Chapter Seven

 

The two guards were back outside the window. I could hear them talking beyond the leaves, their voices low and the words unintelligible.

I bit my lip. I could rush past them, but a diversion still felt like the best plan. Even if my idea with Tiago hadn’t worked out, the longer I could keep them thinking I was just here and upset and not intending to leave, the– A new plan popped into my head.

Swiftly, I shrugged the bag off and tucked it on one side of the windowsill. Taking a few quick breaths, I tried to make myself look as upset as possible, like I was fighting to keep from crying.

It wasn’t hard.

I pushed the fejeria aside.

“Hey, guys?” I said to the two men outside.

They glanced back, and their brows twitched up in alarm.

“What is it, princess?” one of them asked.

“Um… could you, um, like…” I took a hitched breath. “Tiago just broke up with me and Granddad might’ve killed my father and… Could you find a servant and have them head down to the kitchens and get me something? I don’t know what. Anything nice. It’s been a hard week.”

The guards hesitated and I could read the consideration on their faces. If I’d wanted a servant, going to the door would have been more logical.

But then, I was upset. Maybe I wasn’t thinking right. Maybe they could just accommodate me.

I made myself keep breathing, waiting to see if they came to the conclusion I hoped they would.

“Yes, princess.”

One of them turned and swam down a level, disappearing into the opening there.

I let out a breath and then glanced around. The other man was watching me and the palace surroundings equally, while beyond him, there was only the veil and the guards stationed by it.

And if I was fast…

I slipped back behind the leaves and grabbed my bag. Pushing the plants aside again, I kept my shoulder behind the fejeria while I pretended to watch for the other soldier’s return.

The guard gave me a polite smile and then glanced away.

I took off.

The soldier shouted. The guards by the veil turned toward the sound in alarm and then moved to block me.

I darted to the right and dropped fast through the water, veering around them. The bag dragged at my shoulder, slowing me down, but I still managed to cut beneath them as I raced into the veil.

Bubbles rippled over my skin, and magic did as well. The veil fell behind me while the whole city came into view.

Twisting hard to the side, I sped toward a cluster of buildings that rose slightly higher than the rest. The rocky surfaces of the building faces blurred beside me, and then those were behind me too. I tossed a fast glance over my shoulder, checking to see how well the buildings blocked me from the soldiers’ sight.

Not well enough. Half a dozen soldiers were on the other side of the veil now, and one of them was pointing my way.

I gasped and fought for more speed. Up ahead, the broad curve of the outer veil was a glittering fabric that surrounded the city, to which I was racing closer with every second.

But there were other dehaians in my path, and one of them looked familiar. My eyes narrowed.

Niall. A dozen guards flanked him, with supplies on their shoulders and weapons at their waists. They weren’t looking toward me yet, but that could change at any moment.

I dove between the buildings, losing sight of my brother and the others almost immediately. People scattered out of the way, plastering themselves to the rocky walls as I raced past, and more shouts followed. I muttered a curse. Surprised people and confusion would only let the guards know exactly which way I’d gone.

But then, the veil was coming closer. Another few seconds and I’d be there, after which it’d just be the open water and swimming as fast as I could to outpace the guards. Nothing much surrounded the city of Nyciena, barring a canyon so deep it gave little kids nightmares. Hills lay a few miles away, with caves on their sides, but after Ren had found out Zeke had hidden there for several days with Chloe, he’d ordered the guards to keep an eye on the area.

I’d just have to hope I could get enough of a lead that, if I had to use the veil stone to hide, the soldiers wouldn’t spot me before the covering was in place.

Something sped through the water behind me, faster than a dehaian and headed directly at my back.

I veered hard to the left. Missing me by inches, a net pod slammed into the wall and exploded into a mess of tentacles that suckered to the rocks.

My eyes widened. They were shooting at me. They were actually shooting at me.

More pods followed. People cried out as they were hit by the nets and tumbled toward the ground. Chaos erupted, with dehaians fleeing in every direction as they tried to avoid the barrage. The guards shouted, slowed by the crowds.

I slalomed past the buildings, flying toward the veil. Net pods burst over the walls, but the impacts were falling farther and farther behind.

And then the glittering bubbles rushed over me, fast as the blink of an eye, and all of the ocean spread out ahead of me.

I raced east, leaving the city behind.