Page 11 of Death of a Mortal

“Fadric, jeez, are you okay?”

“Fine, fine.” He waved me off and put his hands in his pockets. “You did great, held on to it, I hope?”

I looked around without answering and beckoned him to follow me back down the alley toward my house.

“I did, thank you, Fadric. I hope you understand I—”

“I wanted you to have it. It’s yours. Your brains and mean right hook got it for us. I was just the sleight of hand.”

We both burst out laughing as my nerves finally calmed.

He hugged me. “Go get Nella. Let’s go out and celebrate with some proper food on the other side of town.”

My escape from Briarstead could wait a little longer. Besides, I needed time to plan Nella’s and my departure. So we headed back to my house, where I tapped on our small window. Nella’s eager face appeared.

I beckoned for her to open the window, holding a finger to my lips, telling her silently not to say a word, then motioned for her to come out.

Just as her feet hit the ground, her hand in mine, I felt a crackle of static that made the hairs on my arms and neck stand up.

I whipped my head around to see Aemilia coming up the alley, lightning in hand. The glowing magic cast eerie shadows in the darkness, and her smile was wrong. Too wide.

Chapter 4

Freedom, Paid in Flesh

“Naci,” Nella breathedas she latched onto my arm.

I pushed her behind me and looked to Fadric. Fear for us etched his features. He looked between Aemilia and me as he seemed to make a split-second decision. He knew how cruel she was and what she liked to use her lightning powers for around town. This was confirmation for him—she used them on me too.

“Bad, bad Naci and Nella. Sneaking out. Daddy won’t like this at all. And he didn’t get the king’s coin today, so I know he’ll be extra mad. Maybe this is the time he’ll finally let me use the full extent of my powers on you. I’ve been itching to light your bones up and singe every nerve in your body.” Aemilia smirked, playing with the lightning in her palm as she stalked closer, the ends of her long hair lifting from the static. She looked almost ethereal, in a terrifying way, glowing with both magic and glee.

“My gods…” Fadric breathed in horror. He stepped in front of me, whispering over his shoulder. “Go. Take the coin and go and never come back. I’ll hold her off while you get out of town.”

I just stared at him for a moment as Aemilia drew even closer. Itwas now or never, and I’d be damned if I allowed her to electrocute Nella or me. “Fadric, I… Thank you. And I’m sorry.”

“No apologies, just go now. I’ll miss you, Naci. Take care of Nella. And seriously, don’t come back.” He smiled.

Somewhere deep down, I prayed it wouldn’t be the last time I ever saw that smile.

“You can’t shield them from me forever, pretty boy. I’m not above frying Naci’s little boyfriend,” Aemilia sneered. She was going to attack Fadric just for being my boyfriend.

“Now!” Fadric yelled as he darted straight at Aemilia.

I saw the shock on her face before I grabbed Nella’s hand and ran in the opposite direction.

As we rounded the corner to hit the main road, I heard Aemilia’s scream of anger meet Fadric’s yell of pain. Gods, I hoped he was okay.

We ran past Nella’s bakery where I chanced a look back, and my heart sank as I saw Aemilia giving chase.

I hoped desperately Fadric was only incapacitated and not…

The few people on the streets parted to make way for us, and, noticing Aemilia, they ducked into the nearest shops and restaurants. Nobody got in her way. I pulled Nella to the left to tear down a side street. If we could get to the edge of town, we could lose her in the dense forest that stretched for miles.

“Come on, Nella. Faster! If we can get to the forest, we’ll be okay,” I panted, sweat trickling down my brow and into my eyes.

Behind us, Aemilia shrieked with delighted laughter. It sounded like she was gaining on us, but I didn’t dare look back and break my stride.

“I can already smell your burning flesh, Naci! My lightning will catch you. You can’t outrun me,” Aemilia yelled from not far behind. Damn her half-fae blood. She was much faster than we were.