Page 75 of Forged By Heart and Claws
“Siray?” Briar’s eyes widened, and she took a step forward, lowering her sword slightly. Shock rippled through our bond before dulling once more. “What are you doing here?”
Expression hardening, Siray snarled. “I’m here to save my family. Nowgo!I’ll cover you!”
Briar froze.
The blaze behind Calla Lily cracked and surged higher, throwing wild shadows across the corridor. One guard flailed at his smoldering coat, his hair singed and his face streaked with soot. His crossbow lay discarded on the ground beside him.
But the second one, near Calla Lily, held his ground, jaw clenched and crossbow steady, aimed at Briar’s chest. He hadn’t moved an inch. Sweat streamed down his brow, but he stood like a trained killer waiting for the right command.
Behind us, the swordsman shifted uneasily at the far end of the hall. His blade dipped a fraction as he eyed the growing fire. Smoke curled into the hall, and the scent of scorched silk and burning oil stung my nostrils. He kept glancing toward Calla Lily, waiting for her order—or a reason to disobey it.
I had no doubt she was torn between instinct and reason.We need to go?—
But Briar ignored me and straightened her shoulders. “Do you mean us harm, Siray? Will you betray us later, if you get the chance?”
Siray’s glare burned. “No. I was only in that fecking competition because Fate chose me and I wanted to survive it. And I wanted to see if I could best the challenges.”
This was the candidate who had separated herself from the others, but she had still cussed out the council for not letting Briar's friends reach her.
Briar glanced at me then and gave a small nod.We can trust her.
The guard in front of Calla Lily shifted his stance, his finger twitching on the trigger. I caught the subtle readjustment—was he weighing the odds, trying to decide if she was worth dying for?
Calla Lily turned toward him, her expression twisted with fury. “What are you waiting for?Kill them!”
But he didn’t fire.
The fallen guard coughed, dragging himself toward the wall, shaking uncontrollably. The fire had scorched a trail behind him, blocking off part of the corridor. The hallway was quickly becoming a furnace.
We have to move, and I need you to take the lead.Crossing the final few feet, I pressed the hidden indentation and slid the pocket door open, the mechanism grinding softly.
“Siray, this way!” Briar shouted. “We’ll help you free your family, but more alarms have gone up. You’ll never get them out now without help.”
Clanging metal and thundering footfalls echoed from the end of the hall nearest the main entrance, growing louder by the second. At least a dozen more guards were racing toward us.
"Move! Now!" I grabbed Briar's arm and pulled her toward the hidden door.
Calla Lily’s narrowed gaze snapped to the subtle motion. “You think you can just vanish?” Her voice sharpened, venom laced through every word. “Guards!”
Siray hurled the second red orb at a spot next to Calla Lilly, and a loud crack exploded. The orb smashed against the opposite wall, sending up a blinding burst of smoke and fire. The flames whooshed outward, forcing Calla Lily and the guards with her to recoil, their shouts drowned beneath the roaring blaze.
Siray darted in front of Calla Lily with her crossbow raised. Her dark eyes glinted with fury. “Try to follow,” she dared. “Let’s see how well your fancy shoes hold up against burning oil and broken bones.”
Calla Lily cursed and stumbled back, heat shriveling the hem of her gown again. The guard on the ground swatted at her dress, trying to extinguish the sparks while coughing on the thick smoke.
That was our window.
I gestured to the pocket door.Go, lead them. Down the passage, then left at the first split.
Briar met my gaze, jaw locked with fierce resolve, and gave a clipped nod. She would hate not being at my side as much as I would hate not being at hers. She grabbed Kaylen’s wrist and plunged into the narrow tunnel without hesitation, the darkness swallowing them both.
“It’s too dark and tight!” Kaylen’s voice echoed from inside.
“Then get through it faster,” Briar snapped. “And if you block the path, I swear?—”
“Siray!” I barked. “Now!”
Keeping the hand crossbow leveled at Calla Lily, Siray tossed a third orb at her. “Have fun, Your Majesty.” Then she pivoted sharply, snatched one of the oil lamps from the wall, and doveinto the passage, brushing past me with the scent of ash clinging to her clothes.
