Read Online Once Upon a Twist by Michelle Smart, Aimee Duffy - Free Book Online

her tone fierce. “For all their strength, the undead are stupid – if they’re not looking at you directly they don’t see you. And even if they do find us the cellar door is impenetrable – you told me that yourself.”
    It struck him then that the crowd were not paying any attention to their conversation. Instead they continued to shuffle quietly down the corridor, disappearing through the thick door that led down to the cellar. These people, men and women alike, had total faith that Ella’s way was the right way.
    “James, we’ve already lost hundreds of our men in a fight we had no chance of winning. Now these creatures are here, amongst our families, we cannot fight them without endangering everyone. We need to hide and then, in the morning when they sleep, we can track them down and decapitate every last one.”
    It chilled his stomach to hear those cold words from such a warm mouth. But the chill mingled with a pure, raw emotion that filled his heart to bursting. God, but she was magnificent.
    Slowly he inclined his head before turning to Jonas. “Assist the Queen to the cellar. Let it be known our priority is bringing all the staff and household members to the cellar – our men are to defend it without drawing attention to it.”
    “Yes, Your Highness,” Jonas said, snapping his heels together and leaving with the other soldiers, who had been hovering behind him.
    But Ella wasn’t finished barking her orders. “Your soldiers need to warn the rest of our countrymen.”
    “A delegation are already undertaking that task,” he assured her at the exact moment a distant crash reverberated through the walls. “Let’s get you to the cellar. We need to hurry.”
    Too distracted by the nearing yells and screams, he paid scant attention to Ella’s uncharacteristic compliance, figuring she was too busy helping her injured stepsister to argue.
    The crowd could hear the growing cacophony too, their movements becoming increasingly agitated. He fought to control his own agitation, although his stemmed from a need to be out there with his father and his men.
    When they reached the cellar doors, he pulled her into an embrace, holding her as tight as he could, inhaling her scent, trying his hardest to imprint it into his senses.
    “Be safe,” she pleaded.
    “I will,” he said, a promise he fully intended to keep. The more he thought about it, the more convinced he was that Ella’s plan was perfect. From a short, bleak future, they now had the chance of a long, happy life. All they had to do was get through the night.
    Closing his eyes, he kissed her, praying this would not be the last kiss they shared.
    “I love you,” she whispered into his mouth, her hot, sweet breath tickling his skin.
    “I love you too. Now go.”
    He stood and watched as Ella, holding Izzy close, walked through the door and began to descend the stairs. His gaze stayed on her until she had disappeared into the palace’s bowels.
    ***
    Despite its size, the cellar was packed. There was enough room for everyone to rest but it was a tight fit.
    Ella helped Izzy onto the floor and made sure she was comfortable. Unfortunately the major flaw in her plan had revealed itself – under her direction approximately five hundred people had converged in a cellar that was, by its very nature, cold.
    But they were safe. Given time, the shared body heat would warm them sufficiently. Or so she hoped. She wouldn’t be there to find out.
    “Are you going somewhere?” Izzy asked when Ella remained standing, looking at the stairs.
    “If I’m going to find Ana I need to leave now.”
    Her stepsister’s eyes widened. “You can’t go back out there, Ella. You can’t.”
    “I have to,” she replied simply. “I can’t wait here worrying about her.”
    “Why? After the way she’s treated you, why?”
    “Because she’s still a human-being.” Or at least Ella hoped she was.
    “But…”
    “And I need to get Itchy and Scratchy away from