Rise of Souls: A Prophecy of the Sisters Novella Read Online Free PDF Page A

present.
    They had been warned. It was all she could do. Now her responsibility lay in protecting Lia and the babies, in seeing them safely off the island.
    Returning to Lia and Dimitri’s chamber, she was surprised to find one of the Brothers already posted at the door, a guard who barred her way. She was still explaining her position as Lia’s lady-in-waiting when the door opened.
    “Una, come,” Dimitri said, pulling her into the room without a word to the guard. Though Dimitri had been fast asleep, his son at his side, when Una left to sound the alarm, he was now clear-eyed and alert. “There is no time to waste.”
    She stepped into the room and closed the door behind her. The noise from outside was louder now. Shouting—occasionally broken by a scream, the collision of swords—made its way through the thick walls and windows of the Sanctuary. In the few minutes it had taken her to sound the warning, the situation had clearly deteriorated. She thought fleetingly of Fenris and the girl from the beach, wondering if they had made it to safety.
    She pushed the thought aside almost as soon as it sprang to mind. She could not afford to think of them now. She must concentrate on Lia and her family and trust that Fenris would do what he must to protect the girl and survive.
    She looked at Dimitri, a leather sheath holding a sword strapped to his waist as he rushed about the room, throwing things into a valise, while Lia wrapped the babies in thick blankets.
    “What can I do?”
    Dimitri did not pause in his activities to look at her. “You can accompany my wife in the evacuation and see to her safety and the safety of my sons.”
    “Of course,” Una said.
    She hurried to Lia’s side, taking Brennus from her while she wrestled a squalling Connall into a swaddling cloth. Dimitri set the valise on the bed and turned to the top drawer of the bureau, pulling from it one of Lia’s old gowns.
    Lia’s hands stopped moving over the baby’s body, her eyes wary as she regarded her husband. “Why are you packing my gown?”
    “You must be prepared,” he said simply. “For anything.”
    Lia turned away from the baby, her eyes instructing Una to make sure he did not roll off the bed.
    She placed a hand on Dimitri’s arm, forcing him to stop moving. “What, specifically, are you preparing me for, Dimitri?”
    He took a deep breath. “Anything. Anything and everything.”
    “But surely we will return,” Lia said. “We will evacuate as planned for such an attack, and whoever is responsible will be apprehended. We will be back on the island before the evening meal.”
    He reached out, his eyes tender as he placed a hand on the side of her face. “I hope it will be so, my love.”
    “And why wouldn’t it?” Lia’s voice was still low, still calm, but Una heard the undercurrent of dread in it. “This island has belonged to the Sisters and the Grigori since the beginning of time. Do you think it will be lost from us today?”
    He hesitated. “I don’t know. Perhaps our hold on Altus seems more tenuous now that I have you to care for, now that I must see to the safety of our sons.” He shook his head. “I simply cannot take the chance, Lia. Not anymore. You and the twins will evacuate with the others as the plan requires. I cannot accompany you. Please don’t ask.”
    She smiled sadly. “I will do no such thing. I know the man I married.” She stood on tiptoe to kiss him. “I will see to our sons and to our people, and you will do your duty, as a warrior must.”
    He leaned down, pressing his lips fiercely to hers. “You are every bit the warrior as me.” He turned to Una, sitting on the bed with Brennus in her arms, one hand on Connall’s tiny belly as he squirmed in the swaddling cloth. “Are they ready?”
    She nodded.
    “And what of you, Una?” Lia asked. “Do you need a few moments to gather your things?”
    Una shook her head, looking down at the infant in her arms. “All that matters is here.”