The room became an uproar of applause as the two came forward. The clapping continued for several minutes as the seemingly happy couple waved to the crowd. Finally, the room began to quiet, everyone anxiously awaiting an address from King Cathal and his soon-to-be queen. All of a sudden, I heard a thrum, followed by a distinct whooshing sound. I knew immediately an arrow had been loosed. Instinctively, I dove in front of Allete. In doing so, I caught a brief glimpse of the arrow in flight, zipping through the air like a death sentence, headed straight toward us. She fell back but I didn’t see if she’d been injured. I was too busy taking an arrow to the chest.
The pain was immediate. I hit the stage with a thud and landed on my back. There was a sharp scream, and the room erupted into a melting pot of confused people moving in different directions. Men and women alike shouted and ran for the exits. Confused guards yelled to one another, pulling their swords from their sheaths. Tables and chairs toppled, spilling wine, food, and dishes onto the floor.
I tried to sit up, but as soon as I put pressure on my arm, it collapsed under me. Suddenly, like the image of a beautiful Valkyrie, Allete’s face, was hovering over mine.
“Don’t you dare die,” she growled.
I smiled. “It’s good to see you too, love. And yes, I did just take an arrow in the chest to prove my love for you.”
“Shut up,” she snapped. “This isn’t the time for jokes, Torben. I’ve got to pull this out and then heal you quickly.”
“Don’t,” I said, attempting to keep her hands back. I was too weak to stop her. Why was I so weak?
“You’re losing too much blood. I think the arrow tip is close to the heart,” she answered. I guess I must have asked my question out loud.
I bit the inside of my cheek as she grasped the arrow and jerked it free, with a strength I wouldn’t have guessed she was capable of. I could hear Brant arguing with Cathal, restraining him, trying to convince him that Allete was a trained healer—albeit, not a healer of the magical variety—whose help was vitally important in that moment. Cathal was giving him a thorough cursing, demanding him to move. My loyal friend was having none of it.
“Do not heal me, Allete,” I ground out through my teeth as the pain radiated through my body. “There are some who do not need to know what you can—” A hand slapped over my mouth, effectively shutting me up.
Allete leaned in close to me, her nose nearly touching my own. I needed to focus, but in that moment, all I wanted was for those perfect lips pressed to my own—to taste her one last time.
“I am not going to sit by and watch you die just to keep myself safe. So you listen up, warrior, you are not going to die because I am going to heal you, right here, right now. Are we clear?”
“Kiss me,” I said, ignoring her words. Apparently, that was not the correct response.
“Stupid, stubborn …,” she began mumbling but I missed the rest of it because she firmly pressed her hand to the wound, and the pain was excruciating. I heard her begin to chant but I couldn’t make out what she was saying. All I could hear was the blood rushing through my ears as the pain and agony threatened to steal my consciousness.
I did not know how long it was before the pain began to ease, and the sounds around me slowly returned. There were shouts echoing throughout the ballroom. I could see legs stumbling around us and heard screams accompanied by the ringing of steel on steel as swords clashed. I was still a bit foggy, but I could guess that my people had attacked the guests and the palace guards were fighting back. I wanted to move now to get Allete out of the room, but I didn’t yet have the strength to lift myself.
Just then I saw Magnus’ face appear over Allete’s shoulder. My eyes widened as I recognized the greedy look in his eyes. He knew what Allete was doing. He’d seen my mother do it many times. I could almost see his lust for power as a tangible thing. He knew the kind of power Allete could give him. He wasn’t going to let that go.
“Allete,” I said her name, but she was lost in her trance like state. She had no idea that a wolf was behind her, hunting her. I tried again to get her attention, to shift or move, anything to keep Magnus from being able to take her, but nothing worked. As I laid there, every cell in my body focusing on knitting itself back together in response to Allete’s healing, I was powerless. I could do nothing as Magnus wrapped his large arm around her waist and jerked her back against his body.
Allete’s eyes went wide, and her mouth dropped open. Shock held her paralyzed as she stared back at me. Then instinct kicked in. She screamed, kicked, and fought to get free, but she was no match for Magnus’ strength. His madness only made him that much stronger. She called my name, and I was helpless to respond. It was as though the arrow had been reinserted and pressed all the way into my heart this time. My brain was telling my body to move, but a twitch and a weak groan was all that came in response. No amount of internal screaming at my limbs did any good.
“Brant!” I croaked when I was finally able to speak. “Go get her!”
“Can’t do that, comrade,” he barked back. “You’ll die if I leave you here.”
“GO GET HER!” I roared, but the mountain refused to move.
“He won’t kill her, Torben, you know that. He won’t even harm her. She’s too valuable. But you’re barely hanging on, you dolt. Now, act dead until things get sorted.”
“Brant, I swear by the gods if you don’t…” It was the last thing I said before everything went dark.
The arm around my waist was like a steel band. I couldn’t move so much as an inch, no matter how hard I fought. I looked back to where Torben lay just in time to see Brant knock him over the head with the hilt of his sword. My mouth opened wider, if that was even possible.
Why would Brant attack his commander? Torben was injured badly. Why would—my thoughts froze. “No,” I whispered to myself. “Brant wouldn’t betray Torben.”
The giant who had grabbed me turned to where Brant stood and commanded, “Finish him.” Brant was looking right at us. He gave a small nod. Was he nodding at me or my captor? What in the seven hells was going on?
“ALLETE!” Dayna’s loud bellow reached across the room to me, and my eyes met hers. She was attempting to run to me, fighting against the stream of panicked people moving the other direction. Swords had been drawn and pockets of men fought one another all over the large room.
“Magnus, what do you want us to do?” A tall man, dressed in an English guard uniform, asked the one holding me. I realized then my attacker was none other than the jarl himself.
“Change of plans,” Magnus growled. “Get the men and meet at the boats. I’ve got a prize I did not expect. We can come back and claim the rest after we’ve regrouped.”
The man gave a nod and hurried off. As soon as he was away, I resumed my fight. “Let me go!”
“Sorry, pet, but I can’t do that,” Magnus said as he moved quickly, weaving in and out of bodies that had fallen, some still writhing in pain. “You are exactly what I need. I had no idea you were within my grasp. And to think Torben had been keeping you all to himself.”
“I don’t understand; why do you need me?” Terror was rising in my chest. I was just beginning to realize he’d grabbed me during a healing. He wanted me for my abilities.
“Don’t play dumb, little one. You’re a healer. You must know how valuable you are.”