The Darkest Night by Emma V. Leech

Author:Emma V. Leech [Leech, Emma V.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-05-11T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 26

"Bram!"

Bram looked up to see Claudette running down the stairs toward him. She looked as beautiful as ever, though pale and fragile. Her large turquoise eyes were wide and frightened, and he thought it looked as though she'd been crying.

"He's safe," he said in a rush, before she had a chance to ask as he hurried towards her. "Jean-Pierre is safe. I left him at Bertulf House, he should be here by tomorrow, I imagine."

Claudette's eyes were brimming with gratitude as she gave a little gasp of relief. "Thank you,” she said, the words warm and sincere. “Thank you so much. I knew you wouldn't let me down." He smiled at her and tried to hide his pleasure when he was swiftly embraced. "I owe you so much,” she said as she hugged him and kissed his cheek. “I will do everything I can to clear your name, Bram, you have my word."

He allowed himself to hold her for the briefest moment before stepping away and nodding. "I know you will,” he said, his voice low as he smiled at her. “I never doubted it." He frowned, then, seeing that the fear had not cleared from her eyes with his news. Stepping closer once more, he took her hand. "What is it?"

He watched in alarm as a large tear slid down her cheek and her face crumpled. "Corin ..." She stopped, covering her mouth with her hand and taking a breath. Swallowing hard, she squeezed his hand and released it. "Come and see,” she said, the words trembling with emotion.

He followed her through the maze of the vast palace until they reached the door of what he assumed to be their bedroom. The hallway was lined with guards, every one of them looking tense and uneasy. Claudette opened the bedroom door and Bram gasped in shock. The doorway, and indeed all of the room visible, was filled, floor to ceiling, with thick, dark stems that coiled and tangled around each other, knotted and twisted and dense. Each stem was studded with hundreds of lethal, jagged thorns, making the room totally impenetrable.

Bram reached out a hand and touched his finger lightly to one of the thorns. Blood welled and trickled down his finger, a tiny drop splashing onto a stem that swelled and thrust further into the room. "Gods," he murmured, eyes wide.

"Show him." Claudette commanded one of the guards, who gave her a brief look of horror before stepping forward and cutting at the stems with his sword. There was a snap and a yell of terror from the guard as the stems lashed out with astonishing speed, slashing at their attacker. He leapt backwards, scrambling out of reach with muttered curses and little dignity before returning to his position on guard, cheeks flaming. Bram watched as the stems retreated back into the room, thicker than ever.

Claudette looked up at Bram. "He's in there,” she said, her voice choked, tears spilling over her eyes. “He’s in there all alone, and I can't get to him.

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