I’d threatened to take his life last night, and yet he had been nothing but helpful with our mission. I’d accused him of betrayal, yet forgot everything he had done for me and my brother.
I offered Francis a glance before making Annabelle walk faster, reaching Gabriel, who rode in front.
“I’m sorry about yesterday.” I cleared my throat. “And for using you in my schemes.”
“Don’t be.” Gabriel laughed, shrugging. “I knew you never liked me. Not like that. That’s what friends are for, I suppose.” He offered me his boyish smile.
Ashamed, I looked down at my hands that grasped onto the reins for dear life. “I’m glad you are alive and well,” I added, meeting his gaze.
“You too.” He nodded. “A vampire, huh?” He looked me up and down. “I thought the rumors of a Royal Princess turned vampire were tales.”
I shook my head, sighing. “Caleb turned me for Kane and Mories.”
“Mories?” Gabriel’s brows furrowed.
“She thought I would be safer this way.” I swallowed the growing lump in my throat at the memory of her. Where was she? Was she still alive? “I suppose she was right, after what happened to the rest of my family.”
“I’m sorry about your siblings.” Gabriel nodded, his lips turning into a thin line as though unsure of what to say next.
“How have you been?” I spared him the awkwardness.
“I’ve been well.” A slow smile stretched his lips. “I help at the local school in the village during winters, and on the fields during summers.” He met my eyes before adding, “It’s been peaceful.”
“A teacher?” I laughed, not believing my own ears. “What couldyoupossibly teach those poor children?” My laughter traveled through the night forest.
“Laugh, laugh,” Gabriel mocked. “But I am smarter than you think.” His bright voice swept through our company. “They chose me as Brain’s confidant for my mind.” He pointed at his temple.
“I thought they chose you as the prince's personal jester,” Roxanne chimed in.
“That too, of course.” Gabriel shrugged as the first battlements neared. He ordered his horse to the right, off the pathway, into the depths of the woods. “This way,” he told us. “The gate is on this side of the palace.”
I caught Francis’ worried gaze before he could hide it under a soft smile, taking a turn towards my nightmare.
Chapter 34. Golden Flint.
Two guards stood adjacent to the wide-open gate, one of them leaned on the wall, his eyes closed.
“There’s only two of them,” I whispered to Francis as we crouched behind a line of dense spruce. “They can’t be that arrogant; something is wrong.”
Even Mother knew the importance of guarding this gate from the outside.
“Perhaps Kane ran out of live shields.” Roxanne charged the first arrow with a Royal steel tip, pointing it at one of the guards.
“Or they are inside, waiting for someone foolish to take the bait,” Francis mumbled. “At least there is no fire surrounding them.”
