Page 78 of Trapped By Clocks and Hearts

Fresh, molten rage surged in my chest. No. I couldn’t let the Queen hurt Allie. The heart in my chest was hammering away in alarm and dread once again.

Tilting her head to one side, the Queen mused, “Would you like me to remove your feelings again? So you don’t feel the pain when she dies? You were so desperate last time. Poor little bunny.” She tsked. “But I promise you, you will truly be set free. In that regard, it is not I who traps you, Rabb. You are enslaved by that heart.”

BOOM!

An intense and blinding flash of light flooded the courtroom. My ears rang as I blinked past the spots in my eyes. I glimpsed the flutter of Allie’s lab coat as she bolted out of her broken cage.

The Queen’s scream was choked as Allie grabbed her around the neck by the crook of one arm, pinned her arms with the other, and squeezed. The Queen screeched, “Off with her head! Off with her head!”

I fell free from up against the wall and crumpled to the floor.

Weak. Drained.

The Queen managed to free one hand and a wave of a quick spell threw Allie off of her.

Allie slid across the floor with a yelp. She was winded. I instantly felt her disorientation.

“You little witch!” the Queen rasped, raising her arms to point at Allie’s sagged form as she marched closer. “I’ll kill you right now and you can go join your ghost friends in the underworld.”

My eyes widened in alarm. “NO!” I grunted through the pain and forced my body to come upright.

I had always thought that humans were made weak by feelings. Feelings hindered actions. But the truth was, ever since I’d had Allie’s heart, my magic had been stronger than ever.

With a feral cry, I leaped forward to throw myself in front of Allie, taking the brunt of the Queen’s spell. And with the last remnants of my magic, I shot a powerful gust of air to blast the Queen away, sending her tumbling back to blow right through the courtroom chamber doors.

I crashed to the floor and Allie’s eyes widened in horror. “Rabb, no!” For a split second, she touched her mouth, realizing the Queen’s spell on her had broken. She sank to the floor with me. “No, crap—” She tried to help me back up. “Rabb, no, dammit—get up.”

I stifled a cough. “Allie, I’m so sorry. You have to run. Try to find your way to the river.”

She brushed my hair back from my face. “You’re such an idiot. Why do you keep jumping in to save me? You said you only wanted to live.”

I was spent. My essence was slipping away to join the ghosts, but all I felt was relief. I shook my head. I tried to lift my hand to touch her cheek. “I wanted you. I’ve only ever wanted you.” I managed a weak smile. “Thank you for fixing me.”

Allie’s jaw clenched. Her gaze dropped in deep thought. The gears in her mind were spinning again.

I frowned at her immobile form. I wanted to yell some more, but my limbs were starting to feel numb. What the hell was she still doing here? I told her to run. Run before it was too late. Run before the Queen—

“You two are starting to annoy me.”

Oh. Too late.

Menace in her snarl, the Queen shook off the torn fringes from her gown as she marched back through the broken courtroom doors. “I really liked this dress.”

I tried to remain lucid. Allie, run… But instead of running away, Allie crouched over to cover my form. She wanted to protect me from the Queen’s wrath. She was going to stay with me.

The sudden ache in my chest was accompanied by a warm surge of power and a shimmery white fog enveloped the two of us.

Allie sat up in surprise. “Rabb, what’s…?”

The stinging in my chest grew to a burning fullness—but it was warm, soothing, joyful…

A flash of images rushed through my mind. Allie in my arms when I’d saved her from Tulgey Woods. Me, helping Allie with her injuries at the Duchess’s house. How warm she’d felt in my arms when I soothed her at my clock tower. How full she’d felt last night, full of me, full of love…

Allie’s Heartfire ember had awakened with memories of love.

I blinked in awe, in wonder as fresh, renewed magic flowed through my body. I gazed up at those beautiful honey-brown eyes, utterly speechless. When Allie smiled back at me, I thought my chest was going to explode.

The Queen’s remark interrupting the moment, a corner of her mouth quirked up with derision. “Oh, so you’ve finally ignited her Heartfire ember. Took you long enough. But that measly little new ember will never defeat me.” She raised her arms to send a barrage of lashings our way.