Her fear had been a visceral thing when she’d first seen the general writhing on the table, and its claws had not quite released Josie from their grip. She was too exhausted to pick it apart and find the deeper meaning in her emotions.
“It will take time for her to wake,” the Anima had assured her before she left. “But shewillwake. Send for me when she does.”
Natali had fixed her with a steely stare, their voice low as they said, “I trust I do not need to remind you what tragedies will befall you if anyone learns the princess and general are here.”
The Anima, to her credit, had not cowered at the threat. She’d merely raised her chin and said, “I have no desire to help those Bellare scum,” before leaving the room, likely in search of a bath to wash away the blood.
Natali had brought Josie a wet rag, and she’d used it not to clean her own hands, but to wipe the blood from as much of Aleissande’s skin as she could reach. And then she’d collapsed into one of the chairs Natali had fetched, ready to wait while the Saj returned to their dormitory to get some rest.
That had been hours ago.
She had passed the time by peppering Cole with questions on what had happened on the beach once Josie had run. Apparently, though the Bellare had no magic to wield against the Visya, the element of surprise and the sheer number of them had done their job in overwhelming the force.
“Aleissande gave the order to scatter,” he had explained. “She found me and told me to follow her, but she was already injured. We didn’t make it far before we were cornered by three Bellare.”
“How did you escape?” Josie had asked, her heart racing as if she were back in the battle herself.
Cole had blinked at her several times before simply saying, “I do know how to use a sword.”
A laugh had ripped out of Josie, followed immediately by the tears she could no longer keep at bay.
Tears for her kingdom, for her parents, for her brother, for her general.
Even for herself.
Cole had wordlessly handed her a clean rag, and that had been that.
His arm brushed against hers now, as he stretchedoverhead. “She’ll be okay,” he reassured her, his hand falling to Josie’s shoulder and squeezing lightly. She didn’t know how long it had been since they last spoke. Another hour, if she had to guess. If there were windows in this room, she’d imagine the sky was lightening into dawn.
“How do you know?”
Cole shrugged. “It’s Aleissande. She’s the strongest person I know, with the exception of you.”
Josie shook her head. “I don’t feel strong.” She felt…adrift. Untethered.Scared.
She glanced at the bloody rag she’d discarded earlier. How many more times would she wipe blood from someone’s skin and wonder if they would live?
Cole studied her for a long moment. “That woman you were speaking to…” he began with uncharacteristic carefulness. “Was that…her?”
Josie shifted in her seat, her joints aching against the hard wood. She had spilled the whole sad tale to Cole during weapons polishing one night months ago. They’d gotten drunk off a bottle of liquor Cole had snuck into the armory under the guise ofmaking the task somewhat enjoyable.
He’d thrown up all over one of the sword racks, and Josie had laughed so hard she’d almost peed herself.
“Yes,” Josie sighed. “That was Viviane.”
“Are you worried she’ll tell the Bellare you’re here?”
Honestly, the thought hadn’t crossed Josie’s mind again since she’d first leveled Viviane with her threat. She’d been far too consumed by her fear for Aleissande. Even now, it took her by surprise how viscerally she’d felt it.
“No,” Josie answered truthfully as she met her friend’s gaze. She gave a half-hearted shrug. “If she does, she knows I’ll kill her.”
If Cole was surprised by her bloodthirst, he didn’t show it. He merely hummed in agreement. But a rasp of a laugh followed, not from Cole, but from—
“Aleissande,” Josie breathed, her body lurching from the chair to her makeshift bedside before she could even register what she was doing.
“Who are you killing, Princess?” Aleissande asked.
Whoever did this to you.Josie pushed the thought away as she shook her head. “No one of importance. How are you feeling?”
