Gone

Rosalind’s POV
I chose to live. By that, I mean that I chose to be Killian’s fiancee. We walked together hand in hand as we entered the hall that was used for official undertakings and for celebrations.
The entire council was there suited at their dais. The silverbags/nobles occupied the common rows and as I entered I had the remarkable thought that apart from the servants catering to the guests I was probably the lowest-ranking wolf in attendance.
Cillian was already there with Adelyn standing next to him both decked in the most expensive-looking silks in Collian’s colours of blue and white and the sight of them standing there looking like the perfect couple made me stop moving.
Killian’s arm went around my waist forcing me forward while making it seem like he was just being affectionate.
My heart raced and my hands grew clammy as the attention of all those in attendance fixated on my skin. I couldn’t breathe until I did. Killian’s arm urged me forward until we stood next to Cillian and Adelyn to the side of the dais.
I couldn’t look at Cillian and see the heartbreak in his eyes that reflected mine. I couldn’t look at Adelyn who would no doubt be feeling smug that she had managed to win after all. She was getting engaged tonCillian like she had always wanted.
The High Priestess, with her line of priestesses trailing behind her, entered the hall and everyone sitting stood at attention and the entire hall fell silent.
I wondered how it must feel to wield so much power. To have even royalty now to your demands.
She ascended to the dais while the other priestesses took their positions.
“Today we are here to unite the princes of the Southern Paw Kingdom with their mates chosen through the esteemed Princess Trials.”
At her words my mind took me back to the maze, the slash across my sleeve, Killian and Cillian dying in that mirror, me stabbing Killian, and Adelyn standing over me at the final trials as she tried to kill me.
“We are here to carry out the ritual of the promising prior to the marking and mating ceremony. During this ritual, our two princes will accept their mates chosen for them by the moon goddess.”
I glanced at Killian next to me, his jaw was tense and for a minute I was so sure that he was as anxious as me about this mating then his features cleared.
I found my eyes moving against my will to Cillian. I shouldn’t have looked because he was staring at me with so much pain and heartbreak that I faltered.
“The council and the priesthood will bear witnesses to this event as we have done since the beginning and beyond.”
“And Beyond.” The nobles chorused and I felt my chest tighten as I realized the time for the vows had reached.
“Prince Killian, step forward with your mate.” The priestess said and my feet felt frozen to the ground.
Killian’s arm around me tightened and he drew me as he stepped forward. I was in front of the priestess and she looked me straight in my eyes as though she was trying to see through my soul.
Then she took my hand and flipped it so that it was palm up then before I could blink, she had slashed across my palm diagonally with a silver dagger. I gasped in pain and in seconds she had taken Killian’s hand and done the same.
Then she placed his hand on top of mine.
“Prince Killian Daerk, do you accept Rosalind as your mate?”
I didn’t realize not having a last name could be so embarrassing. But it wasn’t like I knew anyone in this place so I ignored my feeling of discomfort to look at Prince Killian unsure of if I wanted him to say yes or no.
“I do.” He said curtly.
The priestess nodded and looked at me.
“Rosalind, do you accept Prince Killian Daerk as your mate?”
I hesitated, my mind going back to the first day we met and he ordered my execution, to the day he revealed the truth that he was behind all my torment in the palace in a bid to get me to leave.
I recalled the way he killed those men for me but told me that I meant nothing to him.
Accept this engagement as it is and let my influence protect you or die and leave your brother an orphan.
I recalled his words from earlier on today and I swallowed thickly, my entire body feeling tense beneath my beautiful dress. After this, I wouldn’t be able to be with Cillian. I would sacrifice my love for him in a bid to keep my life.
“I do.”
The priestess brought her hand on top of ours. “You are now promised in front of the goddess and her people. Even death shall not break apart this bond.”
I looked at Killian and he looked down at me and even though usually I couldn’t read his thoughts this one might as well have been broadcasted because of how well I could see it.
It was a ‘what the hell have we done’ look.
I started to remove his hand from mine but he held on to my hand firmly but not painfully as he escorted me down the dais. I couldn’t look Cillian in the eye. I felt like I had betrayed him. Betrayed myself. Betrayed us.
“Prince Cillian, step forward with your mate.” The priestess said.
Adelyn took a step forward but Cillian didn’t move.
“Cillian.” I heard her hushed almost panicked whisper and I glanced up at them only for Cillian’s hazel eyes to ensnare me.
His eyes fixed on mine ignoring Adelyn next to him, he spoke, his voice clear and loud.
“I refuse to take Adelyn as my mate.”
My knees went weak beneath me and I would have fallen over if not for Killian’s strong grip on me.
The entire court descended into murmurs and Adelyn tugged on him trying to move him towards the dais.
“Cillian, you can’t do this. Cillian”
Everything went to hell as the alarm bell went off.
The entire hall was silent for a golden minute as we realized what was going on. The palace was under attack.
*********
Cillian’s POV
One minute I was denouncing my mating to Adelyn the next the alarms were going off.
I locked gazes with Killian over the distance between us. We knew the drill in theory, get to the safe room and bunker in until the threat had passed.
We had a strong military presence in the palace. This was our base and no one could win against us here.
The only problem with that plan was the influx of people who had come for the engagement.
Nobles who knew nothing about the safety procedures and of course the fact that I would never go to hide in a safe room while my men fought regardless of the fact that my brother and I were the last in a long line of royals.
If we died, our lineage died with us. There was no time to overthink this. Killian nodded this was one of the few times that we were in sync rather than against each other.
The nobles were already panicking. “Calm down everyone,” I called out, letting loose a stream of dominance. “The palace has regulations in place to safeguard you. The alarm means the walls have been breached so please follow my instructions accordingly and quickly.”
The hall was filled with murmurs but they were quietening down and looking for a source of authority to look to. I saw the guards arrive at the door and heaved a sigh of relief glad that our procedures were still working.
“There are four safe rooms equidistant from this hall. The council members, the priestesses and the princess elects will stay in the Northern safe room.”
I saw three of the guards break off to begin escorting the council, the priestesses, Adelyn and Rosalind away.
I saw Killian kiss her forehead and embrace her before letting her join the group leaving. I felt a pang of pain that she was no longer mine but his.
My wolf didn’t agree and I didn’t as well but this was not the time for that.
“The nobles will have the three remaining safe rooms so head to the South, West and East exits respectively to go to the safe house in that direction. Move quickly but orderly to the same rooms.”
Killian was suddenly beside me as I rounded up my speech.
“Nice speech. Are you planning on hiding out as well?” Killian asked with a sneer like he actually expected me to hide while my people were in danger.
The hall was already clearing but not as quickly as I would have wanted it to.
“No chance of that,” I informed Killian. “If you want to hide, you might have to do so alone.”
Killian grinned at me and for a moment I could forget that he had taken Rosalind from me.
“And let you have all the fun? Hard pass. Let’s get to the frontlines and see what is going on.”
We had barely made it out of the hall when the first earthquake hit.
Paintings on the wall swayed, and marble structures fell over injuring and killing some fleeing nobles. Our kingdoms didn’t have earthquakes, especially during a mass escape attempt such as this. There could only be one explanation.
The witches. But how was this possible? Last I knew the few of them that were left as at the time of our ancestors weren’t nearly this strong so how were they doing this? Or was this just a freak natural disaster?
My chest went cold as I realized that Rosalind was probably still on her way to the safe room.
Killian looked like he had lost his mind. He straightened and began to head towards the North safe room. I caught his arm.
He glared at me hotly. “What do you think you are doing?”
“The fight is still going on. Rosalind is now a princess, there are people around her that can take care of her. We need to go now if we are to stop the intruders from entering this hall.”
I hated to be the one that pointed it out especially since I was dying to go and check if she was fine but we had a duty to our people. A duty I was already tired of but with today’s attack I realized I could no longer afford to be tired.
Killian hesitated some more before nodding gruffly. “Let’s go.”
As we moved, another earthquake hit but it was nothing as serious as the first like an aftershock and we struggled to stay balanced.
The moment it was over, we ran towards the nearest exit of the palace where we met with our guards and a barricaded entryway.
They bowed immediately after they saw us.
“What’s the situation here?” Killian asked gruffly.
One soldier separated himself from the rest and bowed before beginning his report, perhaps he was the one in charge of this unit.
“We barricaded the doors immediately the alarms went off and there were attempts to break down the door that stopped soon after the second earthquake.”
I frowned. Another coincidence that I wasn’t keen on.
“Open the doors.” I ordered.
The soldier looked hesitant looking between Killian and me.
“Are you deaf? Open it up.” Killian growled. The soldier bowed flustered before giving the go-ahead to open the door.
He must have been scared of the attackers breaking through but when the door was opened, there was no one there.
Just dead bodies of some of our men while other injured people tried to find shelter.
Killian and I summoned a quadrant and swept around the palace. Our attackers were gone without a trace. I didn’t understand how or why?
They hadn’t infiltrated the palace, why did they leave so soon and at the second earthquake?
The reason became apparent when we returned to the palace.
Rosalind was gone.