Chapter Forty-Seven

Leaving Dorran in my closet wasn't the smartest or easiest thing I'd ever done. I knew he would be pissed when I went back to get him, but getting to his father was critical. Not that I thought he would go down quickly, but it had to be done.

Dorran deserved the spot on the throne. I wouldn't let them take it from him.

Once I made it to the bridge, I could hear the guards searching the grounds for us, which meant they would know I was not supposed to be in the castle. Nonetheless, I walked the bridge and slipped inside the castle.

Silence enveloped me as I tiptoed down the long hallway.

The voices of guards and castle workers echoed from the first floor. I knew getting down to the office would be tough, but maybe using my powers would help.

Slipping down the staircase, I rounded the corner of the lobby to see the hustle and bustle of the castle. I was sure there were tons to do since the attack.

Pain erupted in my side and I squeezed my eyes to keep myself together. I wanted to scream out at the pain. Whatever Evian put on that knife had done numbers on me.

Bending down to my knees, I closed my eyes and pictured the castle empty. The limitations of my powers hadn't been met yet. Not knowing the limits gave me free rein to try what I could.

When I opened my eyes the entire castle was frozen in time. Every dragon and human moving about stood still.

Standing up with the help of the wall, I maneuvered through the people, seeing their determination to get to their next spot, while some cleaned the floors and moved things around.

I paused at the sight of Dorran's Mother pointing toward the kitchen. She looked beautiful, and for a brief moment, I wished that we could have gotten along.

I longed for a mother so badly that I would have done anything for her to like me. But being a siren wasn't what she wanted in the family. I couldn't help it.

I shifted through the people until I stood in front of The Dragon King's door. I swallowed the lump in my throat and shoved the door open. He sat at his desk, his glasses perched on the end of his nose, while he read over some document in his hand.

I can do this. I can talk some sense into him.

Letting down my guard, he blinked his eyes as if someone pressed play, and looked over at me. His spine stiffened. The hatred that stared back at me was evident.

"How did you get in here?" he asked.

I reached behind me and locked the door. "Does it matter? Will it help you to know that I have powers that can blind you?"

He scoffed. "You have two seconds to speak your peace before I call what's left of my army here to kill you."

"I'll cut to the chase then. I want you to give Dorran his spot back. He deserves the throne just as you did. He doesn't deserve to be kicked out."

He chuckled humorlessly. "Dorran went against my order, Amara. So did you. So did half of my army. Dorran deserves to be kicked out just like the rest of my army. I don't tolerate insubordinate people in my kingdom."

"You're right," I whispered. "We shouldn't have gone behind your back, but the army was coming. They would have destroyed our kingdom and won if we hadn't been prepared."

He snarled his lip and stood swiftly. "If you think you're going to come into my castle and tell me what I should do, you're sorely mistaken. Dorran has made his bed and now he is going to lay in it."

His gaze traveled down to my leg. "He got you? The siren?" His chuckle slid down my body like a snake. "Too bad he didn't end all of your suffering. Once I get in touch with the other Kingdoms, no one will accept you. You will be a wander from now on. If my son is smart enough he'll let you go."

The Dragon King swiftly rounded this desk and held me against his wall with his palm. "You've ruined my son. Do you know that? You've ruined my Kingdom. You won't ruin my decisions as King any longer."

I began to gasp for air, attempting to send him flying, he pulled out a pen and shoved it into my side.

A cry broke from me that I was sure shattered someone's eardrums. Tears built in the corners of my eyes as blood began to drip down my leg. His locked office door burst open, and I expected to see Dorran, even though I'd restrained him in my closet.

It was Toby.

He judged the scene briefly before kicking The Dragon King in the side. His ribs cracked under Toby's boot as he caught me and laid me on a chair in the far corner.

"Toby," The Dragon King said roughly. "You're already on the list to be evacuated. One more thing and I'll have you hung."

Toby looked fearless to the fact he threatened his life. "So, I'm supposed to let you torture my best friend's mate behind closed doors? Touch her again and I'll kill you."

He stood with the help of his desk. Toby stood between the two of us, but I could feel The Dragon King's gaze on me.

"You were always a great warrior until you started listening to my son."

"I'm a better person for listening to your son," he said. "Amara, can you walk?"

I started to stand up but my leg gave out. "No," I whispered shamelessly.

Toby turned to help me when The Dragon King launched at him again. He knocked a hole through the door causing chaos in the castle.

Mustering up my strength, I stood and raced toward the door. The Dragon King grabbed my hair and hauled me against his chest.

Toby formed in the doorway at the same time guards stood behind him. "What's going on?" the queen asked.

No one answered.

"Take him to the gallows."

The queen gasped but none of her cries stopped the guards. When they pulled Toby toward the doorframe, I yelled for him.

I tugged and pulled in his arms.

Wake up, Dorran.

Wake up. Wake up. Wake up.

He was right. This was a bad idea. I kicked the king in the thigh, which made him crumble toward the ground.

I scurried out into the lobby, passed the queen's shocked face, and toward the stairs. "Get her!" he yelled behind me.

I didn't stop. I pushed harder as I struggled to keep myself together. I needed to get to Dorran. My leg made me dizzy. I couldn't focus on my powers. I didn't have the strength. I pushed harder and harder until I stood on the bridge.

The guard's footsteps thundered closely behind me. I had to keep going. Pushing myself forward, I searched the distance for the gallows. They sat at the forest's edge, close to the mountain but too far for me to get to quickly enough.

Toby was tossed onto the platform as he fought against the guards. Tears raced down my cheeks. The sound of the guards neared. A shot of pain erupted in my side almost blinding me. There was no way I could make it to the house to get Dorran.

Stopping abruptly, I turned over my shoulder to see the guards several yards away. Closing my eyes, I leaped from the side of the bridge and attempted to catch myself.

All my strength seeped from me as I fell to the ground. Toby's calls for help pierced my chest. He was going to die because of me. Because I went into the castle after Dorran asked me not to.

A heavy gust of wind swarmed me at the same time arms looped around my waist. I cried in pain as Dorran sat me on the ground and looked up at the bridge.

He looked like an avenging angel, daring the other guards to come after me. "Amara," he hissed. "I can't believe you did that. What—,"

He looked down at my bleeding side, and the tears on my face. "What happened?"

"Toby," I whispered, pointing toward the gallows. "They are hanging Toby."

Dorran's body stiffened. Within seconds, I was in his arms and being flown toward the gallows. His heartbeat hammered against my cheek. I pressed my eyes closed and prayed we made it.

It wasn't until he halted in the air that I realized we hadn't.

"Toby," he whispered. "No."

Dorran's roar rattled my ears like drums inside of my skull. I was certain everyone in the kingdom heard it. His fingertips dug into my skin as he pressed me to his chest.

I felt his tears hitting my skin, and I felt like dying.

"What happened?" he whispered.

"Your father attacked me, and Toby stopped him."

Dorran shut his eyes, his heavy wings drumming in the air as we floated above the trees.

"Take me to him," I said.

"No," Dorran turned his back to the gallows. "I'm going to confront my father," he said.

Something drummed inside of me.

A faint heartbeat.

It wasn't my own.

"Take me to him," I whispered again. "Now."

Dorran seemed fed up with me for the day, his stare was hollow and angry. I was sure he was mad at me. I felt it. But I also felt something I couldn't explain. My powers were unknown, but my body knew them.

"Now Dorran!" I shouted.

Dorran flew over the trees to the gallows where Toby's body lay. The guards standing beside him waited on instructions from the king. Neither of them dared to look at Dorran when we landed.

Toby's lifeless body lay on the ground behind the woods. Dorran lowered me to his body but kept his eyes elsewhere.

The rope marks on his neck caused tears to pour out of my eyes. "I'm so sorry, Toby," I whimpered, bracing my palms against his face.

I imagined his life, and how I'd ended it.

My bottom lip trembled and I placed my cheek against his chest. His bid body was still warm to the touch, though no life was left in it. I felt that he'd gone.

"Amara," Dorran said. "Don't do this to yourself. We need to get to my father."

I ignored his demands. I sat up with my palms against his chest, and something bubbled inside of me.

"What are you doing?" he asked, attempting to lower himself down with me.

"I don't know," I whispered. "I—,"

I closed my eyes and wished for it. I wished none of this had happened. I would give anything to bring him back. He'd protected me. He was an amazing friend to Dorran.

He didn't deserve this.

Lowering my forehead to his chest, I cried like a baby. This wasn't supposed to happen. None of it. When I accepted Dorran's mate bond I never imagined gaining powers and starting a war.

Dorran grabbed me and began to lift me.

"No," I begged.

Dorran stilled above me and dropped to his knees. "Toby?" he whispered, shaking his body.

I opened my eyes and watched as his chest began to move. "Oh my God."

Toby sat up on his elbows and blinked. "Amara?"

Dorran looked over at me with widened eyes. "You just brought him back to life."