35. Vane

Vane

I gripped Saoirse's hand tightly in mine, not willing to let her go for even a second. With the smoke all around us, no one could see, and I used my shadows instead to guide us through. Where is it? My shadows searched, spreading out through the darkness, unrestricted until one of them collided with the hilt of the staff.

"This way," I said softly to Saoirse, making sure her hand was tightly in mine. It was too dark for her to be able to find the right potion and not accidentally drink the wrong one. We'd need to rely on my magic to get us out of here.

My shadow tendrils slithered through the chaos, reaching the staff and pulling it toward us. The power emanating from it was intense, and I felt a surge of triumph as the staff was met with little resistance as it came toward us. Just as I wrapped my fingers around it, the smoke began to dissipate, revealing us for the entire room to see .

"Over there!" a guard shouted, his voice cutting through the din. All eyes turned toward us. The king and queen looked horrified to see me holding the staff.

"Kill them!" the queen shouted.

I tightened my grip on Saoirse, pulling her closer, trying to shield her as guards advanced on us. "Stay behind me," I growled, my shadows already coiling around us. I spared a few to shield her, but the majority of them surged forward as the first guard lunged at us. My shadows knocked him back, the guard crashing into a row of chairs, sending them clattering to the ground.

Guests streamed out of the castle in droves, screams and shocked gasps echoing.

Another guard came from the side, his sword aimed at my head as his flared hand came toward my chest. My shadows reached him first, wrapping around his legs and yanking him off his feet. He hit the ground hard, groaning in pain.

"Vane, you have to run!" Saoirse hissed in my ear, fighting against the shadows that held her behind me. "They will kill you. Forget about me, take the staff and go."

A third guard rushed at us, swinging his weapon with deadly precision. I parried with the staff I held, the impact sending a jolt up my arm, but my shadows had a mind of their own, already lashing out to strike him across the face. He fell back, blood streaming from his nose.

I was doing my best not to kill them, but I wasn't sure how much longer I could hold out. I was not leaving here without Saoirse.

More guards poured in, their numbers overwhelming. My shadows lashed out, striking down one after another, but it was a losing battle and I was losing energy. The smoke had completely cleared, and we were now in full view for them to see us clearly. A sudden explosion blinded my vision, my shadows confused, and with a cold draft of air, Saoirse was no longer behind me. She was no longer under my protection .

"Darkwing!" A voice, cold and authoritative, cut through the chaos, the ringing in my ears quickly fading, replaced instead with the malice of my enemy. "Stop this at once!"

I turned to King Erwin Volari, who held his arm around his daughter's throat, a gleaming dagger pressed to her throat, blood already dripping down from the press of his hand. His eyes were devoid of emotion, nothing but steel fury left in them. "Drop the staff, shadow, or I will slit her throat right here and now."

I froze, my shadows faltering as my eyes locked onto the blade pressed against her fair skin, then to her eyes, which were wide with unshed tears. My dragon form wouldn't help me get to her before he had the chance to end her life. Fear and defiance warred for battle within them, and in that moment I knew.

I would let the entire world burn before I let him harm a hair on her head.

She shook her head slightly, then winced at the deeper cut she had made for herself, seeing the thoughts cross my face. "Do it," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the din. Her eyes pleaded with me, her body rigid in her father's grasp. " Go ."

My grip tightened on the staff, indecision filling me to the brim. I looked around, at Xan shoved into a corner protectively, along with the Ocea princes. Maeve was nowhere to be seen, the remaining guards looking at me with pure hatred in their eyes. And Saoirse, her blue eyes screaming at me to do the smart thing. The logical thing and go stop the decay, go help my mom.

I met her father's eyes again, and when he tightened his grip on the knife just slightly, eliciting a whimper from Saoirse, I let my shadows recede, the staff slipping from my grasp as I raised my hands in surrender.

"Very good," the king sneered, triumph in his eyes, and within seconds the guards had pushed me to the ground. Saoirse was wrenched from her father's grasp, and he watched in satisfaction as they shackled us both .

"Darkwings have no power here," King Volari said, his voice dripping with contempt. "It's time you realize that."