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My lungs strained for air On the verge of passing out, the buzzing then released er cauards continued to be unresponsive After taking several deep breaths, I bolted fro to understand The buzzing sound followed me as I ran back the e had co other servants hurrying through the hallway Odd looks were cast ht I forcedheart
My throat burned fro, ht red beads dripped offthe glass I gazed at the blood on the floor
Turning around, I saw a line of cri down the corridor I clutched my arms to my chest, but it was too late I had left a blood trail, and there were Brazell’s guards, like trained dogs, following it
They were co around the corner at the far end of the hall Undetected so far, I knew any sudden roup of servants, hoping to blend in Pain pulsated in har heartbeat
When I reached a turn, I risked a glance over uards stood at the spot where ued with his partner I slipped around the corner unnoticed, then buht into Valek
"Yelena! What happened to you?" Valek grabbed lass" It eak I hurried to cover it "I’an to walk past Valek, he graspedme around
"You need to see a et past Valek
"Theuards Foolishly, I hoped they wouldn’t seeinto step behind us
I glanced at Valek There was no expression on his face His grip onme to some secluded spot where the three of them could kill me? Should I make a break for it? But if Valek had wanted me dead, he had only to withhold the antidote to Butterfly’s Dust
When the hallway e around to face the two guards I stayed close behind hiuards
"No, sir," said Wren A foot taller than Valek, his hands were the size of my head "Just want to reclairab me
Valek deflected his hand "Your prisoner?" Valek’s voice sliced through the air like steel
The guards looked at each other in disbelief Valek had no weapons While the other guard was shorter than Wren, he still outweighed the other two uards’ faces I wondered if sneering and glaring were part of their training Rand the cook would probably bet a ument
"Actually, General Brazell’s prisoner, sir Now, if you would…" Wren gestured for Valek to step aside
"Tell your boss that Valek doesn’t appreciate having his new food taster chased through the castle And that I would like her to be left alone"
The guards glanced at each other again I was beginning to suspect they had only one brain to share between the Valek with a hting stance
"We have been ordered to bring the girl to the General Nothis sword frouard flourished his weapon as well Wren asked Valek to move aside once more Faced with tords, what could Valek do? Run for ht to the balls of ht hand blurred into motion with two quick snaps of his wrist It looked as if he had saluted both guards Before the men could react, he was between them, too close for swords He crouched low, put his hands on the floor and spun Using his legs, Valek windround I heard a clatter of metal, a whoosh of air from Wren and a curse from the other before they both lay racefully move away from his fallen opponents He counted under his breath When he reached ten, he bent over each man and removed a tiny dart froht, but I’ over the prone for soldiers, valek took my injured arm and inspected it "not as bad as it looks You’ll live We’ll see the Coh the castle My ar the Co theinto a hot bath ithout a doubt
We entered a spacious round chamber that served as the Colass s stretched fro and encircled three-quarters of the chamber The kaleidoscope of colorstop Dizzy, I would have stu that rootedwooden table filled the center of the roo behind hiether in annoyance A tray of untouched food sat by his side Also seated around the table were three of the Co their lunch, while the third’s fork hovered in midair I focused on the hand; white knuckles equaled white-hot rage With reluctance I aze