Chapter 27
Xavier
I made it back to the village just in time for all hell to break loose.
Forgetting how I needed to reenter the castle through the secret passage, I raced up to the front gates just as soldiers and guards came pouring out, heading west toward the village.
“What the f**k is going on?” I demanded, startling one guard into swinging on me with his sword, only to yelp and fling it from his hands to the ground when he realized who he was attacking.
“Your Majesty! Oh my God, I didn’t realize it was you.”
“What’s happening?” I ordered.
But before anyone could answer, lightning struck three times, right in a row, booming so loud it was deafening.
I ducked and cursed, only to lift my face and look up toward the sky, trying to gauge where the lightning had originated.
“Mothe
