It had to be me.
As much as I wanted to sacrifice myself and let her flee in my place, it had to be me. No one knows the tunnels as well as I do. No one else could have gotten Simon out in time. The military pressed in on the rebels from all angles, and when they were pressured, they panicked, creating a human stampede. I felt the rumbles on the tunnel floors as I sprinted through them, fighting the fatigue and the unbearable pain of my tortured body. I heard the screams as they echoed off the stone walls, people crying as gunshots were fired and people pled for their lives.
But I found him, his arms wrapped around Paul, his leg bent and broken and tear tracks on his face, his mother lying trampled at their feet.
“You came,” he whispered. “Just like you promised.”
So how could I turn around then? Even if everything in me was screaming to go back to where I left my heart, I grabbed Simon and Paul instead, and I set them free, banishing them from Gloria Terra.
To keep them safe.
It’s been three days since, and while my body is sore but healing, my mind is a gutter of a place to live. Michael is taunting me with Sara’s captivity. But at least she’s alive.
He has publicly stated if I give myself up, turn myself in, he’ll let her go.
I’m now an official outlaw. And all the while, people of Saxum are none the wiser to the truth of what happened. They have no clue people are lying dead in the underground tunnels, their bodies decomposing, and their children crying as they search for their missing parents.
I could pretend if I tried, could put on a mask and weep for those we’ve lost. But I’m tired of playing games, and the only thing I care for is holding Sara in my arms. Until I have her back, nothing else matters.
Besides, out of the grief from those we’ve lost comes fury.
And my people are furious.
Edward heaves a deep sigh as he grabs the joint from my hand and puffs on the end, leaning against the brick wall behind the patisserie in downtown Saxum. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
I cut him a glare. “If I don’t, then all of your hard work over the past few days is for naught.”
Where I’ve been healing with tinctures and potions to speed my recovery, Edward has been busy whispering words in his soldier’s ears. Swaying them to our side. Making sure they know just who it is that they serve. Gathering our forces from every corner and laying out our plans.
“You should take Sheina and leave town,” I say. “You’ve served me well, Edward. I don’t wish to see you both perish.”
He grits his teeth, shaking his head. “Our loyalty is to you.”
“Loyalty means shit,” I hiss. “I am trying to spare you, Edward. You’re my only friend, and the only one who has stood by me through it all. Please, take this gift and let me do this on my own.”
“With all due respect, Your Highness.” He straightens. “I’m not leaving until you’re either dead or wearing the crown.”
Clenching my jaw, I nod, peeking around the corner and seeing there’s about a dozen military men laughing and walking into the town’s bar. Right on cue. “Are you ready then?” I turn toward him.
“Let’s burn it down.”
I smirk, grabbing the joint back from his fingers and slipping it in my mouth as I move to the bar across the street. I slam open the green double doors with my boot, the thick wood hitting the walls as I step inside. There’s about a dozen people here, most of them the king’s military, and all of them with fresh drinks in their hand.
I smile as they turn toward me, my insides feeling empty except for the burning flame of determination. “Hello.”
A man at the front of the bar stands, his black stool spinning in place behind him. He creeps his arm toward his waist, reaching toward his weapon.
“Ah, ah, ah,” I tsk, walking toward him. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” I grab his wrist and snap it back, the gun flipping from his grip and into my own.
“Oops! Would you look at that?” I stare down at the pistol and then back to him.
Another man stands, his brown hair sticking up in random spots and his gray eyes narrowed in disgust. “Do you have a death wish?” He laughs, glancing around. “You must be as crazy as they say, walking into a bar filled with your brother’s army.”
Chuckles float through the room, and I suck on the end of my joint, letting the smoke unfurl through my nose, as a few of them rise and point their guns at my chest. Chairs scrape and there’s a flurry of activity, the sound of pistols cocking loud in the otherwise silent space. But instead of aiming them at me, they aim them at the ones who wish to harm me.
“Well, I am as crazy as they. But I also brought reinforcements.” Grinning, I throw my hands out to the side, the pistol heavy as it dangles from my finger. “I suppose I should have led with that.”
I point between the four men who are now being held at gunpoint.
“Now,” I walk closer, taking the joint from between my lips. “Which one of you wants to be the one who lives?”
They’re all silent, obviously afraid to move, to breathe, in fear they’ll be shot on the spot. I don’t blame them.
They would be.
“I’ll tell you what.” I clap my hands, ash falling like snowflakes on the floor. “I’ll be outside while you decide who gets to be the lucky soldier to take a message back to my brother.” I cock my head. “But I should probably warn you, I’m a little antsy. You see, he has something of mine, and I’m desperate to get it back.”
The man in the very front lifts his chin. “What’s the message?”
Sighing, I pinch the bridge of my nose, walking toward him and placing my arm around his shoulders. “Fine.” I roll my eyes, dragging him with me to the door. “I pick you.”
I wave my hand behind me, and gunshots ring out in tandem, the sound of bodies dropping to the floor following soon after. I don’t bother turning to look, but I make a mental note to never torture Edward again after how effortlessly he set up our plans when I wasn’t able.
Gripping the man to me tighter, I walk us through the front doors and outside, pointing at Edward who’s in front of the patisserie, then Sheina who’s at the building next to him, and then across the street to Belinda and Earl. “Do you see them?”
His body trembles, but he nods. “Good. Do you know what my favorite part about an ethanol fire is?” I ask, glancing down at the glowing end of my joint.
The uniformed men who are now my loyal soldiers leave the bar, walk down the steps, and move to stand behind me.
“Your Highness…” the man says as I spin around to face him.
“It’s extremely difficult to put out the blaze,” I continue, cocking my head. “You might want to move.”
He throws his body forward at the same time I flick my joint, grinning as it hits the building and catches on fire. I watch the flames, satisfaction brewing in my gut, before twisting to make sure the others have started theirs as well.
They have.
The guy on the ground gapes, wide eyed at the four burning buildings, smoke curling up in the air as people scream and run outside, trying to escape the fires.
I step closer to him, gazing down as he trembles at my feet. “Tell my brother that if he doesn’t give me Sara, I will burn this entire city, this entire country to the ground, until he has nothing left to rule.”
