Chapter 22

We stood just outside of the tunnel door to ready ourselves. This time we opened our wings. We may need them if we wanted to win this fight. I wanted to use them to fly to the palace but Tuck thought that it would draw to much attention too soon.

This was the first time that I got to see Brokk’s wings. During the rest of the times that I had spent with him, I was still under my parents glamour spell.

I was in complete awe. His wings were large and shimmering silver. They were outlined in a deep gold and they were covered in gold scrollwork similar to mine.

I couldn’t help but wonder what that could mean, but I did understand why my mother would agree that we should marry. It was almost as if he were made for me.

As much as I hated to, I had to push those thoughts from my mind. I had a battle to get ready for.

I pulled my sword around so that it was hanging at my side. I could easily reach across my body and pull it out if I needed to.

I followed Tuck and Jenna into the deserted streets and Brokk was not far behind me. He was still limping and he was apparently having trouble keeping up. I slowed my pace a little so that he would still be able to see me, but I still kept a close eye on Jenna and Tuck.

I watched as the pair ducked back into the shadows. Jenna had turned and jerked her head, signaling me to take cover. Brokk must have saw it too because he grabbed my hand and pulled me in to a dark alleyway. He placed himself between me and the street blocking me from the guard that strolled whistling by.

Thankfully, he did not even look our way as he passed, but we waited a few more minutes just in case.

Brokk held me to him with one arm around my back as he watched over his shoulder for the guard. I took in a deep breath and closed my eyes as his honeysuckle and wood scent left me heady. I opened my eyes to find Brokk staring down at me with a sly smile on his face. I gave him a stern look, but that only made him smile wider.

“Callie.” He whispered softly against my ear. “Before we go any farther there is something that I need to do.”

I looked at him inquisitively for a moment as his eyes held mine. He tilted his head slightly and I felt like my heart would leap right out of my chest. He reached up and took the back of my head into his hand as he gently pulled me forward. He firmly pressed his lips to mine.

I resisted and tried to pull away but he held me in place. I opened my eyes to find that I was staring straight into his. I froze as I felt a flood of emotion start to fill me and tears started to swirl against my eyelashes. I found it impossible t resist him any longer, so I reached up and locked both of my arms around his neck and kissed him back.

It started out soft and sweet but soon a desperate passion ignited between us both. I opened my mouth slightly and allowed him to explore further with his tongue as I did the same in turn.

The kiss grew deeper by the second and I struggled to breath, but I did not want to let him go. He lowered his arms to my hips and I responded by pulling myself up and wrapping my legs around his waist. I felt as if I could not get close enough to him. Right then at that moment I never wanted to be anywhere else in the world.

“Uh, hey.” I heard a soft voice say.

I pulled back from Brokk and peered over the top of his shoulder to see Tuck and Jenna staring at us from the end of the alley. Suddenly I remembered where I was and why I was here. I felt an instant heat flood my face and I was sure that I must have turned ten shades of red.

I looked back to Brokk who was smiling once again. He placed one more soft kiss on my lips then I untangled my legs from him and he lowered me back down on my feet.

“We’ll be right there.” Brokk called. “Just give us a second.”

“Okay, well hurry up.” Jenna said. She and Tuck slipped back into the shadow on the street.

Brokk looked back at me. “Callie, I am sorry but I thought that this may have been my last chance to set things right. I did not want to leave this earth without ever even have kissed you. I just wish that I had done it sooner. Maybe you wouldn’t have kissed that Kailen guy if I had.”

I rolled my eyes. He was trying to be sweet, but the guy in him was shining through. “Brokk, I am sorry about Kailen. I wish that I never would have even met him. But I can promise you one thing, he never kissed me like that.”

He smiled and his chest swelled with pride. I had to roll my eyes again. Typical guy. He grabbed my hands and placed one more kiss on the top of my forehead. Then he reached over and to my surprise, he stuck his hand into the pocket of my blue jeans and pulled out the ring.

“How did you know that was there?”

“I couldn’t miss that lump against your leg.”

His smile widened and he slid the ring back onto my finger.

“I know that we can’t talk about everything that happened right now, but I do love you Callie. Will you please wear my ring?”

Tears once again. I just couldn’t help myself. I swear I did nothing but cry anymore.

“Of course I’ll wear your ring.”

He kissed me again. Slow and deep as he picked me up by my waist.

“Are you ready?” He asked hesitantly.

“Let’s go kick some butt.”

We rounded the corner onto the street and found Tuck and Jenna waiting for us in the next alley. The two guys led the way this time and Jenna followed along beside me.

“What was that all about?” She asked leaning in to me.

“I don’t know. Something just came over me. I could not stop myself.” I said with a giggle.

“Will you ever learn?” She laughed and so did I as I shook my head no.

I looked up to find that we were getting close to the palace. This is where things were going to start getting tricky. The guards would be more concentrated in this area in order to protect the queen.

I stared up at the tall white turrets, my palms we starting to sweat. I rubbed my hands together in an effort to help me concentrate on what I needed to do.

If we tried to take out the Guard right now, they would alert the queen and her personal guards and she would probably flee. But if I tried to go straight for the queen there would be too many guards coming to her rescue that we would have to fight. There was no easy way to do this.

“Let’s just try to get as far as we can before we start trying to take anybody down.” I said.

“Okay, nobody do anything until they absolutely have to. The closer we are to the queen, the better.” Jenna instructed.

Everyone agreed and we pushed forward. We made it all the way up the front marble stairs when suddenly the large wooden door flew open and Bree stepped out.

She looked to me and then at Brokk as if trying to ascertain what was going on. “What are you doing here?” She asked, bewildered.

“Bree,” Brokk said. “I want you to go straight to your room and lock the door. Do not come out until I come for you.”

“What are you talking about Brokk? I just helped you escape. This is about her isn’t it?” She nodded toward me, sounding angry.

“Bree, you just need to do as I ask.” He insisted.

“Why? Why do you have to keep doing things to anger the queen. You just keep getting yourself hurt Brokk!” She was starting to sound desperate.

Tuck and Jenna looked at each other and then turned to look back at me. I was not sure what to say or do. Bree had always been the one to help me when I was locked away here, but I never got the impression that she really liked me. I always felt like it was a chore for her. Now I was beginning to wander what her relationship was to Brokk.

“Brokk, if she is not going to listen to you, then we need to lock her up ourselves.” Tuck motioned toward Bree.

Brokk spun to face Tuck. His anger showed on his face. His nostrils flared, his body grew rigid. I moved to place myself between the two of them, holding my hands up to Brokk.

“You will not touch her!” He growled.

“Brokk!” I said desperately. “Nobody wants Bree to get hurt. It would only be to protect her.”

His eyes met mine and I could see him begin to calm instantly.

“I won’t let anything happen to her. I promise.” I said to him more quietly.

He nodded and turned to face Bree. “Please Bree, let’s go up to your room.”

She looked at each of us and then nodded to Brokk. He took her by the elbow and led her inside. They walked to the top of the stairs and into what used to be my old room. I waited at the bottom of the stairs with the others.

I heard a door close and then a click as the lock was turned. Brokk appeared at the top of the stairs looking forlorn. I met him halfway as he descended the stairs. I took his hand and looked deeply into his eyes for a moment. I still couldn’t figure out why he got so angry.

“She’s going to be okay, Brokk.” I whispered.

He nodded in acknowledgement. We moved through the palace toward the queen’s sleeping quarters. I found myself a little surprised that we had not run into any of the guards by then.

“Something is not right.” I whispered to Brokk.

“I sense it too. The palace was surrounded by guards when I tried to get in earlier.”

We made it to the door of the queen’s chamber. I pressed my ear to the door but I was not able to hear any sound coming from inside. I gently tried to turn the knob but it was locked.

“I’ll kick it in.” Whispered Tuck. He drew back and with one hard thump of his shoulder the door flew open.

We rushed inside with Jenna and me in the lead. Tuck and Brokk stood on either side of the door. Brokk reached up and flipped on the lights.

It took a few seconds for my eyes to adjust to the brightness after spending so long in the darkness of the tunnels. I rubbed my eyes hard and looked up to find that we were surrounded by at least thirty of the queen’s guards and she was nowhere in sight.

“It was a trap!” Jenna exclaimed. “Somebody must have warned them that we were coming!”

“It must have been the Drakes! Damn!” Tuck said. He drew his sword as the guards closed in on us.

“What do we do Callie?” Jenna asked as two of the guards rushed towards her.

I started to panic, everything was happening so quickly that I barely had time to think. I held up my hands and called to Erion, the spirit of the air. He was there in an instant. I threw my hands forward and a strong gust of wind was sent into the approaching soldiers. They flew backward and crashed into the wall with a hard thud.

That took at least a third of them down, but the rest pulled out their weapons. They looked ready to fight. There was still too many, I had to try again. This time as I looked to Erion, I spun my arm around in a circular motion. A few seconds later a small funnel of wind appeared before me. I threw my arm out toward the guards, and the funnel followed suit. It flew into the soldiers and ripped the swords from their hands. I could see the silvery glint of the weapons spinning around inside of the tube of air.

“Be careful with that Callie!” I heard Jenna call to me over the sound of the rushing wind.

I lowered my hand gently and the twirling wind started to slow. The swords were softly placed onto the ground. I saw Brokk bend down and pick one up out of the corner of my eye. The rest of the guardsman held their hands up in surrender.

“Where is Lilith?” I asked the guard standing out in front of the others. He must have been some sort of commander because he had lots of stars and stripes sewn onto his uniform.

He looked around hesitantly, but he did not speak. I motioned for Brokk to move toward him. Brokk was there in an instant. He wrapped an arm around the guy’s neck and held a blade to his throat.

I asked again. “Where is Lilith?”

“Sh-she’s gone.” He stuttered. “She took some of the guards and left.”

“Where?” I asked again. “Where has she gone?”

When he did not answer, Brokk tightened his grip on the guy’s neck. “Answer her!” He yelled.

“I-I think they went to the surface.” He choked out.

“When?” I demanded. “How long have they been gone?”

“O-only about,” He paused gasping for air. “Thirty minutes.”

“We can still catch her.” Brokk said.

“No.” I said, looking at each of them. “You stay here and keep an eye on the guards. I can do this on my own.”

“Callie, wait.” Jenna yelled. “You are going to get yourself killed. We should all go.”

“If we all go the guard will have time to reorganize. I need you more here.” I turned and looked at the commander.

“Do you know who I am?”

He peered up at me, but he did not answer.

“I am Calliope Rose, daughter of the former Queen Faylinn and King Elvin. Do you know what that means? It means that I am your true queen. You will serve me or you will die.” I glared at him. I was being so serious that I almost wanted to laugh at myself, but I held my composure. “From now on you will answer to Brokk or to me. Is that understood?”

“B-but, Brokk is just a foot soldier.” He started to say.

“You will address me as your queen!” I yelled. “And Brokk is my betrothed, which makes him your future king! I suggest you start acting like it!”

Brokk jerked his head up to look at me, as did Jenna and Tuck. I really did not have time to explain myself, and I really did not know what I would say. It just sort of came out in the heat of the moment.

I turned and ran for the door.