“No! It will take up too much energy,” insisted the captain. “I need you to have full access to your magic in case we have to fight our way out.”
“I don’t get tired by healing, my fae magic is different from yours.”
“Make it quick,” Captain Gerard conceded, glancing at the cellar door.
I gathered the magic and placed my palms on Brandon—one on his head and the other on his chest, like I had done during the test at the academy. It was invigorating using magic again, and I remembered what I had been taught, making sure I didn’t pull the magic to me.
I could feel the magic of the earth flowing into me in gentle waves, and I carefully guided it through me and into Brandon. My hands glowed as Brandon’s face healed. He groaned and closed his eyes. I could feel his broken ribs joining together and see the bruises vanishing.
Brandon sighed with relief, flexed his arms, and stood up. “Thank you, Aurora, that was truly remarkable.”
Captain Gerard looked at me wide-eyed and smiled. “Looks like I underestimated you, Princess Aurora. I will never make that mistake again.”
I grinned at them both. It was fulfilling to use my powers after so long, and knowing I could call on them whenever I wanted gave me courage for what I was about to do.
Captain Gerard drew his sword. “I will go first. Oblek has stationed his guards here to make sure you don’t escape.”
“Where’s Rafe?” I asked.
“The prince is waiting for you at the docks with Santino and his men—it was too dangerous for him to come here. All the guards would recognize him, and with Lucian intent on killing him, I didn’t want him anywhere near this place. But we need to reach the ship before Lucian realizes we have tricked him.”
“What about Kalen?”
“Your little fae friend is on the ship waiting for you.” He adjusted the grip on his sword. “Let’s go.”
“Wait,” I said, catching his arm. “How are we going to get out if Oblek’s men are still here?”
“Leave that to me,” said Captain Gerard. “Most of them are with Lucian. But some are still here, and we may have to fight our way out. You will need to defend yourself.”
I nodded, but I couldn’t help doubting myself and my abilities. Every move I had made so far was a wrong one, every choice a disaster. And I had no idea how to be the person everyone expected me to be. But the captain was right. I had magic, I was trained, I should be able to do this.
“Wait here,” said Captain Gerard. “I will call the guards in and distract them. I want you to stun them enough so they won’t wake up for a while.”
I flexed my fingers. “I think I can manage that.”
“Right.” He smiled at me. “Keep your amulet on and your hands behind your back until they come down the stairs.”
“But what about you? Aren’t you taking a big risk helping me? If Rafe can’t sort all this out with his father, you could be heading to the dungeons too.”
“My main concern is my prince’s life. And he will not go back to the palace without knowing you are safe.”
My heart fluttered. Rafe did care about me—I wasn’t just one of his many women.
“Ready?” said Captain Gerard.
As ready as I can be.
I nodded and he shouted for the guards.
The door swung open, and three men burst in and ran down the stairs with their swords out.
I gathered the magic that had been roiling inside me, waiting to get out. Raising my hands, I shot two guards with a powerful stun strike as Captain Gerard did the same with the third, and they crumpled before me.
“That was easy,” I said.
“Too easy,” said Brandon, picking up one of the fallen guards’ swords and grabbing my hand. “Let’s get out of here.”
We followed Captain Gerard into the deserted hall.
“Where are the other guards?” I grabbed my skirt and peered down the long moonlit corridor of the mansion. I wished I had my traveling clothes now. Escaping in a dress was always so cumbersome.
“Keep alert,” whispered the captain.
We ran up a flight of stairs and down the corridor to the grand foyer. The big doors to the mansion opened and Oblek and his guards strode in.
His one eye fixed on me. “Going somewhere, little girl?” His voice had a nasty edge to it. “I had a feeling you would pull something like this. So I stayed back to make sure you wouldn’t escape from me again.”
A whole host of guards started emerging from all around us, and I whirled, looking for another way out.
There was nowhere to go but back.
Captain Gerard shot two stun strikes at the guards. One missed and one guard went down. I froze, and my heart rate sped up. This was it—I had to fight, or we would never get out of this alive.
“Keep your shields up,” Captain Gerard said, raising his sword and rushing at the guards, slashing and cutting through their ranks.
I had no choice but to follow. I didn’t want to hurt anyone, but I had to use my magic. I faced Oblek. His hand was already raised, and he shot a bolt of light at me. My shield deflected it easily.
The clang of metal rang in my ears as swords clashed. Brandon swore and shot a fire strike at an oncoming guard; another one rushed at him with his sword and Brandon deflected it, fighting back. He was engaged in close combat, defending me, and Captain Gerard was fighting Oblek, who knocked him down. I gasped as Captain Gerard’s sword clattered away across the floor.
Oblek laughed and raised his weapon for the killing blow.
Captain Gerard looked over at me. “Now, Aurora, do it!” he shouted and dove out of the way.
I knew what he meant. My heart raced. I wiped my hands on my dress and raised them, focusing on Oblek and his guards. I gathered more of the
