The guard steadied her with an arm around her back. “Majesty?”
Saris clutched his shoulders, twisting and ramming her knee into his groin.
The guard yelped, gripping his crotch. His crumple wasn’t so graceful.
The boar screamed again, barreling straight for the sword-wielding guard, whose blade dripped blood from the earlier score. “Come back at me, you bastard. We’ll have ham for dinner.” The guard’s eyes widened. He flew back against the wall. A mirror quivered, then fell on his head with a crash.
Piers stood a few feet away, staring at his outstretched hand. “I… umm… didn’t mean…”
Wycke grabbed his sleeve. “Get Saris and Jess out of here. Me and Chynne will keep this lot occupied. “
“But…”
“No buts! Go!” Wycke slammed his lips down on Piers’, retreating with a grin. “Dear.” He tossed a fireball at the approaching guard. The spell missed, but at least Wycke hadn’t set the curtains on fire.
Yet. Looked like he wouldn’t be living here soon, so let the whole place burn—or as much as a monument to marble could.
“Jess!” Piers yelled over the din, “c’mon!”
One of the guards carried Jess on his back, her arms wrapped around his neck and legs around his waist. She clamped her teeth down on his ear.
“Ahh…” The guard squawked, spinning and trying to dislodge his attacker. He shoved back against a wall, knocking the wind out of Jess.
She let go and slid to the floor. The guard raised his blade.
Then Jess vanished, reappearing at Piers’ side. “Let’s get Saris!” he cried.
Together they dragged Saris away from the fight—clutching a sword she’d gotten from someone. “We can’t leave Wycke!”
“He told us to. Let’s go!” Piers glanced right and left. “But where?”
“There’s no time for a portal. To the balcony.” Saris darted out the glass doors, Jess and Piers on her heels. Piers glanced back at Wycke, made eye contact, and disappeared onto the balcony. Did he even realize he’d brushed his fingers against his lips?
Bang!A blow to the head sent Wycke stumbling backward. His ears rang. He barely managed to toss a handful of wild magic at the guard who’d punched him. The guy screamed, crashing to the floor. Wycke stuck his fingers to the man’s neck. Good, not dead, just… something.
The boar cried in pain. Chynne! Two guards down, two standing. Or staggering. Blood soaked the pants of one guard, now shredded at the knee. Yeah, never mess around when your opponent has foot-long tusks.
Blood also soaked the boar. Not good. These men did nothing wrong but follow a worthless asshole’s orders. “Stop!” Wycke yelled, flinging out his hand. All movement ceased. Chynne’s tusks hovered an inch away from his opponent’s thigh. The second guard stood frozen on one leg, the other raised to kick. Wycke planted a hand to the guard’s chest and pushed.
The man went over. Wycke tugged the other guard’s pants out of Chynne’s mouth, and bodily dragged the familiar to the door. Chynne shook himself, coming out of the trance, wary eyes trained on Wycke.
“Come on! We have to go!”
Chynne followed Wycke to the balcony. No Piers, Jess, or Saris. Wycke gripped the balcony railing, staring down at the empty garden.
Nothing. No sign of them jumping. A cloud covered the sun, a low crooning carrying on a wind gust. Wycke knew that sound. He glanced up. Two gargoyles landed with athunk,taking out the elegant table and chairs where Saris enjoyed her breakfast on sunny days.
Were they friends or foes? Gargoyles once graced Wycke’s family home, now his brother’s home. Did they answer to Radre? No. Gargoyles only gave loyalty where due. The reason they’d abandoned his father.
The first gargoyle flapped its wings and winked, gesturing to Wycke with one clawed hand. Wait! He knew this creature, who’d once perched outside his bedroom window.
He stepped closer. The gargoyle embraced him, flapping its wings harder. Together they lifted toward the sky. The second gargoyle cradled a bleeding Chynne, now in cat form, to its chest.
They rose from the balcony. Was this how Piers, Saris, and Jess escaped?
The creatures spread batlike wings, soaring toward the sea. Down below, guards ran about, pointing at the sky, gathered around…
“No!”