Broken Dove (Fantasyland #4)(200)

So like his dad.

Unfortunately, the next moment, we heard shrieks coming from the hall.

Élan pressed deeper and made a noise of fear from low in her throat.

At hearing her fear, I swallowed my growl and felt the women pressing closer around us.

“Perhaps we should go to the nursery.” I heard Cora say quietly. “I’m not sure my Hayden will sleep through this and I don’t want him to wake frightened.”

“I agree,” Finnie replied, but her voice was uncertain and worried and her eyes were on Stephan. “The nursery is higher ground and we should all be together.”

“You stay here,” Stephan replied. “It’s a mistake to move you and Zahnin, Bain, Oleg, Quincy, Balthazar, Max, Annar, Ruben and Thad are guarding the children.”

That was a lot of protection.

I just hoped it was enough.

One look at Finnie’s face, which was still worried but no longer uncertain, I knew it was enough.

There was a thud that sounded like a body hitting the wall outside.

Damn it!

I jumped. Élan jumped in my arms. Murmurs filtered through the women around me. And Chris jerked to look at the door.

“We’re safe,” I whispered to Élan, smoothing my hand over her hair, hoping to God the boys outside were as well.

She pushed deep, whining, “I want Papa.”

I did too.

“We’ll be okay, honey bunch,” I told her. “He’ll be here soon.”

I pulled her even closer as more shrieks came.

These were close and another body thumped. This time against the door.

Chris whirled to me, his eyes wide. The little boy coming out, he couldn’t hide his fear.

And at that, fire burned through me.

Those f**king witch bitches.

The women got even closer, Cora putting a hand to Chris’s shoulder and guiding him into our huddle.

“Miss Maddie,” Meeta whispered.

“We’re safe,” I stated.

“Miss Maddie, give me the child.” Meeta was still whispering.

Oh crap.

I tipped my head back to look at her.

I didn’t like what I saw.

“No,” I said softly.

She stared into my eyes.

“They blocked me,” she said softly. “Their power directed on other things, I am no longer blocked.”

She had been blocked.

She was no longer blocked.

She knew what was going to happen.

And she wanted Élan.

Okay.

Shit.

No.

Apollo’s words pounded through my brain.

Do you not think all this says that it is time we set the sadness and tragedy where it belongs and look ahead to a future that could do nothing but beam bright?

I stared into Meeta’s eyes.

Apparently, he was wrong.

Making my decision, I surged up, pushing Élan her way. “Go!” I cried and turned to Loretta. “Take Chris!”

Loretta instantly grabbed Chris.

“Maddie, it’s oh—” Finnie started.

At the same time, Chris shouted, “I stay with Miss Maddie!”

It was then there came a deafening explosion, the force of which blew the windows and curtains in, shattered glass and shards of velvet blasting through the air.

I reached for Chris and shoved him to the floor as we all hit the deck.

When the glass settled, I lifted my head and my eyes found Meeta’s.

“Take them now!” I yelled, rolling off Chris, coming to my feet and pulling him up with me, pure instinct prompting me to finish. “Take them to the wolves!”

Meeta rose, coming off of Élan who she’d thrown herself on, dragging the weight of the girl up in her arms and starting to run.

“I stay with Miss Maddie!” Chris shouted, and I looked to see Loretta was pulling him to the doors, but he was resisting her.

“Go with Loretta, Chris, please!” I shouted as the room started filling with mist.

Red mist.

Blue mist.

Black mist.

Bad mist.

All of it swirling around me, Cora, Finnie and Circe.

The men outside surged in and I saw all of Apollo’s men there and some of Frey’s.

Shit!

“Miss Maddie!” Élan shrieked and I saw her stretching her arms my way as she and Meeta disappeared around the door.

In her place, another Circe raced in, trailed by Valentine.

They lifted their hands and gold and green sparks filled the room.

I felt my hand tagged and I looked right.

Cora had me.

I felt my other had tagged and I looked left.

Circe had me.

I looked in front of me.

Circe and Cora had Finnie.

“Shit, shit, shit,” Finnie whispered right when the room faded away.

* * * * *

Apollo

Apollo followed Lahn into the stone room in the bowels of the Winter Palace, a room full of men.

And one woman.

The moment they hit it, Lahn turned to look over his shoulder at Apollo.

“Is this her?’ he growled.

Apollo had no idea what was asking and didn’t care.

Maddie was gone. Knowing his children were under heavy guard of soldiers, witches and wolves, getting her back was the only thing on his mind.