“Don’t you know the power of Rasna, you fools!” She taunted them as shadows swirled about her form and mournful wailing filled the air. The new moon always worked wonders of her powers. Her creatures fed on the darkness and these idiots took her to the depths of the woods on a moonless night.
“What the hell are you doing, you witch!”
“Demoness!”
Fearsome lesser demons with venom-soaked fangs and rambling skeletons converged on her captors. They tried their best to run, but they had no lanterns or torches to light their way.
“If you tell me who sent you, I might spare you,” she called after them. But, they didn’t look back. Giuliana sighed. That usually worked. She examined her palm in the dim light of the carriage’s lanterns. No scar remained from her use of her powers. The one good perk of having a Rasnan mother and practicing blood magic, she healed without the pesky side-effects. Others who walked down this path without the blood of Rasna had scars covering their body.
She conjured a flame in her hand and explored the area, ignoring the pleas and screams for mercy. She had not the slightest clue where they had taken her. They must have used a travel spell to cover more distance from the city. Those were the spells only the richest nobility could afford as only highly skilled mages could create them.
That certainly narrowed the list down. She scoffed. Not really since commoners didn’t bother to abduct her without direction for a noble family.
The ruckus transformed back to silence, and she felt her creatures return beneath the earth. Perhaps she might have shown mercy, but that was not her style. Mama always told her to never leave enemies alive. Sure they might reform themselves, but most of the time they just did it again.
No second chances.
The sleepiness tugged at her again. She fought back a yawn and hopped to sit on the edge of the carriage. She would not sleep again because look what happened. Even if her eyelids dropped and her body felt like lead.
Extinguishing the flame, she tucked her dagger back in its usual spot beneath her layers of underthings.
She hoped her absence would go noticed before dawn came. Spending a night in the woods alone was unpleasant and made worse by a restrictive ball gown.
A rustle in the bushes set her on edge. No. Her creatures disposed of those men. It must have been some woodland animal like a faun or a rabbit. Or was it past their bedtime?
She didn't even know the time since watches were not en vogue for women. Giuliana fell backwards onto the floor of the carriage, letting out a sigh. Maybe she'd set the fashion for feminine watches. A tiny little watch face attached to a ribbon and pinned on a bodice. She saw pictures of such an invention on foreign ladies but it hasn't trickled into Etria yet.
"There's the carriage," cried out a distant voice. Giuliana did not move, waiting for it to approach.
"Lady Giuliana?" The same voice asked, footsteps padding in the dirt. Huh. That sounded just like Lucas, which meant —
Alastair moved like a panther when the whim overtook him. He crushed Giuliana against his chest, pulling her from the carriage. A lantern fell to the ground as he cried out, "Liana!"
Giuliana relaxed in his embrace, reveling in his warmth. The fear she had done her best to ignore dissipated in his presence. She buried her face in his chest, arms wrapping around him.
"Is she unharmed?" Lucas' voice sounded very far away, and she wanted to pretend he wasn't even there. She wanted a few minutes of this. Of his affection. Of his concern.
Alastair's reply came out strangled. "Y-Yes." He relaxed his hold and turned his head to Lucas.
"Are there bodies?"
"What do you think?"
He looked at her. "Your pretties?"
"I called on more than I intended."
"Why?"
"There were other threats than the usual."
Lucas let out a low whistle and inched away. "I'm gonna check on those corpses."
"Other threats?" Alastair bent to pick up the lantern. The shimmering flames cast sinister shadows across his face. "What does that mean?"
She repeated the captor's words verbatim, watching as his handsome face devolved.
"But, I’m fine!"
"I-I-I… don't know what to say to that."
"Why don't you tell me how you found me?"
"I came to fetch you and they said you already left in a ducal carriage and Isolda showed me the note. I went to the ball, but no one had seen you. Lucas volunteered to come with me while Lecia stayed at the ball lest you show up there."
"But how did you find me? We're in the middle of nowhere."
“The fools stole a ducal carriage for their scheme and every Duke from the dawn of our House has placed layers of tracking enchantments on them.”
“Ahh, I did not know that.”
“Neither did whoever planned this.”
“Well,” Lucas started, returning to the carriage. “They’re all dead with no trace of your little demon friends.”
“They never take prisoners and the men ran away when I offered leniency in return for the name of who ordered this.”
“What a ruthless fiancee you have, Alastair,” said Lucas with stars in his eyes.
“Did you find anything on the bodies?”
“It’d be too easy if the ringleader had a letter on him detailing the plan.”
“I suppose so,” agreed Giuliana. She relaxed in Alastair’s arms, overcome by his warmth and pleasant scent. He drew circles on her back, his temper returning to normal.
“I should get Lady Giuliana back home.”
“No. We need to go to the ball.”
“The ball?”
“Yes. I’m not expected to show up, so I need to.”
“She’s right,” Lucas pointed out. “Lecia is already monitoring my shortlist of the families publicly lined against the Seabright earldom.”
“It’s midnight though.”
“These balls last until dawn and you know the culprit is celebrating their victory.”
Giuliana disentangled herself from his embrace and hopped to the ground. “I can freshen up on the way. I’m certain I look a fright.” She said, more to Alastair than Lucas. But it was dear Lucas who spoke first.
“I think the danger invigorated you actually,” he declared, tapping a finger against his chin. “Don’t you think she looks exquisite, Alastair?”
Her fiance did not answer and instead turned away from them. “I’ll let everyone know we’re ready to head back so the mages can start the travel spell.”
“That man is not of this world,” said Lucas to Giuliana. “Are you sure you want to marry him? There are a lot of men in the guard who’d gladly take you as a bride.”
“Second and third sons will always want to marry the only daughter of an earl.”
“They’re not just interested in those reasons, Giuliana. You’re rather popular amongst men.”
“Somehow I don’t believe that. No one except Alastair or you ever pays me any mind.”
A coachman took up the reins of the Duke’s carriage. Lucas helped Giuliana inside and climbed in after her.
“Well, that’s because before we all went to the Academy, Alastair--”
“Are you telling Liana unnecessary things again, Lucas?” The duke interrupted, shooting his friend a warning look.
Lucas gasped. “Me? Unnecessary? That wounds me, Alastair.”
He rolled his eyes. “You’ll get over it.” He addressed her next. “We’ll be back to the Capital in half an hour. So, there’s enough time to rest if you wish.”
“I don’t think I’ll ever rest in a carriage again,” she answered with a shake of her head. “I’ll be quite alright.”
“Ah! Alastair, did I tell you who is back in the Capital?”
“Does anyone ever leave the Capital?” He replied, raising a brow.
“Sir Jasper Pinnick did.” Lucas turned his shrewd blue eyes on Giuliana. “You remember him, don’t you? Wasn’t he a favorite of yours?”
Alastair glanced at Giuliana who kept her focus on her lap. “Yes, I remember Sir Jasper. He was always very nice to me.”
Alastair’s strange extra attention distracted her so she paid little attention to the day. Yes, Sir Jasper returned to the Capital after a time away around this time. And he would play the same games he did when they were at the Academy.
But, she’d be ready this time.
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