You Are Mine (Mine #1)(94)

It can't wait any longer, a hex is going to get through. My hands shake as I lift the gun. They're shaking too much. I'm going to miss.

I point the gun at the hooded figure closest to me. I take a breath and hold it. I squeeze the trigger. The gun recoils in my hand. A crack sounds through the room. I missed.

Except the gun is still spelled to show where the bullet went. The tan light nicks the warlock's arm. He drops his hands, weakening the light attacking Zade. His hand darts out of his robe and touches his arm, it comes away darkened with liquid. He whirls toward me, bloody fingers stretched out toward me.

I haven't saved Zade, only caused us both to die.

The other robed figures hesitate. Maybe it will be enough to give Zade a chance, even if I'm losing mine. I wish I could see their faces. Know who's trying to destroy us. I aim at all of them one-by-one, starting with the figure facing me, quickly firing until I've used my other five bullets.

None of them hit an attacker, but it distracts them. Their spell weakens as they look for the commotion. The crack in Zade's shield shrinks, though he looks weaker than before. A bright green hex goes flying toward him and slips through the crack, slamming into his leg. My chest tightens as Zade lets out a growling yell.

Out of nowhere, a yellow spell zips from beside me, toward the attackers. Nathaniel stands next to me, hand extended. His fiancee stands by his side. They're going to help? A cry comes from the crowd. I look up just in time to see a black-tinged, crimson spell flung at me. I flinch.

A whimper from the side. Nathaniel’s fiancee is on the floor. He crouches over her. One of the attackers moves toward us. Without a thought, I yell and leap for him.

He stops, but I don't. I force all my momentum into slamming my gun on his head. It hammers into him. We fall to the floor, his hood opening in the process. Father. I just hit Father.

For a moment, I can't move. He's unconscious. How many times has he done something similar to me? Deal with him later. I roll onto my back. He stays motionless.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see another attacker racing toward me. I turn to hit him or trip him or throw my gun at him. Anything, though it'll be too late. Before I can decide which to do, an aqua spell blasts into him from behind.

He searches for his foe. Zade's free, already casting another spell toward him, the other hooded figures are gone. The last one runs for the door, casting a tan wall behind him.

Zade saved me. Green spells fly from him, but hit the fleeing warlock's wall without doing a thing. Others from the crowd move to help, but it's too late. The attackers are gone.

Zade follows, but he's limping so bad there's no chance he'll catch up to them. He needs to come back here where it's safe and someone could look at his leg. Before I can go after him, Chadwick does. His servant should be able to bring him back. I search for Waverly, but don't see her on the floor where they left her. Did someone move her? Is she still alive?

A crowd of people have gathered around the fallen girl. Father is still beside me, several warlocks guarding him. I'd rather help the girl than deal with him. I heave myself off the ground and move toward her.

The crowd parts, not wanting to be by the girl with the gun, I suppose. Nathaniel is on the floor next to her. I kneel by him.

“How is she?”

He shakes his head.

I reach for her. Her skin is cold. Her chest isn't moving. Dead. She died because I stood up for Zade.

Why did they have to do this? I glance behind me, where I left Father. He's stirring, but Councilman Daniel, along with other warlocks, still stand guard. That will be sufficient, for now. I focus back on Nathaniel.

“I'm sorry I couldn't do more.”

“Don't be. You're not the problem here. Someone else is.”

“What is the meaning of this?” The Grand Chancellor shouts from above us, his white hair glowing under the lights, but his dark beard making the bottom half of his face seem too disappear. I swallow and stand.

He says, “I'm enjoying the gardens for a moment and someone kills my son's intended? Who has done this?”

The crowd parts away from me. Someone turns the electric lights on. The Grand Chancellor stares at me. Realizing I still hold the gun, I shove it back in my pocket and bite my lip. Can he tell she didn't die from being shot? Will he use it as an excuse to tarnish my newly freed state?

Then I realize he's not looking at me, but past me. I turn. The crowd didn't part to show me, they parted to show Father standing with his hood pulled back, a bruise forming on his head beneath strands of white hair. A bruise I caused.

“You're a part of this, Councilman Stephen?”

Father looks at me a moment. An expression crosses his face I don't recognize. He gives his attention to the Grand Chancellor. “I am.”

“Why have you destroyed my son's possession?”

Possession? She was a person. Someone must have cared for her more than as a plaything.

Father puts his palms together in front of his chest. “I didn't mean to. We were only trying to get rid of the Envadi. Ever since coming here he's caused trouble. My reputation and daughter have suffered because of him.”

The Grand Chancellor's voice is low. “This is because of Chancellor Zade?”

Councilman Daniel is close by. I catch his eye hoping he will defend Zade. My doing it would make things worse, but if he did it, it may help. Hope fills me as he steps forward.