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Fires raged in at least three areas. Sirens wailed and emergency lights flashed. The cries of agony became overwhelming as I allowed myself to take it all in.
“We need to go,” I whispered as my eyes blurred with tears. “I need to help them.”
Leila’s small hands gripped my shoulder to steady me. “I’ll help you down the hill, milady. You can lean on me.”
I nodded, loving the innocence of her bravery. We would need if it where we were headed.
Fitz
I couldn’t find her. I found five more injured and three dead. My focus had turned to a single desire to locate Michaela.
“Coco!” I screamed her name, desperation removing any prior need to keep the nature of our relationship secret. “Coco!”
With all the plaster coating the bodies, not to mention the streams of blood that carved out bright paths of violence over their faces, I didn’t recognize many. As a woman worked to remove the debris from yet another building that had collapsed, I fell in beside her, lending a hand.
“Milord!” Sadie stared at me, eyes wide. “You’re still here.”
I nodded. “I’m not leaving either. Don’t try to force me.”
“I wouldn’t dare.” She tossed a rock that freed a boot.
I pulled two more rocks free, and my heart quickened at the sight of the royal insignia. I knew the uniform.
“Kabir!” I moved faster, pulling the debris off my loyal bodyguard. If he was trapped here, then where was Michaela? Was she beneath him? I pulled the final boulder and reached my hand down to him. With surprising strength, he gripped it and rose from the pile of rocks.
“Thank you, Your Highness.” He gritted his teeth. “I might have died in there.”
I wanted to assure him that it was my pleasure to free him, but my thoughts were already elsewhere.
“Kabir, where is Michaela? Was she—“ My gaze drifted over the pile, concerned that she was trapped and dying while we had our reunion.
“I lost her. I was tracking her when she ran into the storm.” He grimaced and clutched his arm, likely broken. “I’ve failed you.”
“Not at all.” I stood and waved down medics with a stretcher. “You need a doctor, old friend.” I stepped out of the way as they moved in to help him. Palm over my mouth, I barely smothered a cry of anguish that wrenched from my chest. Where was she?
“I saw her, Your Highness.” Sadie set her hand on my wrist and turned me toward the hill that towered above the capital city. “A child in a red coat ran away as the storm broke open and she bravely went after her.”
A faint smile teased at my cheeks. If she was on the hill, she might be unscathed. I thanked Sadie absentmindedly and started toward the incline. Someone was up there. A flash of red caught my eye. A child in a crimson jacket, just like Sadie had said. Standing next to her a woman crouched, catching her breath.
Let her be safe was my reoccurring thought as my walk turned to a jog.
Michaela
“We have to hurry,” I urged Leila again.
“I’m trying, milady, but my legs hurt from getting stuck.”
I crouched next to her and kicked myself for not checking her for injuries. I was so worried about everyone else, I forgot about the one I was saving. Pulling up her pant leg, I drew in a sharp breath at the stain of red that dripped over her skin. She’d cut herself on something.
“Is it bad?”
I shook my head to keep her calm. We would be at the hospital in no time. She didn’t need to know how deep it was. “No, it’s fine. Don’t worry. How about I carry you?”
“I won’t be a bother?”
Bless her innocent heart. She was bleeding and worried I would have a hard time carrying her.
“Not at all.” I scooped her up into my arms but had to bite back the cry of pain that shot through my system. My muscles hadn’t recovered yet. I hid the ache away and gritted my teeth to smile at her. “See? Easy.”
