Praetorian Rising, стр. 84
That kicked the Chimera into gear. It reared up, lunging wildly at him as Vesyon launched himself around the beast's body. One solid front paw grasped hold of Vesyon midair, inadvertently flinging him toward the metal slab door. Vesyon braced for the impact of heavy steel against his Praetorian body, praying the collision wouldn't knock him off kilter so that he might not be able to escape.
***
Her clothing stuck to her body, and yet she wasn't cold in the least. She felt a thrumming warmth as they walked through the silent confines of the cave together, arms brushing against each other as they moved. There was no way to say what it was that she felt, but the minute her face had broken the surface of the lake below the compound, the first thought in her mind had been, where is Theo?
There was no sense lying to herself about the torrent of emotion boiling through her. Theo was not to be ignored, nor were the memories that flooded into her system. Glancing over at him as they walked, she explored the angles of his face, and the lines of worry etched into his brow. Her fingers itched to press down the creases of concern at the edges of his eyes, but she clenched her fists and kept them at her sides.
It wasn't the time to dive into their past, as much as she felt the sudden urge to do so, which also felt peculiar and strange. Theo's fingers brushed against the edge of her hand, and he took a step over a large rock, extending a hand to help her over the protruding barrier on their path. It wasn't needed, she could manage on her own, but she accepted the fingers stretched out before her and grasped hold. Their eyes connected and they paused for a mere moment, taking in each other's features and drinking in the single moment of silence together.
"I won't let anything happen to you, Camille. I'll always protect you."
"Always is a very long time, Theodore," Camille replied, softly jesting but also desperately needing a way to focus on him and not her sudden desire to break apart into tears of fear and worry.
He smiled at her use of his full name, pulled her close to his chest and kissed her temple gently. "There will never be enough time for me when it comes to being with you, my love."
She smiled then, words failing her as a blossoming warmth turned into a roaring fire within her chest.
"Let's go," he said with finality, obviously pained to have to pull away, but focused with clear intent on getting her to safety and as far away from the battle as possible.
Camille wasn't sure what to expect as Theo led her through the darkened cave entrance and out across the damp grassy plateau of the mountainside. The open fields below their perch were crawling with Chimera, Rogues, and Equestrians—hundreds dead but still hundreds more engaged in battle.
"That looks promising," Theo said, placing both hands on the weapons at his sides.
The sharp, chilly air bit into the lining of Camille's nose as she tried to take in what they were about to do next. The village was blazing with the hungry lick of fire, and as they watched the flames dance in eerie grace, the wailing cry of the warning alarm sounded. The fuses had been set, and they had fifteen minutes to escape the grounds. The Rogues would begin their mass exodus as well, and, hopefully, everyone would make it to safety before Romeo Village was no more.
"We need to get out of here," Theo said, shifting his weight and readying to go.
"Wait," Camille said, grasping his wrist, "look, over there!"
In the center of the village square where the fire remained, Metus was directing an Equestrian who led a line of shackled prisoners behind him. Even from a distance, she knew it was Metus with his perfectly groomed blonde hair and starkly clean uniform.
Theo shook his head ardently. "That's the last place we're going, Cam. We have fourteen minutes tops before the entire village goes up in flames. Absolutely not!"
"We can't just leave them to die! Those are Rogues, yes?" Camille stood her ground, unwilling to accept the fact that any man would die because of her sudden appearance at Romeo. Her presence may not be the reason for the battle, but neither had it slowed down the quick precession of the High King's army.
Her words of compassion didn't seem to have any effect on Theo, who continued to edge in the opposite direction, away from the pandemonium of the battlefield.
"I can't let them die," Camille said with determination, breaking away from Theo and Neeko.
Theo pursued her, grasping her at the elbow with such harshness that she flinched. "What are you doing?" She barked out at him.
He flinched at her tone, but only slightly. "There's nothing you can do Cam. Please, stop!" The pleading panic swimming in his eyes did nothing to change her mind.
"They have no way to survive Theo, I have to help them."
"We're out of time, we have to leave. Now!"
"No," she said softly, her mind flashing with memories of those she'd killed in Charlie Town. Too many had died at the edge of her sword. She needed to know that she could save them, even if it meant dying alongside them if she to failed.
"I won't let them die. Not like this. And definitely not alone." She yanked her dagger free of its holster and carefully made her way down the rocky cliff side to the village square, not looking back to see if Theo followed.
Chapter Seventeen
Destruction of the Underground
"Success?"
Vesyon squinted through a single scrunched eye to see Phillip towering over him, covered in black Chimera blood. Sweat streamed down either side of Phillip's reddened, dirt-streaked face but it was