SWNOVELS Chapter 69
The cave smelled damp and like something or several somethings had died in there but I focused on following Jael. I wondered how long we had before Jared realized we were missing and went searching for us. I just hoped it was enough time to find Jaxon and figure out what was wrong.
As soon as we got to the mouth of the cave, I let out a breath of relief. It led out into the far corner of the palace and although I didn't know where the battle was happening, I knew I would find my way there. No words were spoken between Jael and I as we started our way towards the main palace. I knew the battle would be kept away from the civilian areas and also from the bunker so that left the forest around the borders.
I knew I couldn't be seen by any of the guards so we kept close to the woods as we went. There were a few close calls but we managed to get away unseen. The moment we got close to the actual fight, I knew. The stench of death and turmoil was pungent in the air and it took me pausing to take a breather so I wouldn't throw up. Everywhere I looked, there was chaos and I stumbled back as it threatened to swallow me whole.
Jael kept a firm hand in the middle of my back and offered me a small smile to remind me that he was right there with me. I held onto that comfort he offered me and found my bearing once more. This time, he took the lead and I was comfortable allowing him. He led me over to a guard who had just slain one of Noxian's men. When the guard saw me, his eyes widened.
"She shouldn't be here," he began but Jael cut him off.
"Tell no one of her presence. Where is the king?"
He mumbled something incoherent then pointed in another direction. Jael thanked him and we went back into hiding. It was a miracle that no one else saw us. We could have easily been attacked but it was like there was someone or something watching over us and keeping us safe. We finally got towards the clearing where Jaxon was supposed to be and I was shocked to see it almost empty. I expected more chaos here seeing as he was the king but it was just Jaxon and Noxian.
Immediately I got there, I knew what the problem was. Jaxon was practically stumbling over his own feet. He had a wound on his shoulder that looked terrible and wasn't healing. Noxian stood there with his gun in one hand and a knife in the other. When I looked further, I saw another man in the woods, he had a gun in his hands and it was pointed directly at Jaxon. I didn't think before I grabbed the gun in Jael's holster and shot it.
"What the fuck are you thinking?" he spat but the deed had been done. The sniper fell to the ground but it also alerted everyone to our presence.
Noxian saw me and a smile grew on his lips. "How nice of you to come to the party; are you here to see your mate die?"
Jaxon had anger and annoyance in his eyes as he sighted me but even his stare was weak, he looked like he was one second away from toppling over and I rushed over to his side. He looked like he wanted to drag me by my hair and lock me up in the bunker and take away the key.
"Freya, get back," Jaxon whisper yelled but I ignored him so he added under his breath. "I swear someone is getting fired when I get back."
He tried to stand up straighter but he couldn't, He let out a groan of pain and stumbled to the floor. As far as I could see, there was only one wound on him but he was too weak for that to be true. Noxian stepped closer to him but Is stood directly in front of him. I kept my eyes squared on Noxian in a challenge.
"You cannot kill him," I warned and Noxian raised a brow. "I'm the one you wanted, so let's talk."
Noxian laughed. "The time for talking is long gone, Freya. I gave you a chance to talk. I gave you a chance to return to me but you refused. Everything that is happening now is on you." "That's not true. You rejected me and I found my own life. You're just upset that the poor omega you rejected is Queen. Your ego could not take the hit and that is why everything is happening." "Maybe," he shrugged with a small smile. "But your mate was right, you shouldn't have come here."
He snapped his fingers and some men came out of the woods and grabbed Jael before he could do anything. It happened so fast that as soon as I turned to see what was happening, Noxian reached out and disarmed me of the gun I was holding. I was shocked by how fast he had taken control of the situation and how we were all at his mercy. We were grossly outnumbered and it was my fault.
Jaxon finally rose to his feet but Noxian was quicker. He grabbed my arm and pulled me into his chest so his knife was at my neck.
"Put down the knife, Jaxon or I'll slit her neck open," he warned and from the anger in his voice, I could tell that he meant it. Jaxon did to because he threw the knife down. "Good, now that everyone is listening I will tell you what is going to happen. I will take Freya far from here and you will not do anything about it."
"Over my dead fucking body," Jaxon spat back.
While the conversation was ongoing, I saw a flash of movement in my peripheral vision. The others did too because I felt Noxian turn to the source. I didn't know who to expect but it certainly wasn't Kiara. Jaxon turned to me with an accusatory look but I tried to explain with my eyes that I didn't know what she was doing. She looked between Jaxon and I and I could see fear grip her features. "Run," I mouthed but it was like she was stuck in place. "Kiara, please run."
Her instincts kicked in and she turned to run but she was grabbed by one of Noxian's men. She kicked and screamed and I wanted to go to her but I couldn't. I realized how much of a cluster fuck I had made the situation. If I had simply stayed in the bunker none of this would have happened.
"But Jaxon would have died," my inner voice nagged.
"Now, we are all going to die," I spat back.
My inner dialogue was cut off by Noxian's laughing. I could only imagine how amusing it was to him. He had banked on having one person but he had gotten three instead and we were outnumbered so he could kill us easily and nothing would happen. I prayed to the goddess for a miracle because it was going to take nothing short of a miracle for us to get out of here.
Noxian began to step back with me in his arms and I knew I had to make a split second decision. I reared back my head and hit him square in the nose. It was enough for him to loosen his grip so I pulled the knife out of his hand and rushed over to Jaxon's side. He looked relieved to have me but his eyes were now on Kiara and how we were going to get her out safely.
I turned back to Noxian who looked furious. His nose was gushing blood but he ignored it and narrowed his eyes at me.
"I'll get you for that, you bitch," he growled and he raised his knife but a sound had us all freezing.
If someone had asked me to guess who would have spoken, I would have mentioned every single person in that clearing before I mentioned Kiara. It took me a split second to realize she was the one who spoke and it was because Noxian was staring at her that I connected the words to her.
"Stay away from my mummy," she yelled as loud as she could.
"Kiara baby, it's fine," I tried to assure her but she wasn't looking at me, she was glaring at Noxian with a look that was too intense for a child her age to conjure up.
Noxian laughed and he gestured for the men to let go of her. When they did, he crooked his finger for her to come closer to him but she ignored him. I looked around for anything that could help the case but there was nothing. Jael was held tightly, Jaxon was swaying on his feet and I knew he would fall over soon so I moved closer to him so he could lean against me.
"She has more bravery than I would have expected," Noxian mused as he made his way over to her.
I tried to step forward but a guard appeared out of nowhere with a gun pointed directly at me. I had to remain immobile as Noxian made his way over to my daughter. He stopped a few feet in front of her with an amused smirk. He reached out to touch her but she slapped his hand away.
"I might just take her too," he said aloud. "She would make for a good slave in the right hands. I am sure I could fetch some good money for her."
"You will die before you take my daughter," I warned and he laughed humorlessly.
"Look around you, Freya, your mate is about to keel over from poison, you are outnumbered. No one is going to stop me unless the goddess herself comes down to fight for you. Take her."
The guard grabbed me and although Jaxon tried, he was easily overpowered. Noxian reached out to grab Kiara and it happened so fast that I could barely explain it. One second, he had his hand on her shoulder and the next, she released an ear splitting scream that had me covering my ears. She pushed out her hands and Noxian went flying until he slammed so hard into a tree that it broke.
All eyes were wide as confusion went through the camp. I used the moment of confusion to disarm the guard trying to take me. I could see that Jael did the same because he was now battling three guards. I was torn between going to Kiara and Noxian but when I saw Noxian begin to stir I rushed over to him.
He was struggling to get to his feet but I held the gun to his head. He looked pissed but he held up his hands in surrender when he realized that he didn't have the upper hand anymore. He stood to his feet and I gestured for him to move ahead of me.
"Be careful," I didn't know who shouted and I barely had the chance to register it before I felt something hot go through my stomach.