Winston POV
Strange screams fill the palace ballroom, and everyone in attendance freezes. With wide eyes they look at one another, looking for guidance. The smell of fear is heavy in the air. I don't know what has happened but I know I need to find Macy and Edward.
I scan the crowd, but I do not see her blood red dress anywhere. Panic fills my chest. A hand closes around mine, and it squeezes tightly. Luna Tish has tears in her eyes as she frantically searches the crowd. She doesn't have to say anything for me to know that she is searching for Macy.
"She wouldn't be foolish enough to have gone outside," Tish says to herself.
Though, we both know Macy. She is reckless and impulsive. She most certainly would go outside if she felt the need. The real question is, why would she go when she was warned of the danger?
Dragging Tish behind me, I make my way to the entrance. I may not be able to explain to Tish where we are going, but she seems to understand anyway. Hiking her skirt up with one hand, she kicks off her shoes, not caring where they land.
"I am trusting you to protect me," she says over the murmurs of the crowd.
I nod in response. I would lay my life down for Macy and her family.
A high pitched shriek causes me to pause. The crowd is shuffling away from the door in horror. Screams and sobs are filling the room, and I have to fight my way toward the door. Tish's fingernails are digging into my skin as she tries to follow me, but she is pulled back and becomes lost in the fray.
Panting and sweating, I finally make it to the front of the crowd, and I see what the screaming is about. Destin is standing in the doorway with something in his arms. It is hard to tell what exactly it is. It is horrifyingly beautiful. It reeks of decay, and blood is pouring from what used to be its neck.
Cocking my head to the side, I try to investigate what he has, but Destin is screaming at everyone to move.
"Cassian!" He shouts. "You got what you wanted! She is dead."
Rushing through the crowd, Cassian is suddenly sober. "Destin," he hisses. "What were you thinking bringing her here?"
"She is dead," Destin replies, crumbling to the ground. He cradles the creature in his arms, and its head falls back.
My jaw drops open. It is a Fae. A beautiful woman with jet black hair and black orbs for eyes. Or at least she was beautiful before she turned into this. Is this what they were talking about? Is this a Gray Creature?
"Everyone leave," Cassian commands. "The party is over."
"But Sire," a guard interrupts. "What of the Gray Creatures? They making their way to the palace. They are demanding justice for their Queen."
"Fuck," Cassian grumbles. His fingers run through his hair. "Find rooms for everyone. They can leave when the sun arises."
Macy. I want to shout. Macy is still out there, but it seems Tish and I are the only ones who have noticed her disappearance.
"Cassian," Tish yells, but he is not listening to her.
I try to grab him by the arm to get his attention, but he shrugs me off.
"Father!" Tish shouts. "Listen to me."
He slowly turns to the crowd and looks for his daughter.
"Macy is out there," she cries.
The tips of Cassian's wings turn red, and he spins on the spot. Ascending on Destin, he grips him by the throat. "Was the Princess out there?"
Destin doesn't answer. Cassian thrusts him to the side and kicks the body of the Gray Creature out of the way. Destin scrambles to get back to the body, but Cassian gives him a deadly stare.
"Do not touch her," he commands.
"She is your sister," Destin screams. "Do you care nothing for her?"
"She is no sister of mine," Cassian retorts through his teeth.
Realization washes over me, and I am so stunned that I forget Macy is missing. Chaos seems to erupt all around me. Roland is shoving people out of the way. Fat tears fall from his eyes, and he drops to the ground in front of the Gray Creature.
"Arabella," he sobs into the creature's dress. "My sweet daughter."
"Dad," Cassian grumbles. "We don't have time for this. Macy is missing."
Roland doesn't seem to care, the crowd is out of control, and Cassian is losing his temper. Finally, a fearsome growl silences the crowd. Edward is in the doorway with Macy in his arms. His tattered clothes and the black blood smeared across his face tells me he is the one that killed the creature.
Destin is on his feet. Lunging at Edward. "You have taken everything from me!"
Edward spins to protect Macy, but she wiggles out of his arms. "Edward hasn't taken anything from you. I am the one who left the palace after dark. I knew the consequences of my actions. Edward was protecting me from Arabella," she shouts at him.
"You don't get to speak her name," Destin spits at her.
He is closing the distance between the two of them quickly. I dart in her direction, but I don't need to. Roland stands up and stops him from attacking Macy.
"I have loved you like a son, Destin, but I will not allow you to touch the Princess," Roland stands his ground.
"You have always put Cassian above Arabella," Destin shouts. "And you are doing it again. You are the reason she turned. You!"
"Arabella was not fit to rule," Roland tells him harshly. "You were blinded by your love for her."
I no longer care about the fight taking place in front of me, though I might be the only one. Enveloping Macy in my arms, I hold her close. Her chocolate scent is soothing the panic in my chest, but Macy is far from calm. She is wiggling awkwardly in my arms, trying to watch the drama unfold.
Destin is trying to fight anyone who gets too close to Arabella. He has lost all sense of reason, but I cannot say that I blame him. When I lost Macy, I felt crazy. I can't imagine losing her twice.
"You need to leave," Cassian voice booms.
Destin looks at his friend in disbelief. "If you force me out of the palace, I will leave this realm," he threatens.
"Go," Cassian calls his bluff.
With his shoulders sagging in defeat, Destin turns to Macy. I bare my teeth at him, but he isn't paying attention to me. "You will never be her," he tells Macy.
"You are right," Macy says with her head held high. "I won't."
There is no need for more between them. Destin has ruined any chance he had with Macy. In his heartbreak, he managed to wound her more than Edward or I ever could. I tug Macy into my chest, and we watch Destin leave together.
"Won't the Gray Creatures hunt him?" Edward asks.
"No," Roland sighs. "They will not harm him out of respect for their Queen."