Invasion by Sadie Barron

Author:Sadie Barron [Barron, Sadie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-12-02T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

Mariah

“Papa, no!” I shout at the sight of the security guards aiming their guns at Axel. I step in front of my lover’s tall frame, spreading my arms wide. They will shoot him, but they won’t shoot me.

A scowl darkens my father’s face. “Whatever this man has said or done to convince you to help him, he’s nothing more than a common thief.”

My cheeks turn pink at the thought of what Axel has done to me. Behind me, Axel doesn’t move or say anything. He doesn’t have to. I know that Axel wants me as much as I want him. “You can’t control me any longer. I’m leaving with him and I’m taking the diamond with me.”

I’m going to have happiness and love in my life, not be a rich man’s pawn any longer.

Papa’s face turns almost purple with outrage. “Mariah, you listen to me. You’re getting married tomorrow. Have you forgotten? Stop this nonsense at once!”

“I tried to forget any of this was happening,” I say, standing my ground. “Because I never wanted to marry the Crown Prince. I think you must already know that.”

“My dear daughter,” he sneers. “It is not about what you want, but where your duty lies. I’m just thankful your mother isn’t here to see this.”

Axel takes hold of me gently by my shoulders and steps in front of me, but I push forward again. My father has silenced me for too long but I won’t be silenced anymore. With Axel by my side, I have the confidence to finally speak my mind.

“Mother would have wanted me to be happy! You know she broke off her engagement with Nicolas of Luxembourg to marry you, because she loved you.”

My father’s face twists with rage, and I wonder if he hates that I have reminded him of that, or worse, reminded him of the pain of losing his wife. “You are behaving like a spoiled child. Guards, seize him!”

Axel lunges forward and kicks the gun out of the hand of the first guard. The second guard trips over the body. Axel swipes up a gun and shoots the third in the leg. He collapses with a scream. The fourth comes rushing in from the side. Axel pushes me protectively behind him as the guard fires off a panicked shot.

“Don’t shoot my daughter, you idiot!”

While the guard is distracted, Axel grabs me by my hand, and we run past my father down the hallway.

“This way,” I pant. “There’s an exit through the observatory.”

We run down the hallway, the oil paintings of my ancestors seeming to watch our flight with disapproving faces. The candelabras shake with the heavy thumping of footsteps behind us. Left, and then right and left again. The door of the observatory is in sight. As we turn the corner, more guards appear. They’re breathing hard and their guns are pointed right at us. I step in front of Axel. They’ve been given orders not to shoot me, and I can use it to our advantage.

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