The Fae King's Dream (Between Dawn and Dusk #2) - Jamie Schlosser Page 0,54
second to adjust to the darkness. Bright orange embers burn in the fireplace, but the flames are long gone, and there’s a chill in the air.
And I’m alone.
As I pull the rough sheets up around me, I realize I’m only wearing Damon’s white nightshirt and my panties. He must’ve dressed me.
“Damon?” I call out, projecting my voice over the constant ringing. “Are you in the bathroom?”
Climbing out of bed, I wince at the cold stone beneath my feet. I peek into the space with just a pedestal sink and a toilet. It’s more like a small closet. Earlier today, Damon had told me we were getting the general’s suite. If this tiny room is the best they’ve got, I’m not sure I want to see the barracks.
Uncertainty and fear plague me as I look around at my unfamiliar surroundings. Should I stay here until someone comes to get me? Or should I venture out to see what’s going on?
At the very least, I could peek out into the hallway to see if anyone’s out there.
“Okay, clothes first,” I whisper to myself, checking the lone chair in the corner, under the bed, and inside some drawers.
Empty. Where the hell is my dress?
I pat my chest where my whistle usually is, but I’m not wearing it. Damon wouldn’t have put it somewhere hard to find, but it’s not in this room.
I’m officially worried.
Screw it. Half-naked or not, I have to figure out what’s going on.
Before I can grab the doorknob, there’s a loud blast and the entire building shakes. I stumble. Panicked shouts come from somewhere outside.
Oh my God. This is not a drill. We’re under attack.
What if this is an uprising? The angry guard from earlier… he clearly wasn’t a fan of Damon. There could be more like him.
Running across the room, I try to look through the window, but it’s just a long vertical slit and it’s too dark outside to see anything.
Bang, bang, bang.
I jump at the sound of someone knocking.
“Who’s there?” Grabbing a fire poker, I hold it like a bat as I slowly inch toward the door. “Hello?”
“Your majesty!” It’s a female voice. “You must evacuate the citadel at once.”
“What’s going on?”
“The fortress is under siege. Damon has been captured.”
My heart feels like it plummets to the bottom of my stomach. “Captured by who?”
“The coven. They have an army invading this place right now, but I know where they took him. If you slip away now, you’ll be able to escape before they blow this place to smithereens.”
Keeping a firm grasp on my weapon, I crack the door. Violet eyes peer at me from a pretty face.
“Who are you?” I ask warily.
“Someone who’s going to get you out of here.” She looks innocent enough, with her light brown hair pulled half up, and her plain yellow dress.
I narrow my eyes. “How do I know I can trust you?”
“Damon said to tell you ‘little carrot.’” She recites the words as if they’re foreign to her. “Does that mean anything to you?”
“Yes.” I wilt because what she says must be true. No one else knows about the inside joke. “What am I supposed to do?”
“Run.” Moving down the dim hall, she motions for me to follow. “You have to hurry!”
Another explosion rocks the stone, and I scurry after her.
I have no plan. I can barely think. I have no pants or shoes.
At least I have a weapon. Sort of. The fire poker isn’t a sword, but I could knock someone silly if I hit them hard enough.
As I run after the woman through the stairwell, the cold air makes me very aware of how little I’m wearing. When we get to the first floor, she bends down and pats some of the stones.
“Here.” She motions for me to do the same. “This is a secret exit. No one will follow you or see you escape.”
Using both hands, I push hard, and I’m shocked when a small door opens. The wind blows and snow pelts my face.
Unaffected by the weather, the woman maneuvers herself out and extends a hand to me. “Come on.”
Deciding to have faith in her—because I really have no other option—I let her pull me through. Freezing air immediately blasts my exposed skin, but I don’t have time to dwell on it because I’m being tugged under a canopy of snow-covered trees.
“What’s your name?” I pant, trying to keep up with this girl’s quick pace.