Witch Fall(34)

Lilette cried out in pain. Her vision went black before coming back in streaks of gray. Pain shot through her side with every breath. “Please, just give me a moment.”

“I have better things to do than act as nursemaid to some gelded weakling. Get up!” The guard raised the butt of his spear above his head.





Chapter 12



A true test of any civilization is how they treat their women. ~Jolin



Lilette braced herself for the pain, but it didn’t come.

“I said, what’s the meaning of this?” The armored elite was standing above her, his hand wrapped around the spear shaft to prevent the guard from striking her again.

Both guards took a few steps back. “We found him in the compound after dark. Said he was sent to find his madame’s lost comb, General.” He held it out as proof.

In her peripheral vision, Lilette watched the general stare at the comb. He squatted in front of her. Knowing he was her only hope, she tipped her face into the light.

For a single beat of Lilette’s heart, disbelief crossed Han’s face before his expression shifted back to impassable. He tapped her comb against his leg as he stood. “This is only one of them. Where’s the other?”

Her mouth came open and she gave a slight shake of her head. “Other?”

He rubbed his forehead as if her mere presence exhausted him. “I know his madame, one of the emperor’s favorites.” Han tugged off his helmet and ran a hand through his sweaty hair. “She’s not going to be happy.”

The soldiers shifted. “Sorry, General. We didn’t know.”

Han’s voice went low and dangerous. “Did I ask for your excuses?”

“No, General,” they said in unison.

There was blood on his armor and on his neck. He’d been fighting Vorlayans. “How about we forget any of this happened? My guards won’t report you leaving the palace at night. You don’t report their . . . manhandling.”

The elite nodded eagerly. Her hand clenching the cramp in her side, Lilette nodded.

“Do you remember where you found the first comb?” Han went on. “Chances are the mate is somewhere close by.”

What was he going to do with her? Was he really helping her? Relief threatened to overwhelm her, but she held the emotion at bay. Fear was the only thing preventing her from collapsing. She kept her eyes averted. “Yes, General.”

“Well, let’s go find it then. There’ll be no living with the madame if she doesn’t have her combs.” Han tipped his head back the way the guards had come. “Get to your rounds.” The soldiers left as if death itself chased them. Knowing Han, it probably did.

He reached down and pulled her to her feet. “This is a deadly place to be. We need to move.” His voice was dark and angry.

She leaned limply against him, all her weight on her uninjured leg. “Where are you taking me?”

“Back to the harem.”

She tried to pull away from him but was shaking so badly she could barely stand. “No. I have to free my sister.”

He shook his head. “You can barely walk. You’re going back into the harem whether you like it or not.”

Lilette glared at him, but inside she knew he was right. She would just have to wait for another chance at escape. She let out a humorless chuckle. “So I surrender. Again.”

Han took hold of her elbow. “No soldier would be seen carrying a eunuch.” His voice was gentle. “Lean on me. We’ll make it look like I’m dragging you.” Her leg cramped in protest, but she hobbled forward despite the pain.

Han grunted. “Were you actually trying to burn the palace down?”

“I had to do something.” After slowly descending the palace stairs, they entered the comforting shadows of the garden. He guided her toward the harem wall. With each dozen or so steps, the trembling in her limbs faded.

“Why are you helping me?” Lilette asked. “Why not just turn me in to your father?”

Han glanced at her sideways. “I have no desire to see your head anywhere but at the top of your shoulders.”

She winced at the thought. “And before? How did you find me the night I was poisoned?”

He nodded toward the top of the ramparts, where a tower lorded over the harem. “I was up there. I saw you wandering below, obviously sick or injured. I saw you fall.”

Her brows drew together. “But you’re not a guard. There’s no reason for you to be atop the ramparts—especially so soon after returning home.” Then the realization hit her. “You . . . you were looking for me?”

He didn’t deny it. Lilette looked into his eyes, like chips of onyx in the starlight. “They would have killed you, had they found you.”