Chapter 102: Don’t belong
I limp through the halls of the palace, every step a reminder of the heat pulsing through my body, the pain wracking my bones, and the rage boiling beneath my skin. My mind fixates on one thing—Noelle. I have to get to Noelle.
My grip tightens around the cane, every inch of pressure on my injured leg sends white-hot pain shooting up, but I don’t care. Noelle is going to be furious when he sees the state I’m in. I had just started using my left as normal, the dull ache only a faint reminder of my battles. But now? Now I’ve probably undone everything. Still, if I can just make it to him, he’ll understand. He has to.
"Thorne."
The voice yanks me from my singular focus. Count Raymond. My eyes sharpen as I lift my gaze, and there they are. Raymond and the king, flanked by a small army of guards. As if their pathetic soldiers could stop me if I truly wanted them dead.
"The fucking audacity you have," I spit, my voice low and venomous.
With a mere thought, every sword in the room jerks from its scabbard, turning inward on its wielder, points now digging into the skin of their necks. The room fills with startled gasps, the guards trembling, unsure of what will come next.
"Thorne, relax," the king says, his voice trying to sound composed, but I can hear the tremor. I can smell the fear.
"Relax?" My laugh is hollow and wild.
"You want me to relax?" I take a step forward, the room trembling with my fury. "Look at me!" I shout, my voice cracking like thunder. The swords press harder against the guards, thin rivulets of blood trickling from their throats.