Chapter 64
The Chalice Ritual was no different. We stood around, bare and weakened just for someone whose relevance was decided by the high lord, to judge us and choose which of us were fit to be prey for the predator.
The room went silent with a single sharp inhale going over everyone’s heads when they watched Emanuel leap from the ground and land on one of the guards. The guard’s hold on Iliana broke and he stumbled back down the steps but regained his composure in time to catch Emanuel’s fist like it were a baseball and his hand was the mitt.
It was so silent around us that everyone could hear the bones being crushed in Emanuel’s hand- his jaw clenched, his face turned beet red and a blood vessel popped in his eyes when he held in a scream and refused to stand down.
“Fuck,” I cursed and took one step, about to go down there and do gods-know-what but anything was better than the nothing I was doing right now.
Before I could take another step, Emanuel connected his fist with the guard’s face and his hand was released. It was deformed and unnaturally flattened but
released.
The other guard threw Iliana onto the platform and took four steps- four steps and he was down the stairs standing behind Emanuel and kicked into his side. I heard how his rib broke but he didn’t cower in pain, he continued fighting them until the white marble was stained with the blood of all three of them but Emanuel’s the most.
How the hell was he holding his own with two trained men from the royal guard?
It didn’t make sense, it shouldn’t be possible but yet here he was, living proof that some things in life make you stronger, such as love. I looked at the focus in his eyes and the way that his body moved like in a dance with the most lethal moves, his hands slashed through the air and I listened to the grunts he made when he landed a punch and the groans when pain was inflicted onto him.
How had I not seen it earlier? It should’ve been the first thing I noticed when they walked in. It was so obvious to me now. Emanuel was in love with Iliana.
“ENOUGH!”
Everyone stopped and turned to Darian. Iliana cried out when Darian’s hand circled her throat and he lifted her on her toes.
“She is the killer! What are you waiting for, your majesty?” Mr. Light, one of the council members spat.
She wasn’t a killer, they had everything wrong.
Nobody was doing anything, everyone was standing so still they might as well have been statues!
But then I saw movement in my peripheral vision, someone walked out with a deep scowl. I turned my face and saw Nora looking pissed, stomping across the floor, pushing her way to the middle where the path had been cleared. She made it past them, her clutch hung on a band around her wrist and her eyes were aflame when she stared daggers up at the podium.
Just when she reached the cleared path a shadow got in her way and put a hand on her arm, gently but firmly keeping her put.
Nora frowned at Abby who refused to let her pass. I could see Abby’s face from here, she wore a deep frown and she looked at Nora with a silent warning in her narrowed eyes.
“Is there a problem?” Darian asked, his eyes playing viciously over Nora and Abby.
“No, sir, no problem.” Abby mused and covered Nora with her body.
“Enough stalling, kill the girl!” Mr. Light growled. His hands were covered in blood from having tried to help Mr. Asbury.
He wanted justice for the death of his friend and I could understand that but they were all so wrong. There would be no justice by killing an innocent girl and there was no way in hell that I was letting them hurt Iliana.
“She didn’t do it!” I called out and locked eyes with Darian.
1/2
The Alpha’s Hunt
