Broken, but Not Defeated

Chapter 77 (Wesley)

     Juliana screams and releases my hand, trying to rush forward, but Rowan grabs her arm and pulls her to his chest.

I just stand there shocked. I am still trying to get over the fact that Sienna has betrayed us all. Not only that, we have no idea which witch stands with us and who doesn't. Levindal begins barking orders. Sienna's voice rises through the air.

"I challenge Hedvig for the throne to the death."

"Excuse m—" but her sentence is cut off when Sienna's arrow hits her in the head. I watch in shock as Sienna races for Caldina.

"Willow!" Sienna screams. I watch as the young witch races to Caldina's side. When she reaches her she drops to her knees and begins to work on Caldina.

"Wesley!" Cole's voice rises above the murmurs of the people around me. He is racing towards me. "Duck!"

I do as he says. Something flies over my head just missing me. I turn to attack only to find a snow leopard has beaten me to it. I stare at the leopard in shock. It looks at me, and I reel back in surprise to see how much its eyes look like Anya's. It's uncanny.

"Anya?" I whisper. The leopard purrs and rubs against my leg. I fall to my knees and stare at her.

"Don't you ever scare me like that again, Anya." The leopard just rolls its eyes. "I mean it. I thought..." I choke up at the possibility of her dying. The leopard whines and pushes against my chest. "I know."

We sit like that for a few seconds before Cole and the other boys race up.

"Welsey, are you okay?"

"I'm fine, thanks to your sister."

"Yeah, we know. I'm beginning to think that I never want to make her mad again," Aron jokes, making the others laugh.

Anya looks back at them in human form and they immediately stop laughing. Cole offer me a hand. I take it and we embrace.

"I've missed you, brother," Cole says. "Also, if my father doesn't give you his blessing, know that you have mine."

"Thanks, but I think your father will give me his blessing."

Cole laughs. "Did you forget he wants us dead?"

"No he doesn't. Actually your father started a rebellion."

"No!" Aron shouts. "The Commander West who hates traitors worse than death started a rebellion?"

"I don't believe it," Matthew claims.

"Same," Cole agrees.

"Fine, don't believe it, but I can't wait to tell you 'I told you so.'"

"Wesley!" Levindal calls, walking over. I have to give it to the man, somehow he makes walking around in blood still look regal.

"King Levindal," I bow my head.

"Please we fought side by side. Call me Levi."

"Does that mean I get to call you Levi?" Aron asks.

"No."

"Brother," Lyra calls, walking over to us.

"Any news about Caldina?" Levindal asks. Lyra raises her eyebrow at her brother before smirking.

"Willow says she is stable, we just don't know when she will wake," Lyra reports. "That is if she ever wakes up," she adds softly under her breath.

At that Levindal's back goes stiffer than a tree before he storms off to who knows where.