Page 116 of One True Love (Love Mark 1)

Snarling out a growl, my husband turned away and folded his arms moodily over his chest.

Yasmin finally appeared from the keep, strolling toward us in a dress much too elaborate for a mere walk to the village.

“Alright,” she announced with a flourish of the hand. “I’m ready. Now let us proceed.”

So the guards opened the gate and started to lower the bridge. Once it was fully extended across the moat, our not-so-merry-band began its journey. Brentley and Allera murmured private things amongst themselves, escaping into their own little bubble while Anniston began to fuss in my arms, Yasmin nitpicked at Nicolette for the style of dress she’d chosen to wear, and Soren cast dark glances past all of us at Urban, filling the air with more contention than should be humanly possible. I pretty much wanted to turn back home and hole myself into my room away from them all, but then, I also wanted to keep them close too, so I could make sure they stayed safe.

It would’ve been nice if they could’ve at least pretended to get along for one little trip. But I suppose that was too much to hope for.

“Oh, no,” Nicolette murmured, causing me to look up and pay attention to the world around us. “Someone’s had a carriage accident.”

We’d just left the thickness of the forest and entered a path through sandy hummocks. It was usually a clear, lonely road, not often traveled, since people from the castle typically kept themselves at the castle and people from the village rarely left the village. Unless there was an important event to attend, usually only the stray vendor selling his wares or soldiers traveled this road. So we all slowed to a stop, gaping in astonishment at the abandoned carriage that had broken a wheel and lay turned on its side at the top of a small knoll not too far from the beaten path.

“That’s strange,” Brentley murmured, frowning as he stepped off the roadway, steering us toward the accident. “I wonder how it fell over and landed…up there.”

“And where are its horse and driver?” Allera added. “Do you think anyone’s still inside?”

Nicolette covered her mouth. “I hope no one’s injured.”

“Well, this certainly calls for the leader of our kingdom’s mighty protection to go check it out,” Yasmin announced, lifting her eyebrows meaningfully toward Urban.

But he merely slowed to a stop and cocked his head to the side as he held up a hand for all of us to remain where we were.

“Hmm,” he murmured, frowning.

“What?” Brentley asked, coming to a halt next to him.

Urban squinted before shaking his head. “I swear I just saw a glimmer or something shimmering around the exterior, but it must’ve merely been a reflection. For a moment, it reminded me of these enchanted baskets Lowden used in their attacks against High Cliff. As soon as someone would open the lid, it would—” Eyes flaring wide, Urban shouted, “Don’t open that!” and rushed forward.

Soren had completely ignored Urban’s warning to stay back. He’d strode right up to the carriage, reached for the door of the coach, and was already tugging at the latch.

At first, it stuck and wouldn’t budge, which gave Urban enough time to race up the hill and reach him. And then suddenly, Soren was able to wrench it free, and the door sailed open.

Urban flew against him, shoving him aside so hard that Soren lost his balance and fell, rolling down the incline. He cursed and came tumbling straight for us just before a blast lit the air with a boom that deafened us all.

Then a ball of fire large enough to engulf the entire carriage bloomed exactly where Urban had been standing.

Chapter 32

Vienne

The blast was so profound it knocked me back until I nearly stumbled to my knees. My ears rang, and the heat from the fireball that had once been the carriage nearly singed my eyebrows.

The shockwave left me momentarily dazed, causing me to waver like a blade of grass in a windstorm as my equilibrium sputtered. Then I blinked, trying to orient myself.

The first thing I was able to hear past the shrill ringing in my own ears was Anniston’s cry as she thrashed against my chest, her fear making her frantic. Then I heard Yasmin’s earsplitting screams next to me, followed by Allera yelling Urban’s name as she raced up the hill toward the fire.

I blinked and shook my head before lifting my hand against the heat to block it from my face, only to see Urban’s unmoving form lying sprawled on the ground next to the flames, covered in black soot, torn clothing, and fallen debris, his arms and legs splayed at odd angles, and more blood gushing from him than I’d ever seen gush from any human.

My mouth fell open, because I couldn’t immediately piece together what I was really seeing.

Allera, Brentley, and Nicolette reached him simultaneously, grabbing arms and legs and dragging him safely from the inferno, while Yasmin continued to scream unceasingly and Soren groaned at my feet. Anniston clutched me for dear life, bawling for all she was worth, and I just stood there, too dumbfounded and dazed to immediately react.

Torn with too many tasks—sooth my child, check on my husband, silence my sister, help Urban, and make sure no other threats were approaching—I hesitated, overwhelmed.

“Guard the perimeter,” Allera yelled to her husband as she pulled her own sword from her belt and thrust it at Nicolette. “You too. If someone you don’t know comes near, skewer them through. Got it?”

While both Nicolette and Brentley nodded and raced off in opposite directions to guard us, Allera fell to her knees next to her brother. But before she could check on him, she scowled at Yasmin. “And for God’s sake, someone shut her up.”

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