Chapter 21

I panted as we ran into the immense hall. Everyone inside was talking in hush, hurried tones and glancing at their watches. Their voices drifted to me in low, incoherent murmurs and I couldn't make out anything they were saying, but Kevin's sensitive ears listened in on the conversations. The adrenaline that had fueled such a tiring run was beginning to fade away. My muscles ached and my heart was hammering against my ribcage. There was a dull throbbing at the back of my head, but it was nothing compared to the pain that was starting to settle in my heart as the painful realization that it was over really set in. By mere seconds, we'd been too late. I rested my hands on my knees, breathing unevenly while Kevin's eyes scanned the front of the room. CaVaughn was sitting there with his usual stone face and Ashton's mom and dad were sitting opposite from him. Various important looking people were also positioned beside the king and queen. They were probably from the kingdom of