Free The Last Witch (Incenaga Trilogy) by Debbie Dee Page B

her uncertainty aside. She needed someone to trust in Dolmerti and who better than the one person who had made her smile. Not that she would ever see him again. Mahlon, Adelia, the Crown Prince, everyone, seemed to believe it was their responsibility to protect her from magical slavery. There was a good chance she would live and die in her chambers. But what if she didn’t want their protection? What if she found a way to protect herself?
    Emmeline smiled and moved to the bed. Yes, she might be able to find a way to keep herself safe. And alive. With a smidge of hope lessening the pain in her chest, her body relaxed and she fell into a dreamless sleep.

     
     
     

Chapter 9. Heat
     
    Emmeline awoke with a start. The flutter of wings whispered from her dark window, sending a shiver up her spine. There was a chill in the air and a silence so heavy it pressed on her ears until they hurt. Her stomach rumbled and her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth, an uncomfortable reminder that she hadn’t eaten at all the day before.
    Famished , Emmeline decided she would brave the dark in search of the kitchen. She moved to the edge of her bed and groped for her robe. The night was too cold to walk the corridors without it. Her fingers grazed the soft fabric and she threw it around her shoulders, shivering against the cold. She shuffled to the door as her legs tingled. She lifted the latch and it clicked in the darkness. She jumped at the sound, the last shadow of sleep dispelled from her mind.
    T wo guards leaned against the stone wall outside her door. Both were fast asleep with their chins slumped onto their chests. She was surprised the latch hadn’t awakened them until she glanced down the corridor at an open window. A breeze tossed a heavy curtain back and forth against the marble windowsill, making plenty of noise on its own.
    Not bothering to wake them, s he tiptoed down the hall to the stairway. The marble pressed cold against bare feet. She pulled her robe tighter, trying to ignore the darkness creeping around her.
    Two flights down, she found the rear corridor . Sure enough, two guards were stationed at the mahogany doors. They were both asleep as well, their jaws slackened. She rolled her eyes. So much for Dolmerti’s strongest army.
    L ingering aromas from the kitchen filled her nose and pulled her forward. Her stomach growled louder and her thoughts drifted to visions of a large turkey sandwich or a steamy bowl of minstrel soup. But a distant sound caught her ear. Whispered shouts scratched at the night air and echoed into the empty corridor. Dashing into the nearest room, she crouched behind a barrel of grain just as footsteps tread into the kitchen. The sound of creaking wood took over the footsteps and Emmeline guessed they had sat down. She lowered herself to sit on the cold floor and prepared herself to wait them out. 
    “That is too soon,” whispered someone. “I thought Prince Weldon was traveling to Griet. He shouldn’t be back for another month.”
    “He decided to return early to prepare for his brother’s wedding,” whispered another.
    “We won’t be ready by then! The girl has not been groomed. She doesn’t know what is expected of her.”
    “She is young and naïve. She’ll do exactly as she is told.”
    “She won’t be strong enough.”
    “She’ll have to be. Once we enlighten her of the consequences, it won’t be difficult for her to see that she has no other choice.”
    “And what about the King? What will he tell her?”
    “The old fool is of no concern. He won’t last a fortnight.”
    “That soon?”
    “He grows weaker by the hour.”
    “Jus t as well. When do we meet?”
    “The night of the Pravoli Festival, just outside town in the basement of Albin’s Pub. Midnight. We will finalize our plans then. Alert the noblemen who wish to join us.”
    Chairs slid across the floor as they got up to leave. Emmeline held her breath until the retreating footsteps faded and a far away