Page 210 of Burn Her They Said
His Majesty turns to converse with Wyrth, and I slam my eyes shut to send out my magic when a terrible ringing grows so loud in my ears, I can scarcely hear the world around me. Pulse pounding, I try to focus my power in search of him when my heart lurches in my chest as the tingling warmth of Varic’s shield rises up my legs.
Chapter Seventy-Two
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I pry my eyes open and blink back tears at the sight of the sorcerer striding closer, and I hold in a shudder when my magic connects to his, maintaining the connection to absorb his worries and imbue him with my love. Because it’s him. I’ve found him. He’s come back to me.
Yet my magic also detects His Majesty’s smugness, and I turn to find that his expression displays the same as he stares toward my Lead Guard.
Varic’s own countenance is filled with relief, his cheeks rising until the peaks glint in the moonlight. My legs tremble, and I lock my muscles to keep from collapsing as he steps into his place on my left.
Our eyes remain fixed on one another as the Emperor pivots to face us. His Majesty remains silent as he studies our proximity, standing so close together that Varic’s presence warms my skin. A welcome bit of comfort, despite the fear rippling through our connection. I send him a thread of caution as his eyes refuse to stray from my being.
A sinister energy ripples from the Emperor through my magic, jarring me as he reaches forward to grab Varic by the shoulder. “Imperial Lead Guard Varic, explain your purpose in abandoning your charge.” His thumb presses in, wrinkling the thin leather covering Varic’s skin.
Wyrth steps away with his Guards and Imelda, trudging off to enter their own carriage. I cast my gaze over the rows of trees where any number of assassins might be hiding, only finding the same eerie landscape.
Varic shifts his weight before saying, “I entrusted the Imperial Guards you appointed to keep her safe while I attempted to locate you to discuss our response plan, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor flicks his gaze to where Lars leans against the ladder before returning it to Varic. “While your stories align, I do not think you are telling me everything.” He grabs hold of Varic’s arm and forces him to step forward.
Malin’s purple magic rises and prepares to protect Varic.
My heart pounds as His Majesty doesn’t so much as look back at me as he pulls my Lead Guard toward the lily pond in the center of the driveway.
“Load in!” His Majesty commands as the last few Guards do as he says.
I imbue the rest of my Guards with calm and trust before siphoning their fears and concerns—strangely not feeling weakened afterward. They nod to me when Lars and Malin climb up their respective ladders, and Cirrin and Fray climb inside with Drusilla.
Yet I refuse to listen. Instead, I slink closer to where the Emperor holds Varic hostage.
“You will tell me the truth,” His Majesty says, conjuring his dark gray force magic in the form of a spear?—
“No!” I yell and send tendrils of fear to the Emperor’s chest to try to stop him from hurting Varic.
Malin’s purple magic billows past to spiral around the tyrant.
Varic snaps his attention back toward us and mouths the word, ‘Don’t’.
Malin retracts his magic while I imbue the Emperor’s heart with more fear—yet it doesn’t stop him from sending the spear.
No.
I freeze in place and watch helplessly as it pierces Varic’s chest.
No. We’re too late.
I stumble and stare where the end of the spear protrudes from his sternum until Varic’s eyes lock on mine, and I gape back at him. Because I cannot comprehend how he is possibly still standing. Or how the beat of his heart still thrums in the shield he maintains over me. The same form of protection he should have used to save himself.
I glare at the Emperor when Varic’s influence imbues me with a thread of amber-hued caution. Communicating his wish for me to stand down, I swallow against the urge to avenge him. For now.
“Your Majesty,” Danor calls from the top of the Emperor’s carriage. “What would you have us do?”
“Remain where you are and do nothing, unless I command it,” Emperor Aldritch sneers.
Cirrin’s blue magic swirls around each of the grooms holding the reins on the horses, followed by each of the Guards sitting next to them. I let out a breath as he subdues each into sleep as they slump backward. An act His Majesty ignores in order to focus his ire on my Lead Guard.
Varic clutches his chest and tears threaten as I take a step closer, staring at the Emperor who doesn’t seem to notice me advancing, until a sickly sense of foreboding stops me.
