Fires of War (War and Deceit #4) - Erin O'Kane Page 0,117

to make this decision rather than just blindly following orders, but I know better than anyone that following orders is so much easier.

For a few painful seconds, nothing happens and the king starts to grin. Then, the sound of a sword being sheathed draws my attention as one of the guards who stopped us earlier walks towards me. I feel my mates at my back, ready to attack should he prove to be a threat, a low snarl coming from one of the elves behind me, but the guard drops to one knee, bowing his head first to Jacob and then to me. The four other men who I assumed were Jacob’s personal guards quickly join their kneeling companion. Stunned, I stare down at them, unsure what to say, but the first guard beats me to it.

“If you will have us, beloved, we will fight for you,” the lead guard speaks, glancing at his fellow comrades before returning his attention to me. “I have long felt we have strayed from the way of the Great Mother, but I stayed for the prince.” He shakes his head, disappointment at himself gleaming in his eyes. “When he disappeared… We were told you were behind it, but it didn’t feel right. Now we know the truth.” The others murmur their agreement, but it’s the lead guard I keep my focus on, and I realise I trust him.

Nodding, I give him a small smile. “We would be honoured to have you.” I glance at Grayson, gesturing for him to lower the shield to let the guards in before turning back to the men kneeling before me. “What about your families?” I ask as I proffer my hand to help him stand.

Staring at my outstretched palm like I’ve offered him a lifeline, he gingerly takes it, tentatively returning my smile as he gets to his feet. “We were not allowed families.” His reply makes me angry, but I’m not surprised, it’s just another example of the king’s cruelness.

With the guards now added to our numbers and no one else showing signs of joining us, I know it’s time to leave before the king lashes out. I’m surprised he hasn’t tried something already. “We’re leaving now,” I announce, meeting the king’s glare.

Turning, I face our next problem, the priests who block the doors, when someone calls out.

“Beloved.” I spin around to find Priest Rodrick just inches from me. He must have slipped past the magical barrier when the guards were allowed entry. A sick sense of acceptance fills me as everyone around me seems to move in slow motion. “You are an abomination. I never should have allowed you to survive,” he sneers, and he pulls a dagger from his robes. With speed he shouldn’t possess, he raises it above his head and plunges it through the air towards my heart.

Blinding purple light fills the room and blasts him back from me, his cry of pain loud in the sudden silence of the hall. Power radiates through my body so great that it bows my back, my arms thrown out from the force thundering through my veins.

“How dare you try to kill my beloved?” The Great Mother’s voice comes from my mouth, my head rolling until my eyes land on the cowering priest, using my body as her vessel.

“Great Mother, forgive me.” Fear makes his body quake as he peers up at me through his chubby fingers, his face twisted in distress.

My hand shoots out against my will, guided by the goddess, and touches the priest’s forehead. His eyes go blank as she pushes power into him. The whole ballroom seems to hold its breath, waiting to see what will happen to the priest who tried to strike the Mother’s chosen.

“Your mind has been twisted beyond repair.” The Mother’s tone is filled with sadness, but she’s also resolute. She removes my hand, his eyes regaining their clarity, and a sudden recognition appears in them. He knows he’s about to die. Opening his mouth, he tries to say something, but the goddess waves my hand and he simply turns to ash at my feet. At the back of my mind, I can’t quite believe what I’m seeing, and neither can the rest of the room, which is in total shock. “Be mindful not to go down the same path as the priest, otherwise, you will end up like him.”

She’s addressing everyone, yet she has us staring at the king as she speaks. His face is a blank