Lake led us through the forest, glancing back at me every so often. Briar kept pace at his side, with me, Maddox, and Callum behind them. Rowan and the spies walked behind us, and the knights created a sort of protective barrier around the group, alert and swords at the ready.
Stryder watched me for a moment, and then his golden eyes moved to Rowan. “You, with the red hair.”
“What the hell do you want?”
“The dagger with the black hilt. The one found on him.” He nodded to me. “Where did you get it?”
Rowan glared. “Why would I tell you a damn thing?”
“Beautiful craftsmanship, wouldn’t you agree?” Stryder tipped his face up as we walked, staring at the branches above us. “Lightweight but strong. Had one just like it when I was a boy.”
Was that why Stryder had seemed so interested in the dagger on the balcony? Made him remember something from his childhood?
“You’re from Solynia,” Rowan said. Not a question.
“As are you. Perhaps we’ve met before. You’re, what…” Stryder scrutinized him. “Four years younger than me? Give or take a year.”
“Unlikely we’ve met,” Rowan responded, expression hardening. “If we had, you would’ve had your throat cut and bled out in a sewer before your balls even dropped.”
That smirk returned to Stryder’s lips. “You’re quite skilled with your shadows. They masked your scent in the prince’s study. I didn’t detect you at all.”
“Am I supposed to be flattered?”
“No. But you should be curious.”
“About what?”
“Unlocking your full potential,” Stryder said. “Nocturne could help you with that. Dark magic is our specialty. These spies will only get you so far.”
“Not interested.”
“Such a waste of talent.” Stryder blew out a breath. “Accepting my offer would’ve saved you. Now, you’ll die with everyone else.”
A twig snapped from the left. I barely had time to even turn my head before a bright green light lit up the forest.
Quincy flew backward.
“Q!” Baden exclaimed.
The front of Quincy’s armor was slashed open. No blood though. He groaned and touched his chest. “Feels like I’ve been kicked by a horse.”
Half a second later, another flash appeared in the trees, coming from the right side.
Duke raised his shield just before the spell hit. The impact was strong enough to send him stumbling backward. Dark shapes then flitted around us. One leapt from the nearest tree, while two closed in on the sides. More appeared behind us.
We were surrounded.
“Still believe you’ll make it to the cottage?” Stryder asked, calm and collected, if not a bit cocky.
Draven slammed the hilt of his dagger into Stryder’s face.
Reign’s mask moved as his breaths quickened, and panic swarmed his eyes. “I… I didn’t sense them.”
“Amazing, isn’t it?” Blood filled the spaces between Stryder’s teeth from the hit to the face. He spat on the ground. “One in our ranks can manipulate the air. Use it as a sort of camouflage that can deceive even high-level magic sensors like you. It’s why we lured you and your men away from the castle during the ball. It allowed him to slip inside unnoticed and poison the king.”
“And to frame me for it,” I said, voice shaking.
Maddox’s arms tightened around me, and he surveyed the area. Callum had his sword drawn, standing at his back. The dark figures from earlier were barely visible in the darkness. Not clear enough to make out any details, but just enough to know they were there: standing eerily still and watching.
