Fear trickles down my spine. “Who—who are you?”
“I am your death,” he growls.
Panicked, I jerk my knee up, slamming it into his groin.
He doubles over, groaning in pain. It only takes him a moment to recover. His head snaps up to me, anger burning in his eyes. He snarls. “I would have made this painless for you, but now you will suffer.”
He lunges for me, but I jump back then rush to the door. I jerk on the handle, but it’s locked and won’t budge. Fear tightens my chest, and I race for another door across the room. His footsteps echo loudly behind me as he gives chase.
I’m barely through the door when I feel something jerk on my dress. The sharp ripping of fabric fills the space as he tears my skirt. I slam the door shut, locking him out.
The prince pounds on the door, the wood groaning with each assault of his fists. “Open this door! Now!”
I’ve never been so afraid in my life. I’m locked in the cleansing room, and there is nothing here I can use as a weapon. What am I going to do?
I try to focus my thoughts, hoping I can reach out to my guards, but it’s useless. I can’t focus beyond my fear as the door begins to give under the prince’s attack.
With a loud groan, the door creaks on its hinges, slamming inward. The prince rushes in, his eyes burning with rage.
“Please,” I beg, throwing my arms up to shield me. “Please, don’t do this.”
He rushes forward. His large hand grips my hair as he pins me against the sink counter. I struggle, but he slams my face against the vanity. Shards of glass splinter and drop to the floor like tinkling glass as I stare at my reflection in the shattered mirror.
He spins me to face him. Wrapping his hands tight around my neck, he begins to squeeze.
I sink to the floor, and he follows me, tightening his grip as his cruel gaze holds mine. My lungs burn, starving for oxygen. I slap at his hands and face, struggling to break free of his deadly hold.
I don’t want to die. Not like this.
A spike of panic goes straight through me as the edges of my vision begin to go dark. A reflection catches my eye off to the side, and I notice a large shard of glass on the floor from the broken mirror.
Desperate, I reach for it and grip it tightly in my palm. Warmth blooms across my skin and blood drips from my hand as the jagged edges dig into my flesh. In one swift movement, I draw the sharp glass across his neck, slicing it open.
His eyes go wide, and a choked gasp escapes him as he covers his throat with his hands, trying to stem the bleeding from his mortal wound. Blood streams down his front as he collapses over me. The scent of iron fills the air so strong I can taste it on my tongue. I nearly gag as my hands slip in the sticky, red substance as I struggle to push him off of my body.
I have to get out from under him. I have to leave this place; it’s not safe. The prince himself tried to kill me. I cannot stay here.
Chapter 15
Kai
Devon points to the large balcony three floors up in the palace. “She is there. The prince took her to that room.”
I know I shouldn’t, but I want to make sure Ella is all right. I turn to him as I try to decide. “What are you waiting for?” His green eyes search mine. “Go check on her.”
“Yes,” Nyx adds. “Just a quick glance to make sure she is safe.”
I clench my jaw. “We should have made her complete the seal with us. It would have strengthened our bond and allowed us to sense if she were in any danger.”
Cash shakes his head. “She is a maiden. It would not have been right to take her first kiss just to seal our bonds to her. You know how humans are about such things.”
“Yes,” Finn says. “We can complete the bond after she has consummated her marriage to the prince.”
They are right. With a heavy sigh, I lift my gaze to the window above. Soft light spills out onto the balcony, and I hope that because the room is still lit, I will be able to make a quick sweep of the interior then come back immediately. After all, I do not wish to see Ella mating the prince. The mere thought of it fills me with dread. I need to make sure she is well. That is all. I look to my bond brothers. “I will take a quick look and return immediately. “Stay here.”
I don’t wait for their response as I take off.
As I fly up toward the balcony, a terrified scream rings out. My heart stops, then begins pounding. Furiously, I flap my wings. When I reach the window, I see the prince atop Ella. Her face bloodied and bruised as she struggles beneath him while he strangles her.
Rage burns through me like fire as I shift instantly and break through the window. The world shifts into slow motion as the glass shatters inward and I race toward her. Fear grips me in an iron vise as she cries out again. I cannot reach her fast enough.
Broken mirror pieces lay scattered on the floor all around them, crunching under her body as she wrestles beneath his larger form. She grips a large shard on the floor beside her. In one swift movement, she draws the sharp edge across his neck, slicing it open.
Blood gushes from his body as he collapses atop her.
She pushes at him, her hands slipping on the sticky, red fluid as tears stream down her face.
I grip his shoulder and roll him off of
