“Griffen’s fate might be over a few more peaks and valleys,” I mumble.
“Then I’ll conquer them. I will keep fighting till the world my son lives in is honorable. If he has to die, let it be for life and not lands or jewels.”
Breathe in, out, in. I lean over the desk, and Adrian holds his ground as I extend my hand; flames cover my fingers. He looks at the fire, swallows, and swings his hand in mine.
See, he needed to trustI wouldn’t let my fire burn him.
Our fingers intertwine. “Till the death.” I voice what soldiers do before we run into battle.
His grip tightens as he smiles. “Till the new dawn, brother.”
I tell him everything about how we need Sable to get the Vitalis free of the death cage. Hector is a new problem, one we add to the mental list.
“I see two burning items about to singe us.” He holds up a finger. “One, Galen. Two, we need to talk to that vampire in the library.”
“I’m killing Galen as soon as he returns. Problem solved.”
“I need a fortnight to get the army from Lunestra.”
“I can not wait a fortnight, Adrian. She is my mate, and he is a threat to her.”
He curses, hurries to his desk, and pens a note. “I’m sending them the alert. If they rest only every other day, they can shave off four days of travel, but that depletes energy.”
“Will Galen know the army near Lunestra moved?”
“No, all the scouts are in my pocket.” He pours the mage powder over the paper, sealing it, and then he holds it out of the window. Magic flares as it takes flight, as a bird would. He turns, brows pinched in thought. “We have numbers here, but there will be a fight after you slay Galen. Not every guard will stand with us. Some will fake it until they see an opportunity to strike you down.”
“That is a risk I will take.”
He pauses, then says, “I suggest we take out the nobles first.”
“Only those loyal. I don’t want innocents killed.”
“I agree,” he replies with a nod. “Are you planning to ambush Galen as he returns? We could shut the gates. Meet him at the wall, but those loyal to him inside would start to fight.”
If Selene were not on the other side of those gates, I would agree. I know her; she will run into this battle. I need to do it away from her. I can’t risk a hair on her head.
“Do you know where Galen rode, what lands he’s patrolling?” I ask.
“Of course. He went southeast.”
“Of course he did.” I shake my head. When Sable marches her army towards this kingdom, they’ll be coming from the opposite direction.Galen’s ride is a fake show.
“We will ride and ambush him. Now.”
His eyes widen in surprise. “This moment?”
I nod.
“We should sleep one more night. Rest.”
“I’ve lain awake far too many nights as my mate was caged down the hall. The next time I close my eyes, she will be in my arms.”
Adrian’s gaze drops, and he looks to the window, jaw tight. Then he nods and mumbles to himself as he plots. He strides fast to his desk, pulls out a red candle, lights it, and sets it in the window. An odd reddish black flame grows taller than it should. “It’s the signal to prepare to secure the castle.”
“Instead of killing Galen’s noble soldiers, offer them safe passage out of Blackthorn.”
Adrian’s expression falls. “Pests that are released instead of killed tend to come back, Titus.”
