“Ada.” I rose and strode toward the exit. No way was I leaving them to die underground.
Rowan grabbed my upper arm. “You still can’t cast well, Elea. Let me go after your Sisters.”
“No.”
The floor rocked again, only more violently this time. My head felt stuffed with cotton and my body hollow. I really was in no condition to go scouring dungeons. Perhaps Rowan had a point. “I’ll evacuate the castle.”
At this point, more words were useless, so I turned on my heel and headed back to the ballroom. Amelia was there, standing alongside the Baron and Baroness. Just the people I needed to talk to in order to get everyone to safety. I could only hope that Ada, Veronique, and the others would get out as well. Much as I hated this fact, keeping them alive meant trusting the man who’d just broken my heart.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
I’d barely set foot inside the ballroom when the stone floor buckled beneath my feet. Long cracks formed in the pristine white walls. Plaster tumbled from the ceiling. Screams erupted all around.
That was when I noticed it. The ceiling beams had broken through the plaster. Now, a handful of them hung at an odd angle. The heavy wooden timbers shook, ready to drop at any second. My breath caught.
Amelia was standing right under them.
I pulled magick into me. The room was heavy with memory, but none of it would flow into my limbs. I was still too weak from the battle with the Vicomte.
The beams teetered above Amelia’s head. Her gaze flicked from side to side as she watched the crowd erupt into chaos around her. She had no idea of the danger.
I ran forward without thinking. The ballroom around me became a blur of movement. All I saw was Amelia as I closed in on her. A great crack sounded above me. The beams broke free. My friend seemed impossibly far away. Panic tightened every muscle in my body.
No, not Amelia.
I lunged forward with my arms outstretched. At the last possible second, I pushed Amelia to safety.
A loud crunch sounded as one of the beams fell on my leg instead. Pain shot through my limb. Amelia and Philippe rushed to my side.
“You shouldn’t have done that.” Amelia fanned herself with her hands. “Now, what are we going to do? The castle is falling apart. We can’t leave you here to die!”
Philippe straightened his shoulders. “We’ll get help.”
“Don’t. Now that the support beams are coming down, the whole building isn’t far behind. I’m a Necromancer. I can heal myself and escape.” Or I could, once I had time to recover from my battle with the Vicomte. I grabbed Amelia’s hand. “You need to go.”
Amelia gripped my hand more tightly. “We won’t leave you.”
Fresh chunks of plaster fell from the ceiling. “I’ll be better able to cast if I know you’re safe.” The floor buckled and rolled again. More screams sounded. “Go. I’m begging you.”
“No. I can’t lose you, Elea. Not after Veronique.”
“You will lose me if I can’t focus and cast.”
Philippe gently wrapped his arm around his sister’s shoulder. “Come along, Amelia.” With careful movements, he rushed his sister through the fleeing throng. I watched them leave and exhaled. They’ll be safe. Now, all I needed to do was cast a transport spell and this nightmare would be over. Wetness crawled up my thigh as blood pooled in my gown. The massive beam lay over my leg. My head felt woozy on my shoulders. I didn’t have much time.
Closing my eyes, I called on every bit of my training to focus past the pain. This spell had to be my greatest yet. Gritting my teeth, I reached out with my mage senses. Once again, the air felt heavy with memory and power. I tried to drag some of it into me.
Nothing came.
I pressed my hands against the heavy beam. It didn’t budge. The room was all but empty now. The Fantomes were still nowhere to be seen. For the first time, I wished they’d show themselves. Being captive would at least get me out of here.
I closed my eyes and pulled at the magick once more. Every part of me felt empty and weak. This was hopeless. The thought appeared in my mind. I was really about to die. The walls trembled more violently than ever.
My pulse sped. I cupped my hand by my mouth. “Help!”
Across the room, Rowan burst through the last of the Royals pressing their way out the door. “Elea!”
Some small part of me was thrilled that he’d returned. Most of me was still angry as hell. I’d rather bleed to death under this beam than be rescued by Rowan. “What are you doing here? I asked you to help the Necromancers.” I pointed to the exit door.