Page 7 of Forged By Heart and Claws
We had a few minutes to make this work, and no option for failure.
“Let’s get this door better barricaded.” I set the spear aside and rubbed the wound across the top of my shoulder, wondering whether I needed a makeshift bandage. My wing would stop bleeding soon, but I didn’t want the shoulder wound to leave a blood trail.
I clenched my teeth and ripped a thick strip of fabric from my surcoat just as another loud jolt jarred the door. Angry shouts sounded, as if more guards were gathering. Good. Let them stay focused here.
Clicking her tongue, Briar took the strip from my hands and tied off my shoulder wound proficiently. My stomach clenched. I knew so little about the woman standing before me, yet I felt as if I’d known her forever. When her fingers brushed my shirt, the jolt of our connection surged through me, even with fabric between us. It eased some of the pain.
“How does it feel?” She looked me straight in the eye.
“Perfect.” I smiled and pecked her lips before crossing to the dresser and pulling it toward the door. My wounded wing screamed as I strained, and the legs grated across the stone floor.
Veralt seized the second couch and dragged it over to shore up the first one.
Moving to the opposite side, Veralt lifted with me. Together, we placed the heavy wooden dresser on the new couch, the drawers clacking as they shifted. Loud curses and bellows on the other side of the door confirmed the guards were trying to batter down the door. But that would take them a while.
Veralt grabbed another chair and balanced it on top of the pile as another heavy thud shook the door. “Come get us, fecking assholes. I’ll use your corpses for torches!”
“Can’t we get some lights in here so we can see?” Quen asked. “We can’t doanything.”
“If you can find a light source, be my guest. At least until we depart,” I said. “But the groom's preparation chambers aren’t typically outfitted with flint or fire sources.”
“Great.” Quen huffed. She folded her arms over her chest and shuddered. “No problem. I love not being able to see.”
Thalira fumbled about and then gripped her shoulder. “We’ll get our powers back somehow, and the light too. Then we'll deal with Calla Lily.”
“Maybe we can set her on fire.” Quen arched a brow.
“Maybe there's another explanation. I don't believe Myantha tried to kill Briar—maybe Calla Lily was a pawn too? Someone could be forcing her hand. She gave such a good hug.” Yuki shrugged. Her grip around herself tightened. “I miss my sisters.”
“Calla Lily is a traitor and must not be trusted.” Bryn reached out and grabbed Rhielle’s arm as she passed him. “Briar, I can?—”
“She’s over there.” Rhielle removed his hand from her arm and stepped back. Stooping, she hefted up the ottoman and carried it to pile on top of the bureau now perched precariously on the couch.
“I’m fine, and we aren’t leaving without the others.” Briar crossed to him and took his hand, then turned it over to reveal tattered cloth and bloodstains. “Did someone try to stab you?” Her brow creased.
A part of me hoped they had. The bastard deserved some pain for what he’d done to us and our kingdom.
Yet, he scoffed. “Only a flesh wound. This is far more important.” His auburn hair was wild and unkempt, and a scrape along his arm and a rent in his formal gray robe suggested someone had tried to stab him and mostly failed. It was less of a wound than what I wanted to inflict on him.
He said, "Briar, everything I've done, I've done to protect you. You must believe me.”
“Now isn’t the time.” Briar’s nose wrinkled. “I want to hear everything once we’re safe.”
Who is he?I linked to her once more, not sure what this connection between us was but grateful for it nonetheless.
He’s like my great-great-great—hell, I’m not even sure how many greats—grandfather.Briar’s hands rested on her waist.
He’s your family?I bit back a scoff, but the truth sat hard in my stomach. She was an Aureline. Did she know what that meant? And I’d jeopardized not only my kingdom but all of Nytheria.Are you sure we can trust him?
I don’t know for certain, especially after this.Her forehead lined, and she frowned.But I need to know why he told me not to tell anyone that I was from his line and what me being crowned has to do with all this chaos.
My lungs worked more easily again, but the fact that she had hidden him from me still gave me pause. Perhaps there was more she hadn't told me or thought to tell me.
My heart stung a little at the betrayal, but I pushed it away. Even with everything, I would’ve made the same decision. She was meant to rule by my side.We will speak of this further when we’re in private.We were going to run out of time. “Veralt, see if you can spot any movement through that exit, but don’t open the door. There’s a mirror in one of the drawers.”
Veralt grunted an agreement and rummaged through the drawers. When he found the slim mirror, he carried it to the door. He dropped down to the floor and slid the mirror under.
The guards on the other side of the main entrance battered the door again.BOOM!From the shouts and yells on the other side, a decent crowd had formed. But not all of them were there, which was the problem.
