Fireblood (Fireblood 1)

“Guards!” Sebastian shouts. “Take her.”

I spin toward him, my shock complete. Before I can process anything, two knights come at me, their V-Batons raised. I back into the lift and smack the buttons. One of the knights lodges his wand between the metal doors as they clamp shut. Lifting the hem of my wedding dress, I unsheathe my dagger and then slam the hilt against the shaft of the prod.

The doors shut.

Slumping against the wall, I nearly collapse. Focus. I right myself and straighten my dress. Thinking better, I sheath the dagger before the doors open.

Glancing around, I step into the corridor. Empty. I stoop and grab an arming sword from one of the fallen knights, then strike the control panel of the lift. It sparks, and the lift’s gears grind. The doors open and close, open and close.

I’m not sure how long that will stall them, so I take out my communicator and press the button. “Devlan.” My voice trembles.

Static.

“Devlan—” I nearly shout.

Only crackling. Shaking, I tune to Xander’s frequency and try him. The same static, as if all the knights have disappeared. Regaining my confidence, I start toward the stairs.

I look back once, then take off toward the main hall. Walking swiftly and stealthily—the sword held by my side, pressed into the skirt of my dress—I pray I can reach the front before the knights make it to the bottom level. As I enter the inner ward, I notice there’re no panicked citizens racing around and no knights of the Force. It’s too quiet.

The alarm must have cleared out the castle. I push the large doors open and run to the front grounds. All around me people are staring, their forms stiff and locked in place, all looking in different directions.

My heart bangs against my chest as I spin and take in the sight. The once-blue sky has melted away. The dark, foreign sky of Outside replaces it. Lightning as I’ve never witnessed flashes in mud-colored clouds, making the sky look more like a dirt field, layered with patches of gray and brown clay. A small ball of light peeks through the murky clouds as they travel quickly across it. The sun, I realize. And in the distance, beyond the bright green grass, past the stone wall and the pines reaching upward, black mountains roll along a dusky skyline.

I back away slowly, leaving the bewildered citizens, and head toward the side of the castle. Pressing my back to the rough wall, I try my communicator again, this time successfully.

“Fallon,” she answers my page.

“What happened?” I say, my voice barely above a whisper.

Silence, then, “We’re trying to figure that out.” Her voice is calm and steady, and that scares me more than if she was panicking.

I suck in a breath. “Where’s Devlan? Have you spoken with him?”

More static. “The alarm triggered their emergency frequency. Their transmission is shut down to us. They can only communicate with each other at this point.” She pauses. “Zara. We tracked your movement, but we waited as you instructed. Who else did you take to Hart’s chamber?”

My forehead creases. “Only Sebastian. But, we didn’t go in at first. We left—” I don’t finish. We don’t have time to go over this right now. “Fallon, I have to find Devlan.”

“I know.” Crackling. “And tell Xander…tell him to contact me when you find him.” I now hear the worry in her voice. “We’re grouped and on our way.”

I nod to myself, bolstering the assurance of her words. “I’ll contact you when I find them.” I stuff the device back into my bodice.

The Rebels are on their way here. I understand why immediately. Court has a wall.

I peek around the corner. All of K

arm has gathered in Court for the wedding. There’s a chance some are still in town and the country, but most are here.

I pray Hadley and her family are here, too, and that they are safe.

My eyes trail over the stone wall. I’m not sure what type of monsters will cross into Karm now that the barrier’s down, but whatever they are, they might not be able to climb.

I need to shut the gate.

The Rebels will come through the opening near the meadow, but the gate needs to be closed to keep Outside from finding its way into Court.

Bringing my communicator out once more, I page Fallon. When she responds, I say, “Block the opening at the meadow once you’re through.” Then I take off toward the back of the castle. I need to make my way around, along the edge, so I’m not spotted by the Force.

I stop short when I see rows of knights lined up on the tournament field. Has Sebastian come to his senses? He’s seen Outside with his own eyes now. Maybe he’s taken command and is already gearing up for battle. It won’t be enough, though. The Rebels will be needed.