I shake my head. “I failed them. I should have implemented precautions to keep them safe. My father wouldn’t have let this happen.”
“Hey, you and I both know that’s a very high standard to live up to. But if anyone can do it, you can. You’re not in this alone, this is my burden too, and we’ll get them back.”
I chuckle at that. This isn’t the first time Kyron has said those words to me. And that rescue didn’t work out the way I thought it would.
He places his hands on my cheeks and lifts my head. “Together, Raelle. We will devise a plantogetherand bring everyone home. And then we will crush the Allaji.”
It is a rich promise, but one I know he intends to keep.
I nod. “Okay.”
“You’re all set, Your Grace. I will fetch you a clean tunic and get you situated in bed,” the medic says, pulling the tattered ends of my gown together.
“I’d rather rest in my own quarters and make room for someone else who needs this bed,” I say.
“Of course, I’ll check on you in the coming hours to ensure there is no infection.”
“Thank you.”
I rest my feet on the floor and move to stand. Everyone rushes forward. The four of them are ridiculous. Just as soon as that thought runs through my mind, I question if they are onto something. My legs are wobbly, and I can’t hold my weight.
“I’ve got her,” Kyron says, wrapping my arms around his neck and pressing me to his chest. He guides my legs around his hips and braces me to him with an arm under my ass and the other resting at the base of my neck, staying clear of my wounds.
I lay my head on his shoulder, and he carries me from the medical facility. Glancing behind us, I find my friends at his heels. They won’t back down, especially now that I’m without a guard. Which doesn’t make sense. No one is going to protect me like the man carrying me.
“Guys,” I say as we enter the barracks hallway, and all eyes land on me, even Kyron turns his head. “I need to sleep, and I can’t do that with all of you watching me.”
Leif quirks his lips and jerks his head to the side. “Thanks for taking her to her room, but we will take it from here, Your Royal Asshole.”
I blow out a long, slow breath. “Kyron’s staying, and we will meet the rest of you first thing in the morning in Greer’s office.” Kyron jerks with a chuckle, and I lift my head. “I’m giving them the opportunity to say what they need to say to you, and we’re moving on.” I look at each of them. “After you all have it out, we will work as a team to save our friends and soldiers. Is that understood?”
They are all quick to agree.
I don’t miss the way their eyes light up. This is a moment all of them have waited for, a chance to voice everything they’ve felt since Kyron betrayed them. The Statera knows that they all will have a lot to say, and they can’t wait to dump it all on Kyron.
Sixteen
I’m thankful that I gave into Kyron’s request to let the healer bring me a pain relief ointment this morning. I don’t think I could survive the ache of the sutures and this meeting otherwise.
For the past fifteen minutes, Kyron, Leif, Greer, and Terro have sat around the table in Greer’s office in silence. My officers have exchanged glances and motioned for the others to go first, but none of them have so much as looked at Kyron. They are no closer to putting their resentment toward him to rest than they were the day he left.
I perch on the edge of the desk and clasp my hands in my lap. “You three were so quick to lay into Kyron last night, and now none of you have anything to say to him. This is it. When we walk out of here, I don’t want to hear anymore backhanded comments or see you refusing to work together. We have bigger issues to deal with than your hurt feelings.”
“Fine. I have something to say,” Leif says, shifting in his seat and running his hand over his jaw. “I thought I’d seen Elle at her lowest the day Abrum went missing. She was inconsolable, and I promised her a life where pain like that would never happen again. If I could help it, I’d make sure she never again lost someone she loved to Stigian. You made a liar out of me, and I don’t take kindly to that.”
Memories of that night flood my head. Leif and I sat under the bigoak tree behind my house. He held me in his arms as I cried for Papa. Not once did he tell me it was going to be all right. Instead, he promised what was within his power to do. I clung to those words. They gave me peace when it felt like my entire life was falling apart.
Kyron doesn’t shy away from Leif’s harsh tone or divert his gaze. He folds his hands on the tabletop and sincerely says, “I understand.”
“I’ve never seen her so broken. Your stupidity almost ruined her!” Leif squares his shoulders and leans forward. His hazel eyes darken, he grips his chair’s arm like he is fighting to remain in his seat and not lay his fist in the center of the prince’s face. I don’t blame him. I harbored the same urge for a long time. “She may have forgiven you, but I can’t do it. You didn’t see her on her knees praying for the Statera to break your bond, to harden her heart toward you. She begged not to love you, fuckingbegged!”
I close my eyes and swallow the emotion building inside me, but it is not mine alone. I can normally avoid the draw of Kyron’s gift to read emotion. It being the weakest of his three powers, its hum isn’t like his flames or shadows. But between our bond and the intensity of what is happening inside him, I can’t ignore it. He’s drowning in an onslaught of negative emotions, and all I can do is clench the edge of the desk to stay in place.
This isn’t meant to be an easy moment for any of us. We have to work through the agony to reach a place of healing. The words that everyone needs to say will be raw and full of ugly truths, but I have to believe we will all walk away stronger.
“I’m not asking for your forgiveness, Leif. I can’t expect as much from you when I can’t do the same for myself. But I can make you a promise. If I ever come close to hurting Raelle like that again, you can take my life,” Kyron says, his words like a knife twisting in my gut.
“It won’t be that easy, LeFur. If you hurt her again, let’s just say that when I’m done with you, you’ll beg for death.”
