The Princess's Revenge Chapter 136

Valencia’s POV

Elton's expression changed. His triumphant smile vanished, replaced by pure rage.

"Dorian?" He practically spat the name. "That traitorous bastard! That thief!"

His face flushed red with anger.

Through my mind link with Logan, I heard his weak voice. *Valencia, check the surroundings. Is there any way we can break through?*

I scanned the corridor frantically. The iron gates blocked both ends. The walls were solid stone. The only openings were the small arrow slits, far too narrow for a person to fit through.

We were completely trapped.

There's no way out, I told Logan through our link. We're surrounded.

Logan's hand tightened on mine.

Then we fight, he said simply.

"While I was securing King's Fang, while I was executing my perfect plan, that piece of shit stole from me! He took my gold, my treasures, everything I'd stored for after my coronation! Then he disappeared!"

Elton's voice grew louder, more unhinged.

"I've sent men everywhere looking for him! Every corner of the kingdom! But that cunning rat has vanished like smoke! He's gone!"

I exchanged a shocked glance with Logan. Dorian had betrayed Logan to join Elton. We knew that. But now Dorian had betrayed Elton too, stealing his wealth and fleeing.

What was Dorian planning? Where had he gone?

But there was no time to think about that now.

Elton raised his hand, signaling his warriors to prepare. His face settled back into cold determination.

"Enough talking," he said. "Today, both of you die here. No one is coming to save you. No one even knows you're here."

He looked directly at me, his eyes full of vicious satisfaction.

"And when you're dead, I'll mount your head on the castle walls as a warning. The dragon bitch who dared to kill my men. Everyone will see what happens to monsters who oppose me."

The warriors behind him began to advance. They drew their swords, the metal singing as it left the scabbards.

I looked around desperately, searching for any way out.

The warriors advanced slowly, their swords gleaming in the torchlight.

Logan struggled to stand. Blood dripped from his wounds, creating a growing pool beneath him. Through our bond, I felt his pain—burning, overwhelming pain that made it hard to breathe.

But he still positioned himself between me and the warriors.

"Logan, you can't fight," I whispered. "You'll die."

"Then I die protecting you," he said simply.

My heart broke. I couldn't let this happen. I couldn't watch him die for me.

I closed my eyes and reached deep inside myself, searching for that dragon power I'd felt before. The power that had erupted during the battle with Elton's army.

Please, I begged silently. Please wake up. Logan is dying. I need you.

Nothing.

The dragon remained silent, dormant, just like always. That massive power slept somewhere inside me, but I couldn't touch it. Couldn't reach it.

Please! I screamed in my mind. Help us!

Still nothing.

Tears streamed down my face. The one time I desperately needed this power, and it refused to answer.

"Attack!" Elton shouted.

The warriors surged forward.

Logan roared and shifted. His body exploded into Knox's massive black wolf form. Despite his injuries, despite the arrows still embedded in his flesh, he launched himself at the nearest warriors.

His jaws closed around one warrior's throat. Blood sprayed. The man went down screaming.

Knox spun and slashed with his claws. Another warrior fell, his chest torn open.

But there were too many. Warriors swarmed Knox from all sides, hacking with their swords. More wounds opened across his body. More blood poured onto the stone floor.

I grabbed a fallen sword and rushed to help him. A warrior came at me from the left. I blocked his strike and kicked him hard in the knee. He stumbled back.

Another warrior swung at my head. I ducked and slashed upward. My blade caught him across the arm. He yelped and retreated.

I positioned myself at Knox's back, guarding him while he fought the warriors in front. We moved together, a unit. When he attacked left, I covered right. When he lunged forward, I protected his rear.

But we were losing.

For every warrior we struck down, two more took his place. Logan's movements grew slower.

A warrior's sword slashed across Knox's shoulder. He yelped in pain but kept fighting.

Another blade caught his leg. He stumbled.

"Logan!" I screamed.

Three warriors rushed him at once. Knox tried to dodge, but his injured leg gave out. He crashed into the wall.

The impact was tremendous. The ancient stone wall cracked under the force. Chunks of mortar fell. A fissure appeared, running from floor to ceiling.

And through that crack, I felt it—a tiny breeze. Fresh air from outside.

Hope flared in my chest.

Knox felt it too. Through our bond, I felt his determination surge.

He backed up several steps, then charged at the weakened wall with everything he had left.

The collision sounded like thunder. The entire wall shook. More cracks appeared, spreading like a spider's web.

Warriors rushed forward, but it was too late.

Knox hit the wall a second time.

This time, the ancient stones gave way. The wall exploded outward in a shower of rock and dust. A massive hole appeared, revealing the night sky beyond.

"Go!" I shouted.

Knox crouched low. I threw myself onto his back, gripping his fur tightly. My fingers dug into his thick coat, finding purchase despite all the blood.

He leaped through the opening.

For a moment, we were airborne. The wind rushed past my face. Below us, I could see the castle grounds—the courtyard, the gardens, everything lit by torchlight.

Then we were falling.

Knox twisted in mid-air, positioning his body beneath mine. We hit the ground hard. He took the full impact, his body cushioning my fall.

I heard him grunt in pain. Felt his ribs crack through our bond. His wounds tore open wider, blood gushing out.

"Logan!" I rolled off him quickly.

He shifted back to human form. His face was deathly pale. Blood covered his entire body. His breathing came in short, desperate gasps.

"I'm fine," he wheezed. But he wasn't. Not even close.

I helped him sit up. His hands were shaking. His skin was cold and clammy.

Then I heard it—the sound of boots on stone. Many boots. Marching in unison.

I looked up and my heart sank.

We were in the castle's outer courtyard. And surrounding us on all sides were warriors. So many warriors. At least a hundred of them, all armed, all standing in formation.

Torches lined the courtyard walls, casting flickering light across the scene. The warriors' armor gleamed. Their weapons were drawn and ready.

They'd been waiting for us.