With two powerful beats of her wings, Maleficent landed in front of Lord Ortolan, catching him by the throat.

She lifted her other hand, glowing with sparking green magic.

The other guards were getting slowly to their feet again, but they didn’t dare approach—not when she had Lord Ortolan in such a vulnerable position. If they went for her, she could snap his neck.

And with another blast of her magic, it was settled. Their helmets clanked together, and this time when they went sprawling on the floor, they stayed there.

“Where is Prince Phillip?” Lord Ortolan demanded. “Phillip! If you can hear me, I know it wasn’t sporting to lock you up, but that’s all I ever intended. I said the rest to frighten you.”

“A rather unlikely tale,” Maleficent said. “But it hardly matters. As you can see, Phillip isn’t here.”

“I am an old man—a loyal advisor to Aurora’s father and her grandfather before him. Aurora wouldn’t like to see me harmed.”

“Aurora isn’t here, either,” said Maleficent. “It’s only you and I and your lackeys. But I don’t think they will save you.”

“You wouldn’t dare!” Lord Ortolan sputtered, but the panic in his face was telling. And Phillip wasn’t sure what to think. He wasn’t certain what Maleficent might do right then.

She gave an extravagant shrug. “No point in debating when the answer is so close to hand. Let’s find out.”

“She means to murder me!” Lord Ortolan shouted. “Phillip, please. I am human, like you! Save me from this monster!”

“Prince Phillip is gone, dear Lord Ortolan,” Maleficent said, fixing the advisor with her startling emerald eyes. “I sent him away for just this reason.”

Phillip realized that though they had been on the same side back in the prison, he wasn’t sure they still were. He couldn’t stand there and allow her to kill a person—or several persons—when it was within her power to take them prisoner.

But he wasn’t at all sure he could stop her, either.

“Maleficent.” A voice rang out near the entrance. There was a man with a skunk stripe of white in his hair and a blade on his hip. It seemed that Count Alain had finally returned.

Chapter 29

Aurora woke to Diaval pecking at her fingers.

“Ow!” she cried, sitting upright and putting her hurt finger in her mouth. “Oh, you’re back. Where were you?”

She turned toward where Count Alain had been sleeping, but he was no longer there. Only a tangle of blankets remained. Her dream was still thrumming through her mind, confusing her thoughts. She still saw the pallor of Prince Phillip’s half-buried face, still heard his final shout echoing in her ears.

Run!

At the memory, she scrambled up out of her blankets. Diaval took off into the air.