“Treason?” he laughed. “I’ll be hailed a hero! The demon wants you. I’m just giving it what it wants. No more of our people need to die because of you,” he snarled. “I’m saving my people!”
“You don’t know anything,” I scoffed. “You wouldn’t be giving it what it wants, you jackass.”
“I know the truth!” Charles jabbed a finger to his chest. “I know the truth!” he yelled.
I froze, watching as he escalated out of control.
He knows the truth? What truth? Does he know I’m pregnant?
I was so stunned by his words that when Charles charged, I stood immobile. His claws slashed across my abdomen, ripping skin and muscle with one swipe. I gasped raggedly, my hands scrabbling to my stomach as blood gushed out in crimson rivulets. I stumbled backward, shock slowing my movements. As I stood there with my mouth gaping, Charles smiled and raised his arm, aiming his claws for my face.
I knew I should have blocked him, but I was too busy holding onto my abdomen, trying to shield the tiny life housed within. My fight-or-flight instinct finally clicked and I opened my eyes wide, raising my leg and kicking him square in the chest. He flew back twenty feet from the force, landing in a pile of garbage bags left beside the full trash cans.
I squatted down on the ground, still holding my stomach, and couldn’t stop the tear that slid down my face. I hated knowing I didn’t protect myself like I should have.
I looked down at my torn, white silk blouse that was now soaked in blood. The urge to cry was strong, but I fought it by taking deep breaths. I didn’t want to cry. Especially not here, in front of this vile creature.
Instead of sticking around to finish him off, I grabbed my heels and darted out of the alley as quickly as I could, grasping my abdomen with blood-slickened hands. I couldn’t go back to the ceremony looking like this; I’d make a scene and cause a panic, plus it would detract from what was really important today, and that was to celebrate the lives of the recently deceased. Today was about them, not my current drama. No, I couldn’t go back to the funeral. I had to head to the castle.
I ran through the empty streets of Sheunta Village with silent tears streaming down my face. If only I knew where Bash was, he would know what to do.
I was passing Cosima’s Apothecary when I saw Dr. Harris coming out of his clinic.
“Doc!” I yelled from across the street.
He turned around quickly. It took him a moment to realize who it was, but when his eyes widened, he dropped his messenger bag and ran toward me. “Your Majesty!” He scooped me up and I winced from the pain slicing through my stomach. He rushed us back into his clinic and kicked the door closed with his foot. Once inside, he brought me to one of the examination rooms and laid me down on a table covered in crisp, white paper. “What happened?”
“I was attacked,” I breathed.
“By who? Where are your guards?”
“I was attacked by my guards,” I whispered.
He gasped. “What the … how is that possible? We must inform Alexander!”
I nodded. “I know, Doc, but right now, I need you to treat this.” I lifted my torn shirt and showed him the angry claw marks on my stomach.
He cursed and instantly went into doctor mode, snapping on a pair of purple gloves. “Okay, Your Majesty, I want you to relax, okay?” He tried to reassure me as I trembled from head to toe. I bit my lip to keep from crying and nodded again. He looked carefully at my abdomen. “They don’t look deep. It looks worse than it actually is. I’m sure the baby is okay, but we’re going to double check anyway. Did you fall?”
I shook my head. “No.”
He smiled. “Okay, that’s good. I’m going to clean you up and give you some stitches since you can’t shift. The scars will be faint, I promise.”
“I don’t care about scarring,” I murmured. “Just make sure the baby is okay. He has to be okay.”
Dr. Harris grabbed my hand and smiled. “We’re going to do everything possible to make sure the baby is okay. You can count on it.”
After being stitched up and put back together, I fell asleep in Dr. Harris’s clinic once he confirmed the baby was safe. Unfortunately, I was drained from the day’s events and fell into a deep sleep. When I woke, I found Bash sitting in a chair against the wall.
“Bash?” I tried to sit up, the paper covering the medical bed crinkling with every movement I made.
Bash shot up from his seat and rushed over to me. “Hey,” he muttered. “How do you feel?”
“Where were you?” I asked, fighting the trembling of my bottom lip.
His face fell and he closed his eyes, running a hand through his hair. “I’m so sorry, Mackenzie.”
“You don’t need to apologize.” I reached for his face. “None of this is your fault.”
He opened his eyes and leaned into my touch. “They decided not to use the location we chose. We waited until we realized you weren’t coming, but by then we couldn’t find you.”
“How did the ceremony go?” I asked.
“It went well,” he said and then paused. “Mackenzie … who did this to you?”
I waited before saying anything because I didn’t know how Bash would react, but I couldn’t keep it a secret forever. Charles had to pay the consequences, but right now, Bash looked like he was about to explode.
“Mackenzie …” Bash growled.
“Later,” I murmured. “I don’t want to get into it here.”
“Mackenzie, I’m not asking again. Who did this?”
I sighed. He wasn’t going to let this go. I might as well get it over with now.
“It was Charles.”
The room was coated in deafening silence, but I felt the anger pouring off
