Part 2

Svetlana wasn't even sure why she was ordered to come to this party, but orders were orders. The fact they actually let her in despite no invitation was even more surprising. But most surprising was who she now spotted making his way through the crowd over toward her, the fucking Prince himself.

"Praetor, a moment of your time?" Heather quietly asked Svetlana in rusalki once he had bullied his way through the crowd.

"Prince Dorchaidhe I must admit this is a surprise." Svetlana whispered back, also in rusalki. "What's going on?"

Heather pointed out the lady in black, and then Rebecca who was now whispering with Jacob and Hamlin, before motioning to go toward Rebecca.

"I'm not sure, but if she's here something is going to happen." Heather said.

Before Svetlana could reply, she saw a glint from an upper balcony. Realizing what it was immediately, she pushed Heather to the ground and ducked as a crossbow bolt sailed past, hitting the wall behind them.

"Your majesty! Assassins!" Svetlana shouted, this time in Gilnan. "Stay down!"

Panic erupted immediately nobles and servants began fleeing for the exits, only to find most had been locked.

"It's a trap! We're locked in!" Heather yelled. "Duchess we need to leave now!"

Across the ballroom, Rebecca saw what happened and was enraged, nobody shoots at Heather except her. She ripped her dress off, revealing her plate mail she was wearing underneath it, and ran toward Heather.

"Boss! Shit!" Jacob yelled, starting after her. "Get back here it's too dangerous!"

"That's my husband, Jacob!" Rebecca yelled back, pushing nobles out of the way. Suddenly she felt the hair on her neck stand on end, and whirled around to look up at the balconies, and that's when she realized they were after her all along.

The torrents of flame raced toward her, there was no time left to react. She reflexively put up her arms, and braced for the impact, but it never came. Instead she felt a brilliant shining light in front of her. Lowering her arms, and shielding her eyes, she couldn't believe who was standing in front of her, and had blocked the flames.