I rounded the kitchen door to find Nick stuffing his face with a pathetic excuse for a sandwich that he’d clearly just whipped up himself. Another staff member neatly arranged some meats before exiting, leaving us alone in the pantry. He peered up at me like a surprised deer, crumbs lining his perfectly luscious lips. “It was a long journey,” he said through a mound of bread and meat.
I laughed softly. “How very kingly of you, my love.” Closing the distance between us, I wrapped my arms around his midsection, burying my face against his back. “You’re not allowed to leave me,” I whispered. Fear still coiled my heart, it had been too close.
He turned until we were face-to-face. “You were the one thing that kept me going.” I melted into his strong embrace, closing my eyes and simply breathing him in, listening to his heartbeat through the tattered cloak they must have grabbed to disguise him. Subtle but distinct movements made me ask, “Are you still eating that sandwich?”
“No,” he said through an obvious fresh mouthful. I laughed from deep within my soul and cried tears of pure gratitude.
He wiped the crumbs off his face and any that landed in my hair. Nicholas had apparently told the servers to remain in the dining room until further notice. All staff who saw him would be kept busy for at least the next twelve hours to buy us more time before any information could be leaked about his return.
We entered the dining room, and my heart leapt into my chest at the new faces. “Melody!” I exclaimed and took off running to greet my sister. With every step I noted her appearance, how disheveled she looked, how tired—or rather, red and puffy. She’d been crying. My heart shuddered and I started running. By the time I reached her, my brows knit together. “What’s wrong?” I held her hands between us.
“There was an attack,” she started to say, but her lip trembled and she broke into tears. I wrapped her in my arms, forcefully pulling her close, palming the back of her head.
“Are you alright?” It was official. This day was trying to kill me. My heart would simply cease beating if anything happened to either Nick or Melody.
Tio stood beside her, also looking worse for the wear. While Melody struggled to catch her breath in my ear, I said to Tio, “Tell me.”
My worries only mounted when I noticed he too had been wrestling with emotion. He worked the notch in his throat, conquering his sorrowed expression. “It was Windguard.” He glanced from me to Nicholas, who I sensed moved behind me.
The voice of a king spoke with all the power and authority of his position. “Report everything you know.”
Minutes later, we paced the room. Windguard had launched an attack on a camp of its own people. Slaughtered more than half, including Radhak. I hadn’t known the man long, but I’d felt the warmth of his kindness, the kinship and trust we’dformed as allies. A man with honor until the end. Ravinder had been appointed leader in his stead and currently worked alongside those who remained to bury their dead and sustain their community.
“Do we know why?” Nick asked.
“Unclear.” Tio shook his head, curls swaying.
“Maybe they discovered your location and acted quickly?” I suggested, biting my thumb nail.
“Last update we’d received, there were no plans to move the army. That was, what, less than two weeks ago?” Tio said, his hand rubbing Melody’s back in comforting circles.
My sister looked dazed, and my breathing faltered when I realized why. She’d seen war. Witnessed bloodshed. And from the faint details they shared about the timeline, she’d used her magic to fight. It was apparent that they were trying very hardnotto say that, no doubt for fear of my reaction.
“It’s an act of war,” Nicholas whispered, and I halted my frantic pacing. He held my stare. “I need you to go find the commanders and let them know that First and Second Battalion need to station themselves along the Splits, focusing on the stretch of land outside Rahana. Third needs to set up a barrier, and Fourth needs to be stationed above Waterview. Eighth Battalion needs to be called in, replacing the current position of First. And have Ricks give you a blank parchment with a royal seal.”
I repeated the instructions in my head. We’d keep his return a secret still, despite the devastating news of possible impending war.
“What’s going to happen?” Melody asked, her voice trembling in the process.
“I’m not sure, but we’ll prepare for the worst,” my husband said, gravely.
40
Dae
The bloating, lifeless corpse in my mouth had lost its appeal after traveling for two days and sitting in the rain. Unfortunately, with no wagons, my mouth was the only suitable transport. A violent huff shot from my feline nostrils when I sensed the first sentinel hidden in the tree scape. No matter how long I’d lived here, returning never became easier.
This camp had a way of strangling good things until they ceased to exist, and with the dangling body draped over my back, I prayed to whatever gods were listening that this worked.
“You’re massive, but you’re bony as hell.”The woman slung over my spine complained.
My lip curled upward before I masked my amusement, disguising it as distaste for the foul dead body in my mouth. “Food supply issue, remember?”
“Remind me to feed you some cake once we get out of here.”
I trampled the hope that flared at the statement she’d intended to be strictly humorous. If things went according to plan, a plan which I still was not fully privy to, then Ro wouldretrieve whatever it was she came for and return to a life, safe, and far away from here. Somewhere she could enjoy cake again. I, however, would have no such future. I was bound to The Order, and walking away would mean death that my conscience couldn’t handle.
“We’re passing the first sentinel. Quit complaining and act unconscious.”
