of his knife.
Blue!I warned.They might hurt him!
Connor and Blue immediately stepped up behind the queen and cleared their throats.
Her husband turned.
That’s right you pig rutter, can’t kill all three of us, can you?Blue taunted mentally.
Diamoni appeared unphased by my husbands as she murmured, “Declan, this is your country, think of your sister—”
“I can’t,” Declan repeated, “because I don’t have that power anymore. I was killed and brought back without that power.”
Diamoni’s eyes flickered to her husbands. “That’s not possible.”
Beside me, Dane tilted his head. “Isn’t it? I had heard the mad wizard is in Evaness.”
Diamoni scoffed. “That fool—”
“That fool is loyal and good-hearted,” I interjected. “He’s gone out of his way to save more of my people than you ever have.”
“Call our castle mage!” Diamoni commanded. “Have him tested.” She jerked her head toward Declan, who took a step away from her.
But two guards detached themselves from the wall and approached.
I stood. “He’s no longer your citizen. You have no authority over him. Declan, come on, love. We’re leaving.”
“He’s standing on my soil. That means his life is mine if I want it.”
Her soldiers drew their swords.
Amabel stiffened but made no move to counter her mother. Neither did Dane.
I had no such qualms. She’d threatened my knight.
I shot peace at both her soldiers, aiming for their necks and faces. The room lit with green light as my wrists tore open. The soldiers’ eyes dulled, and their swords sagged.
Diamoni screamed at her husbands.
A blast of wind threw me into the wall. Connor and Blue ended up pinned against the tapestries as well. The force of the wind held my torso in place. I couldn’t escape it, though I tried. I was pinned.
The door opened and Diamoni’s mage walked in. He didn’t bat an eye at us, though Amabel had the decency to look a bit flushed, Dane a bit regretful even as he pinned us on his queen’s orders.
Diamoni gestured for the mage to join her and Declan. They whispered quietly.
That’s when the gargoyles stopped.
The pause turned every head in the room, including mine. The attack of air ceased and my knights and I were released. Every eye went toward the window.
The gargoyles flew up out of sight into the clouds. The attack had stopped. But why?
Quinn’s yell sounded in my head.Dove, Ryan says get out of there. Now!
