Before I turned to leave the room, I remembered the gun the Dramen had shot Tor with. “They have guns. Is there any kind of armor that could protect us from bullets?” My confidence wavered with the thoughts of bullets aimed for my friends and myself. I wasn’t as fast as Fae or as agile. I couldn’t outrun them.
“I’ll see what I can find,” Dris answered, as she pulled the spines of books out to look at the cover, then pushed them back in.
I wanted to hug them both so hard for doing this, for standing up and fighting, but there would be time for that later. We needed to get moving.
As soon as I left the libraries, I saw Najen. “My king requests that you have an escort around Crysia, just in case Verin’s soldiers come after you again.”
I couldn’t fault Najen for believing his king. Najen wanted to protect me from incoming danger, but he also didn’t know where the true danger lurked.
I would figure out on my walk to the Hallowstags if I would try to escape Najen before talking to Desmire or let him hear everything about his king and my plans.
“Are you doing OK? Last night was quite an event for you.” Najen tried to lighten the mood.
“I’m doing OK. I’m a tough girl. Those soldiers are lucky I didn’t have my hatchets with me.” I winked and he chuckled.
We walked together in silence, both of us caught up in our own thoughts. I was still unsure if I should make a run for it and escape my friend, or if I should let him in on my plans.
“You’re dismissed, Najen. I’ll take over as Sapphira’s escort from here.”
Rune had made the decision for me. Najen’s head bowed in understanding and left without a word. His general had given him a command.
Rune had found a shirt to cover his broad chest and the outline of Nyx’s necklace showed beneath the soft black material. A shiver ran down my body remembering the memory that necklace made me see.
“You look like you are in pain.”
Rune stood tall but his face was coated in a sheen of sweat. “It’s not without effort to get here. I’ll be fine. Tell me everything.” His teeth clenched as he took another step toward me, barely leaving a foot between us.
Chapter Forty-Seven
“Verin is King Lachan. He’s been hiding in plain sight and happy to rule Crysia and his badlands in disguise. He knows who I am and what I’m after and will try to stop me. Tor is the final puzzle piece I need to open the onyx tomb, so I’m going to rescue him tonight.”
He didn’t exactly seem shocked by my admission.
“I’m coming with you.”
I was afraid he was going to say that, but before I could protest, his fingers were against my lips. Once his touch soothed me, I knew I couldn’t rescue Tor without him. I needed him.
““I’ll be fine, and something tells me my werewolf side wouldn’t mind assisting in this little rescue.” His eyebrow arched high, daring me to question his statement.
I didn’t.
“Tell me what this is. When I look at you, I feel pain and longing. I know my mate is alive. She’s locked in that cursed rock. When I touch you, when I feel your lips, I feel an unyielding force in my soul. I’ve never known anyone to have two mates, but that’s what this feels like. I’m confused and feel guilty like I’m betraying her.” The fingers on my lips moved to cup my cheek, and I wanted so badly to lean into them, to close my eyes and feel his warmth, his comfort, and his feelings from the single touch.
A shudder racked my body. My shoulders shook with the threat of tears. Instead, I took a deep, shaky breath to stop the tears. “What were the princess’s powers?” I knew he wouldn’t like that I asked a question instead of answering his.
His hand dropped and I instantly grew cold from the lack of his warm touch against me.
“Do you not feel this, too?” His words were so soft, I barely heard them.
I did. It was like suffocating, keeping those emotions inside. I wanted to release my feeling, my thoughts. But the timing wasn’t right.
“Save Tor, break the onyx, and then we can figure this out. Together.”
I hoped my words rang true. Rune was not happy about my answer but he nodded.
“Do you remember her powers before?” I asked again.
“I don’t remember.” I wasn’t surprised. Tor was the only person who knew, and his answer was the key to breaking her out of the tomb.
