“All your screaming probably erased the memory,” Yarina said. “You’ve got quite the pipes, princess.”
Kiera frowned, as if she couldn’t believe Yarina was teasing her about such a horrific moment. But it was the Dag way. Most especially the Maz and Yarina way.
Kiera shook her head. “Thanks, but I prefer dancing.”
“I’ll bet you do.” Yarina winked at her, then grinned at me.
Sigrid, meanwhile, hadn’t stopped staring at Kiera with her one eye. Finally, she rose and stretched out her hand. “I never thanked you for what you did at the mine for Bruna and the prisoners and for Maz.” Sigrid swallowed hard. “And Davka. But... thank you. And I’d be honored to fight at your side in Aquinon.”
Kiera solemnly shook her hand as if this moment meant a great deal to her. “I don’t need your gratitude, but I will take peace and respect between us.”
Sigrid dipped her head in acknowledgement, then sat back with Bruna.
Kiera took a deep breath and straightened her shoulders. “I won’t be going with you to Aquinon. I’m going to ride ahead. Today.”
Every gaze swung in my direction.
I crossed my arms over my chest and scowled at all of them. “This is her choice, and I fully support it.”
Maz’s brow furrowed as he looked between me and Kiera. “But... Renwell.”
“You bring up a valid argument, Mazkull,” I said, my lips twitching. “But she knows how to handle him. She also has a plan to make sure the cliff gate isn’t a problem for us.”
Kiera sent me a grateful look. Probably glad I hadn’t mentioned the gray areas in said plan.
“I don’t like it,” Maz groused. “And Ruru will hate it.”
Kiera gave him a loose hug, minding his bandage. “You’ll see me soon enough on the battlefield. I expect you to be in full armor this time.”
“He will be,” both his sisters said.
Maz rolled his eyes. “Fucking Four, you almost die a few times, and suddenly you’re as fragile as glass.”
We finished our breakfast and secured a horse and supplies for Kiera. She said a brief goodbye to everyone at camp and instructed me to tell Ruru and Daire that she would see them soon.
We walked to the edge of the woods in silence.
My grip was sweaty and tight on the horse’s reins. “You have my map?”
Kiera patted the saddlebag next to her head. “Right here.”
“All your weapons? Do you want more food? I can?—”
Kiera wrapped her arms around me, her warmth chasing away the snowy chill. “I have everything I need, Aiden. Except you. Hurry to me as soon as you can.”
I crushed her against me, kissing the top of her head and inhaling her sweet scent. “There’s nowhere you could go that I wouldn’t find you.”
“There’s nowhere I wouldn’t want to be found by you.”
“Stay alive,” I choked out.
She drew back and studied my face with soft eyes and a teasing smile. “Is that a command from my king?”
My heart swooped low and hard.My king.I was only her king if she agreed to be my queen. “It’s a request from the man who loves you and would cross any battlefield to reach you.”
“We will be together again, Aiden,” she whispered and kissed me once. Hard and resolute. Then she mounted her horse, her eyes silvery and her chin trembling. “I love you.”
She urged her horse into the woods, leaving me behind. I stared after her until I couldn’t see her. Until she was far beyond my reach.
