Chapter 27

T ossing and turning back and forth, restless and wound-up after Olly's interruption, I lie awake thinking about every word that passed between us. Sometimes he flirts, and then sometimes he pushes me away without a second thought. It's the back and forth, hot and cold, that drives me mad.

There's a seductive charm that laces his every word and curls me around his finger, making me feel like nothing more than a passing amusement. I can't understand what goes through that mind of his.

More than anything, I wish I didn't fall for it so easily. It's that smile, those lips, that effortless charm that makes it impossible not to relent to his games.

A sound snaps me away from that line of thought – the sound of the door creaking. I look down at my feet to see that the noise awoke Moose, as well. His ears perked up, and he's staring intently in the direction of the door. The curtains that drape around my bed prevent me from seeing the source of the noise, but I'm too afraid to pull them back. I stiffen, hoping that whatever lurks beyond this bed isn't real.

Another creak. And then another.

It must be the footsteps of someone moving closer.

Olly, maybe?

An invisible?

I hold my breath, and Moose begins to growl in warning. Still, the steps grow closer.

All I can think to do is carefully and quietly kick the covers off of my body to free my feet. Whether that is a means to run or kick, I'm not sure. But slowly, quietly, I peel my legs out from underneath the thick fabric.

Black leather gloves wrap around the center of the curtain, curling around it slowly. My heart beats so viciously that I can hardly think. But I have to think. Someone is here, and I need to create an escape plan. Immediately.

Before I can contemplate my options any further, the curtains on my right rip apart in one swift motion. I barrel roll to my left and land on my knees with a thud. Moose barks viciously and snaps his jaws until the intruder's piercing scream shatters the dark.

I use that opportunity to yell for help as I spring to my feet.

Despite the light of a crescent moon shining in through the window, the room still wears a blanket of darkness. I see only the outline of the man as he shrinks back into the corner, kicking his leg to free himself from Moose's bite.

Moose pulls back but continues to bark furiously, placing himself directly between the intruder and me. I step back toward the balcony and scream for help again. It comes out in a blood curdling cry when I see the blade clutched in the intruder's hand.

The hood of his cloak falls, but I don't recognize him. His features are obscured by shadows, so it's hard to know for sure. But from what I can see, there isn't any hatred or fury in his expression, only determination.

He lunges around the bed, and then all I can see is that blade plunging toward me. Frozen with fear, I close my eyes and prepare for the worst.

This is the end.

There will be no choices to be made, no prophecies to fulfill. Whatever gift of the gods possesses me will remain hidden forever. My life will end here and now.

I release one last scream for help in case the gods might come to my rescue.

But then it is the intruder who screams back to me, and I hear the blade clang against the floor. I open my eyes to see two corporeal invisibles appear in the room, holding the man's arms. They drag him away without a word of explanation.

"Wait!" I yell to the invisibles, who halt at my command. And then to the man, I ask, "Who are you?" With the glow of the invisibles' bodies shining on his face, I see him grimace and then snarl like a conco caught in a trap. My heart is still beating uncontrollably fast, but I manage to eke out one more question. "Why?"

He remains fixed in his silence, refusing to offer any words of explanation. The invisibles resume their dragging, and the man kicks and fights beneath their grasp. Before they reach the hall, Olly appears in the doorway and rushes in to inspect the scene.

He's shirtless and breathing heavily as if he was awoken from a restless sleep. "What happened?"

I answer, though both my hands and voice shake, "This man crept into my room and attacked me." I point to the blade on the floor. Or, I try to. My fingers are trembling uncontrollably, so it's hard to tell where I'm pointing.

Olly's eyes glance from me to the man and then to the blade glinting on the floor. Without another word, he storms forward and winds his fist into the man's jaw. The blow lands hard enough to crack bone – a horrific sound that I never wish to hear again.

"Take him," he commands, shaking the blow from his fist.

Both the man and the invisibles disappear in an instant, gone before I can blink.

Olly rushes over to me and places his hands on my shoulders. His eyes bore into mine, scanning for any signs of trouble. "Did he harm you?"

"No," I say, though the fear still working its way through my body might disagree. "I'm fine. Moose bit him before he could hurt me."

He breaks eye contact with me to find Moose sitting beside me, still alert from all of the commotion. "Thank you, Moose"

"Who was that?" My question barely ekes past my shaking breaths.

Anger blazes behind his eyes as he says, "I don't know, but I will find out. The person who ordered this attack won't live to see another day."

"What do you mean ordered the attack? How do you know that he didn't act of his own accord?"

"He wore an assassin's cloak and used a blade too fine to be his own." He pulls me against his chest, wrapping his arms tightly around me. "I'm sorry that I wasn't here, Radya."

The warmth of his body and the weight of his arms convince my nerves to calm. "Olly?"

He pulls back enough to see my face.

"Would you mind staying here with me tonight?" No matter how I feel about Olly, I don't know that I could stand to be alone after all of this. "Just for tonight."

He hesitates for a moment but then cups his hands around my face. "Of course, Princess." He pulls me against him once again, resting his cheek on the top of my head.

Olly walks me to the bed and pulls the covers back. I crawl underneath and allow myself to sink into the pillows. He tucks me in like I'm a fragile object capable of shattering into a million pieces. But even with the blankets secure around me, my nerves refuse to calm.

My mind focuses only on wondering who gave that command. It could be the Mad King seeking to avenge the death of his lost love. Or the woman from the market. Hell, it could even be Landers.

The list of people that could be targeting me seems to be growing by the day.

Olly slinks around to the other side of the bed and then quietly lays down beside me. He drapes his arm over me, but it feels like a dead weight holding me down. I don't shake him off, though.

"You're okay, Radya," he whispers and then quickly falls asleep.

I lay there praying that a dream might find me, but it never does.