Immortal Reign(96)

One simple thrust of her wrist and she would officially be empress, and no one could oppose or control her.

It was so tempting. Then, she could send her grandmother far away, where she would never be heard from again.

Amara could have all the power she ever desired and do with that power everything she ever dreamed.

But before she could decide what path she would now take, the hall erupted in chaos. A group of masked, armed figures swarmed inside, battling against the guards in a blur of arms and legs and weapons. The clash of blades quickly became deafening.

Heart pounding, Amara turned back toward Mikah just in time for him to kick her hard in her broken leg. The pain shot up her spine. She dropped her weapon as she fell to the floor. Then he was gone, out of her sight. She searched for her grandmother but couldn’t spot her either.

Amara turned around to find a sword pointed at her face, and the dark and hateful glare of a rebel’s eyes.

The man took a step forward, moving the blade to her throat, but just as he did he was shoved aside. The sword clattered to the ground as the rebel fell. Felix stood before her, offering his hand. “I should have let him kill you. But I’d rather keep that honor for myself one day.”

“Not today?” she asked tensely.

He frowned at her. “Unfortunately, no.”

Nerissa came to Felix’s side as the battle between rebels and guards continued behind them. Guests fled for the exit in a frenzied, frightened stampede.

“We did our part,” Nerissa told her as she elbowed her way through the crowd. “This will be an excellent distraction for us to get to Lyssa.”

Amara nodded. With no time to speak or make suggestions or do anything except try to avoid being struck down by a rebel’s blade, she led Nerissa and Felix out of the ceremony hall to the nursery her grandmother had taken her to earlier that day.

Each step on her newly injured leg hurt. She hoped very much the brace would continue to hold as she hobbled along as fast as she could down hallway after hallway, passing swarms of guards headed in the opposite direction.

Of course Amara was recognizable in the Spear even without her golden gown. She knew she couldn’t hide from these guards as she hurried down the hallways toward her destination, so she didn’t try.

“We will control the situation, empress,” one guard told her. “You do not have to fear.”

A lovely promise, she thought. But not possible at this point.

She feared. She feared very much the outcome of this day.

After awkwardly ascending the stairway to the floor of the nursery, Amara led her personal pair of rebels down the last hallway to the unguarded door at the end.

“Lyssa is in there.” She gestured toward the door, while scanning the area. “The guards on duty must have been called away to join the fight, but the door will be locked.”

“That’s not a problem,” Felix said. He kicked the door hard, and it flew open.

Amara entered the room first, expecting to deal with nothing more than a frightened nursemaid.

But, of course, things couldn’t be that simple.

Neela was already in the room, alone, holding the baby in her arms.

“So nice of you to join us,” Neela said, barely glancing up after the door broke open.

Amara felt her heart sink in her chest. She tried to speak, but no words came.

Nerissa stepped forward.

“Put her down right now,” she demanded.

Neela smiled at her. “I don’t know you, do I?”

“No. But I know you. And you’re going to put that baby back in her cradle and leave this room right now.”

“No, actually, I don’t think I will.”

Felix stepped closer. “You know, I really don’t make it a habit to mess with old ladies if I can help it. But some old ladies need messing with.” He flashed his blade at her. “Step away from the baby and no one has to get hurt.”

Neela swept her gaze over him. “I recognize you, don’t I? Felix Gaebras, one of Gaius Damora’s bodyguards. The one that my granddaughter took to her bed at her first opportunity. And the one who was arrested for poisoning the emperor and my grandsons. How surprising it is to see you again.”

Felix’s eye narrowed on her. “And you’re the evil granny who’s responsible for everyone’s pain and misery around here. Every kingdom’s got one, it seems.”

Neela’s smile held. “I advise you to stay exactly where you are, Felix. We wouldn’t want this darling child to get hurt, would we?”

Lyssa cooed and stretched her little arms over her head. Amara eyed her uneasily.

“We need to give the baby back to Lucia Damora, madhosha,” she said aloud. “Felix and Nerissa will take her from here.”

Neela made no move to put the baby down. “Dhosha, are you being forced to comply with these rebels’ demands? Be honest with me. There’ll be consequences for lying, as I’m sure you know.”

Amara’s mouth went dry. “Why did you poison the wine, madhosha?”

Neela raised a brow. “What did you say?”

“The wine you left for me in my courtyard rock garden. You left me poisoned wine, because you hoped I’d drink a glass before the ceremony.”

“What? I admit I left you some wine, but it wasn’t poisoned! If it was, someone else is certainly to blame. You are my jewel, dhosha. My treasure beyond any other from the moment you were born.”