Wicked (Eternal Guardians #9) - Elisabeth Naughton Page 0,52

her veins. Gently, she tipped his cheek against the rocks so he could lean against the wall without falling. Then she squeezed his hand and whispered, “Hold on. Just hold on a few minutes more.”

She pushed to her feet, faced the door, and wiped her hands on her filthy skirt again. She had no idea if this would work, but she had to try.

Wrapping one hand around the amulet hanging at her chest, she lifted the other to the door handle and focused every thought she had on that lock.

The amulet grew hot in her palm. So hot she was afraid it might burst into flames against her skin. But she didn’t let go. She didn’t stop focusing. She willed the handle to turn as she flexed her muscles.

A click sounded, echoing through the space. Then the handle moved with barely any effort.

Talisa’s eyes shot open. She jerked back, yanking the door open. Stale air from the dungeon whooshed around her.

“It worked. Oh my gods, it worked.” She braced her foot against the door to keep it open, then knelt to reach for Zagreus. “Come on. We’re through.”

He grunted as she drew him up against her and off the floor. He was even heavier now, harder to move because he was barely helping. She managed to get him to his feet and through the doorway, but as soon as the door snapped closed behind them, he stumbled and went down.

“Zagreus!”

She wasn’t able to grab him before he hit the floor. He didn’t make a sound, though. Nothing but a thud as his body collapsed in the dirt.

Dust flew up in the air, making Talisa cough. She stumbled and dropped to her knees. Feeling around in the dark, she realized he wasn’t moving. He wasn’t moving at all.

Panic closed in again as she quickly found his neck and searched for his pulse.

There.

But even slower.

“Skata.” If only she had a fucking torch so she could see where the hell they were.

A hiss sounded above her head. Then light suddenly illuminated the dark dungeon as torches burst into flame along the walls every ten feet, leading a path straight to the stairs that led up to the main level of the castle.

She had no idea how that had happened, but as she looked down at Zagreus, bloody and bruised and still as death against the dirt floor, she suddenly didn’t care.

She leaned over him. “I’m gonna get you help. Do you hear me?” She tipped his face toward hers. “Zagreus?”

No movement. His pulse was barely a whisper now. And his breaths were growing slower and farther apart.

Oh gods…

Tears burned her eyes. Tears that told her a part of her was about to die, too.

“Don’t you dare give up. You hold on.” She pressed her lips to his temple then quickly pushed to her feet. “Hold on just a little bit longer. For me.”

Chapter Nine

Talisa’s pulse was a whir in her ears as she hit the grand hall.

The room was dimly lit by a smoldering fire in the great stone hearth. At this hour—well after midnight—it was silent, the velvet couches and plush chairs that had been occupied earlier completely empty.

Swallowing hard, she rushed out the main doors, crossed the cobblestone courtyard, went up and over the bridge, then swept up the circular stone steps to the gatehouse on the wall walk above. She didn’t knock, just shoved the heavy wood door open with her shoulder as the sentries inside lurched to their feet.

“The prince is in trouble.” She gripped the door handle and leaned back against the old wood, struggling to breathe. “He was attacked by a pack of satyrs. I managed to get him into the dungeon corridor via the hidden tunnel behind the waterfall, but he’s badly injured. He needs a healer.”

Wide-eyed, several sentries rushed out the door and down the steps.

To the two that remained, looking equally as shell-shocked at what she’d announced, Talisa said, “The border magick is flickering. You need to get more guards up here as fast as possible to secure the castle. A couple of those satyrs got away. They’ll be back soon with reinforcements.”

“Yes, princess.”

The two spoke in rushed words as Talisa headed back down the steps.

The grand hall was already abuzz with activity by the time she made her way back inside. She spotted Nysa belting a robe around her waist on the far side of the room, rushing down the last few steps, worry and fear in her blue eyes. Beside her, a