His Highness's Second Wife
His Highness’s Second Wife Chapter 88

Kassian unsheathed his sword, waiting for his eyes to get accustomed to the sudden darkness. There were several candles burning over the tables, which still stood upright, but not nearly enough to see clearly what was going on. He heard a squirm on his right and looked at the source of the voice, eyes stopping on one of the attendants that had snuck under a table and was standing with an empty tray over his head as if holding a shield.

“Stay down,” Kassian whispered, reaching out and taking the tray from his stiff fingers. The man just stared at him with terrified eyes, but didn’t move from his spot.

A new wave of shouts and screams filled the banquet hall, making him tense in an attempt to differentiate Raena’s voice. He shouldn’t have let her go alone. No matter his condition, he should have gone with her. No, better still, he shouldn’t have drunk that champagne.

What used to be shapeless silhouettes in the gloomy space, started taking form in front of his eyes. He forced himself to ignore the overwhelming noise, focusing on his surroundings instead.

This was nothing.

In battle, it was louder.

In battle, it was more crowded.

In battle, there was death everywhere. Kassian sensed the movement even before he heard the familiar ringing of the metal. He turned, raising the tray as a shield just as a thin, but razor-sharp blade was about to thrust into his back. The metal tray bent, but stopped the advance of the weapon, giving him the perfect opportunity to sink his own sword into the attacker.

Kassian pulled his sword out of the other man’s body, staring with wide eyes as the body tumbled to the ground. He had thought the drug was messing with his head and making him things again, because, from the moment he turned, he thought he was facing a Shadow. But it wasn’t the drug, and it wasn’t a hallucination.

The body in his feet was dressed in the black uniform of a Shadow, almost invisible in the darkness, save for the eyes that stared up with a surprise and fear.

A turncoat? Impossible. The people allowed in the Shadows were vetted more than anyone else in the Empire. They were loyal to death to Yulien, to the point they would kill themselves if so much as asked them to while drinking his tea.

Kassian’s head cleared in an instant, anger flooding his mind. His eyes darted around the rest of the room only to notice more people in black walking among the panicking nobles, metal flashing in their hands. His eyes turned up to the shattered windows for a second until he noticed the ropes hanging from the holes.

“Damn it.”

They had checked everything – the guests the servants, the guards, even the staff in the kitchen. The only people they had not checked was the backup – the Shadows who were supposed to watch over the place and interfere only as a last resort. They never took off their masks and Kassian didn’t know any of their faces – as long as they knew the secret signs and message, he never had a reason to doubt them. No one knew about their existence, anyway. Or at least, that’s what he thought.

This was his mistake. His and Yulien’s – they shouldn’t have been so arrogant.

More screams and shouting ensued, and Kassian glanced around to assess the situation.

Most people were trying to push against the barred doors, with just a few staying away from the panicking crowd and seeking safety under tables or by the walls. Some had just crouched where they stood, covering their heads with their hands as if that was going to protect them from harm. There were even some who were so deep into their own worlds that they hadn’t even noticed what was going on around them.

Kassian’s eyes stopped on a couple of the guards who were standing with their weapons drawn, but hesitant expressions on their faces, as if they weren’t sure what they were supposed to do.

“Snap out of it!” Kassian shouted, and they both jumped. “Protect the people and kill anyone with a masked face! Watch your back!”

The two nodded, their shoulders straightening and weapons rising higher as they rushed to the closest group of people and tried to lead them away from the stamping crowd that was getting more and more riled up when the doors wouldn’t budge at all.

Kassian turned his back on them, pushing them out of his mind. There was nothing else he could do for those two – for any of them. His job was to kill as many enemies as possible… and to keep Raena safe.

“Where the hell are you?” He murmured, breaking into a run in the direction she had disappeared. He had to stop two more times – to help another soldier who was struggling against a tall, lanky shadow with a limp, and then to kill another impostor who tried to slice through the back of his knees.

Just as the second body fell to the ground, his eyes caught on a flash of silver hair. Kassian forgot about the people screaming for help and the sounds of metal crashing against metal, running after his target with singular determination. A few people barred his way, including one of the people in black, but Kassian ducked under his blade and sliced with his sword through his chest, not even slowing down to make sure the fake shadow was dead.

The path to the man with the gray hair cleared and Kassian’s eyes widened when he realized he was carrying a body with shiny blonde hair over his shoulder.

“Raena!” Kassian shouted without thinking. Her head snapped up, eyes filling with excitement and relief. She resumed her struggle again, hitting and kicking and twisting so much, Zen almost dropped her. Finally, he stopped and turned. He put her on the ground in front of him, turning her around so her back was to him. One of his gloved hands wrapped around her waist while the other grabbed her chin, forcing her face forward. The former slave leaned down, the side of his face brushing against Raena’s, and a smile appeared on his l!ps as his eyes locked with Kassian’s.

“Happy now?” Zen asked, clenching her chin tighter. Kassian slowed down a few paces away from them, his hand tightening around his sword. “I didn’t want to do this in front of you, but – you just had to throw a fit.” Raena winced, trying to shake her head free head, but he didn’t let go.

Kassian took a step forward and Zen’s hand moved to her heck, his smile growing. “Uh-uh. Don’t think about it. I can snap her neck faster than you can reach us.”

“Let go of her or | swear I will cut those hands off” Kassian snarled. From the corner of his eyes, he noticed more of the fake shadows materializing as if from thin air. The sound of fighting rang clear in his ears, but he dared not look away from Zen and Raena.

“How valiant.” Zen scoffed, turning to look at Raena. “So this is what you like? Honestly, I am disappointed you would have settled for less. No matter. Say goodbye now. We’re going.”

“No!” Raena shouted, grabbing on the hand that was holding her throat and pulling with all her might. Zen sighed in annoyance, tightening his other arm around her waist and picking her up.

Raena’s eyes widened. For a second Kassian thought she’d scream, but then he noticed she had let go of Zen’s hand and fumbled with the corset of her dress. A second later, something shiny flashed in her hand and she raised it in the air, jabbing it in the hand holding her throat. Zen’s fingers instinctively let go and she wiggled out of his grip while his surprise lasted, stumbling forward.

Kassian moved to catch her, pushing her behind him before she was even up on her feet.

Kassian’s eyes returned to Zen, who was just pulling out the long, thick needle stuck in the joint between his thumb and forefinger. His smile was gone, replaced by annoyance.

“l don’t have time for this.” He sighed, turning his head towards the small group of shadows that had gathered around him. “Kill him and bring her.” The smile returned to his face as he pulled his mask to cover his face, leaving only the eyes exposed. “Sorry to cut this short, but I have Someone more important to kill”

He winked at them and turned, walking away as if the chaos surrounding him didn’t matter at all. Kassian gritted his teeth, glaring after him. He had to stop him before he got to his brother. Who knew what other tricks that bastard had up his sleeve. But he couldn’t leave Raena here, nor these people.

His eyes stopped on the five shadows that moved towards them, all wearing identical clothes, masks, and even the typical short, light weapons most of them yielded, that distinguished them as part of their secret group of warriors. Their movements were slightly different though, and the way they spread to attack had nothing to do with the formations the shadows had when working together.

The rebels must have caught or killed the real ones and got the uniforms off of them. The clothes were not impossible to fake, but the weapons were custom made and both and Yulien were so familiar with the look of them, they would have noticed the difference.

Kassian reached back, his hand searching for Raena’s shoulder. Her body was shaking so hard, he was surprised she was still able to stand on her feet.

“Don’t move unless I tell you to.” He said, raising his sword in preparation for the inevitable attack. He let go of Raena’s shoulder and used his free hand to unbutton his cloak, shrugging it off his shoulders to give his hands more freedom. “Do you see anyone in front of you?”

“Yes, three of them.” She replied in a shaky ice. “They are moving closer.”

Sh!t, Kassian thought, gritting his teeth.

“Shout if anyone tries to touch you.” He said a second before the ones in front of him attacked. He positioned his sword, so he met two of the weapons at the same time, then pushed with all his might. They stumbled back and so did he, taking a second to steady himself.

“Kassian!” Raena shouted.

Kassian immediately turned, eyes locking on the two shadows that were just reaching out for her. He grabbed Raena’s shoulder and pushed her back, swinging with his sword at the same time.

The blade passed through the hand of one of them and the wrist separated from the rest of him, b***d splashing over the floor.

“Behind you!” Raena shouted, and he turned again, meeting yet another attack. His blade stopped the first one, but the second weapon flew past his arm, grazing it just as he turned to the side to avoid it.

This wasn’t going to work. There were too many of them and he couldn’t be in two places at once.

“Kassian!” her panicked voice shouted. He tried to push the guy that was still pressing with the sword, but his foot slipped on the bloody floor and Kassian almost fell to his knee.

Raena called his name again, but there was nothing he could do.

“Hey, a*****e, hasn’t your mother taught you how to treat a lady?” A familiar voice boomed nearby and Kassian felt relief sweep through his body as he got up on his feet and finally pushed the guy off, swinging with his sword to force him to back up. He glanced over his shoulder just in time to see Gerrin cut down one of the fake shadows, sinking his sword into their chest. He kicked the body to release his blade, then stepped back, glancing towards Raena, who was trembling, her hands covering her mouth. “Are you alright, milady?

“He asked and she nodded barely noticeably. Gerrin’s eyes moved to Kassian as he retreated another step so the two were almost back to back, with Raena between them. “What’s with the shabby performance, Your Highness? Don’t get all lazy just because you think you got the lady.”

“You idiot.” Kassian scoffed, a smile forming on his l!ps. He caught his sword with both hands, moving in a defensive position and raising his blade. His eyes locked on the group of shadows that had started to approach again, this time all at once. “Let’s get this over with. We need to get to my brother. He might be in more danger than all of us”

“Yeah, yeah,” Gerrin said with his usual aloofness, and a second later he threw himself at his opponents with a growl so loud, the entire hall echoed with his voice. Kassian focused on those on his side, keeping his form tight and his feet moving as he met blade after blade, raising his sword in a wide arch, then parrying a low blow a second later.

They were good – quick and confident, with polished skills and a clear goal. But he had fought bigger, better, stronger opponents since before he could remember, and he had something precious to protect. They had no chance.

Kassian tuned out the noises around him, pushed the pain and the strain of his muscles away, and focused on the flight of his blade, the movements of the opponent. In just a few minutes, he was panting heavily, five corpses lying on his feet, when Gerrin’s distant voice finally reached him.

“I’m! Kassian! We need to run!”

Kassian turned, his eyes searching for Raena. She was standing behind Gerrin, who was retreating slowly, eyes locked on the group of dark figures that had surrounded them. Kassian realized that the hall was almost empty. There were several bodies laying on the ground, but not enough to account for all the nobility that had gathered tonight.

“Where is everyone?” He asked, catching Raena’s hand and pulling her towards him. He noticed she had stopped shaking so much, but her hand was cold and sweaty. Her face was pale too, eyes darting in panic at the remaining enemy.

“They managed to open one of the doors and everybody fled,” Gerrin replied, still moving back. “What do you want to do? Are we going to fight or flee? They are blocking the way to the door though.”

Kassian tried to count their opponents, but stopped after reaching ten. In another place and time, he wouldn’t have hesitated to jump into the fight, but not tonight.

“Balcony.” He said quietly and Gerrin shot him a quick glance.

“It’s quite high.” His second-in-command said, glancing at Raena. “She can get hurt.”

“You’ll catch her,” Kassian said with confidence he only hoped was not misplaced. For the first time tonight, fear crossed Gerrin’s face.

“You must catch her.”

“What if I don’t?” Gerrin hissed. “I’d rather take my chances with them.” He added, nodding towards the fake shadows that had moved closer, cutting off all escape routes apart from the one behind them.

“On three,” Kassian whispered, ignoring his last comment. “Make sure to catch her. One, two…”

“I hate you.” Gerrin cursed just as Kassian shouted ‘Three!’

Gerrin sprinted past them, jumping over a fallen chair and disappearing through the doors of the balcony behind them. Somebody must have tried to flee from there but changed their mind when they saw how high it was. The banquet hall was located on the second floor, so anyone who landed wrong could end up with broken leqs, or much worse.

Kassian let go of Raena’s hand and picked her up, running after Gerrin. He set her down next to the banister, looking over to check on Gerrin just as his friend was looking up, raising his hands. Kassian looked at Raena, who had lost all the color

“No.” She shook her head, glancing back the way they had come from, as if contemplating going back there. Somebody shouted and Kassian’s head snapped towards the open door of the balcony just as the first fake shadow stepped through, a knife flashing in his hand. The weapon flew a second later, and to his surprise, it aimed towards Raena. His body moved before his mind had the time to catch up and a second later a blinding pain exploded in his shoulder. Raena’s terrified scream chased away the fogginess in his head, and he grabbed the hilt of the knife still sticking out of him, pulling it out. He raised his good hand and threvw it towards the shadow, who failed to avoid it and received it in the chest.

Kassian turned and picked Raena up, throwing her over the banister, then jumped himself. Her scream pierced the night again, dying abruptly with Gerrin’s loud grunt. Kassian’s feet touched the ground, and he rolled forward to soften his landing, looking up to make sure Gerrin had caught her.

He found them both standing on their feet, waiting for him. The shouts coming from above pushed him to his feet despite the pain and the fatigue. He grabbed her hand and pulled her after, with Gerrin quickly catching up to them. Gerrin didn’t say anything, which meant either nobody dared jump after them or they had lost them among the endless open corridors and gardens of the castle.

When he felt like his feet might give out, Kassian stopped to catch his breath. Raena crumbled on the ground next to him, leaning on her hands and heaving painfully.

“Where’s your sword?” Gerrin asked, and Kassian finally looked up at him.

“I dropped it back there.” He hissed as he pressed his hand to his shoulder, feeling the b***d seep through his fingers. Gerrin’s eyes widened, and he was just about to speak, when Kassian’s gaze stopped him. “Take her and leave the Imperial Palace. Don’t go back to my residence since they might have sent people there.”

“What about you?” Raena’s weak voice asked, and he looked at her just as she was getting to her feet. Her eyes lingered on his shoulder, so he gave her a reassuring smile.

“I’m fine.” He said, pushing himself up from the wall he was leaning on. “Give me your sword.”

He turned to Gerrin, extending his hand. His second-in-command gave him a wary look before handing him his weapon. “Don’t let anything happen to her.”

“You just dropped her off a balcony for me to catch her. Make up your mind – do you trust me or not?” Gerrin frowned. Kassian scoffed, turning Gerrin’s sword in his hand. His eyes stopped on Raena, who was staring at him with teary eyes full of anger and concern. Kassian stepped towards her, placing a quick k!ss on the top of her head.

“Go.” He whispered, nudging her towards Gerrin. “I’ll see you both later.”

He gave them another forced smile, then turned his back on them and set into a run towards the crown prince’s quarters.