From Slave To Queen (by Karyn Anderson) novel Chapter 376

Chapter 376

As the knife was about to come down on Fiona, she instinctively pulled Cedric into her arms and squeezed her eyes shut. But the pain she had braced for

never came.

Hearing a heavy thud, Fiona slowly opened her eyes to see, not far away, a woman standing with a bow in hand, her sharp gaze locked on her. Upon recognizing Fiona in the carriage, the murderous glint in Athena’s eyes faded. Athena rushed forward and asked, “Are you two alright?”

Fiona stood frozen in shock, never daring to imagine that her rescuer would be Athena.

Only after she was absolutely certain that the person before her was Athena did Fiona finally burst into tears of joy. “Athena,” she sobbed, “it’s really you.”

For days, Fiona had been living in constant fear. More than once, she’d thought about taking Cedric and making a run for it. But the stronghold was swarming with Nicolas’s men, leaving her no chance to escape.

Having narrowly escaped death, Fiona was overwhelmed with emotion.

Fiona hugged Athena tightly, tears streaming down her face. “I really thought this was the end for me,” she choked out, her voice trembling. “I never imagined you’d come to save Cedric and me.”

At this, Fiona quickly drew Cedric closer and said gently, “Cedric, this is—”

Fiona swallowed back the words that she was Cedric’s aunt.

She gave her son a gentle smile and said softly, “This is Mrs. Cavendish.”

“Greetings, Mrs. Cavendish.” Cedric’s tender, cute voice made Athena’s heart skip a beat.

‘The tiny tot I once held is now up to my thigh,’ Athena thought, marveling at how much he’d grown.

Athena crouched down and gently ruffled Cedric’s hair. “Were you frightened?” she asked softly.

Cedric’s innocent eyes brightened as he shook his head. “No, I’m not scared. Mom only killed to protect me. She’s my hero.”

Athena nodded approvingly. “Good boy. Always protect your mother, just like you did today.”

Cedric gave her a respectful little bow. “I’ll remember, Mrs. Cavendish,” he said.

Athena glanced at Nicolas’s corpse in the carriage–his body soaked in blood, his eyes wide open in death. His wide eyes held both defiance and terror.

He probably never expected that he would die at Fiona’s hands.

“That knife?” Athena’s gaze fell on the blade in Fiona’s hand. Only then did Fiona seem to realize she was still holding it and quickly tucked it away.

Fiona gave a bitter smile and said, “If Michael hadn’t secretly slipped me this knife, I’d probably be dead by now.”

It turned out Michael was the one who had given her the knife for self–defense. For a moment, Athena was at a loss, a complex mix of emotions swirling inside her.

Athena helped Fiona and Cedric down from the carriage, just as Xander rushed over with his men.

When Xander saw Fiona and Cedric, his expression darkened. “You two must leave Pidence City at once.”

Cedric is Nicolas’s biological son. If Arthur were to discover his existence, neither he nor Fiona would survive.

Fiona wore a look of utter despair. “But, where can we go?” she said bitterly. “The whole realm belongs to the King–there’s nowhere to hide.”

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Fiona stretched out her arms toward Xander, her voice trembling with desperation. “Your Highness, please, I beg you–show mercy and let my someone must die, let it be me instead.”

“Mother, please don’t die for me,” Cedric pleaded, bowing deeply before Xander. “Mother is innocent. Your Highness, if you must arrest someone take me instead.”

Clearly, Cedric had come to realize the truth about his identity.

Fiona stared at him in stunned disbelief, then pulled Cedric into a tight, protective embrace.

Athena turned anxiously to Xander. “Darling-”

Xander lowered his gaze in thought, then said calmly, “Nicolas tried to escape with his family, but their carriage accidentally plunged off a cliff. None of the three survived, and their bodies were never found.”

“Your Highness?” Fiona stared at him blankly. Athena’s face lit up as she helped Fiona and Cedric to their feet, pressing a thick stack of banknotes into Fiona’s hands.

“This should be more than enough for you and your son to live comfortably for the rest of your lives,” Athena said gently. “My men will escort you to the border–head for Northcold.”

Northcold was a prosperous land, untouched by war. It enjoyed a mild climate, perfect for settling down. Athena had already thought out a clear path for their future.

Bending before her, Xander gently brushed his thumb over the faint shadows beneath Athena’s eyes, his voice thick with remorse. “When Michael sent Word that Nicolas had bribed the tomb guards to set an ambush, the timing seemed too suspicious.

“I couldn’t risk alerting them, but even more, I couldn’t bear the thought of you being implicated if the intel turned out to be false.”

He paused, then looked up into her tear–filled eyes. “When I requested the Royal Guards from His Majesty, I made a military pledge to the King–if any of this proved false, I would be stripped of my title and status. I couldn’t bear to see you implicated because of me.”

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