“When I return, I am making an honest woman of you. You will become Faylinn d’Alvey, and we will have as many babies as you allow. I love you more than the stars love the moon, and Iwillcome back to you. Thank you for listening and understanding, my love.” With that, he pressed one last kiss to my brow before mounting Balios.
Asha gave me one last hug, pressing Fia into my arms as she and Ben hurried to their own horses, twin tear tracks evident in the sunlight.
“Lex!” Rohak barked, his voice hard, yet I felt the tremor of fear in it.
Lex and Ilyas pushed through the mass of soldiers embracing weeping loved ones and making final preparations for their journey northward.
“General?” Lex asked as he approached Balios, head thrown back to regard my Bonded.
Rohak’s eyes softened for a moment as he gazed at the Mage who was more a brother than a soldier.
“Take care, Lex, Ilyas,” he said with a nod at Lex’s Pleasure Bonded. “I’m trusting Vespera with you, but you are to protect yourselves at all costs.”
Lex’s eyebrows rose, and he opened his mouth in rebuttal, but Rohak held out a hand.
“Please, Lex. Promise me that.” The General—so stoic and hard, so fierce and battle-hardened—was nearly pleading. My heart ached as I felt his desperation, his love, his desire to protect the man he valued above almost all others.
Lex paused, his expression shifting through a myriad of emotions before he settled on grim determination. He shut his mouth with an audible click before nodding his head once.
“I’ll take care of myself, but won’t sacrifice Vespera to a fate worse than death. These people are just as mine as yours, Rohak,” he finished quietly. “But wewillsee each other again.”
My Bonded exhaled heavily with a jerky nod.
“May Fate guide and keep you, Lex d’Talionis.”
Rohak spared me one last glance before I saw his expression visibly shift.
He was no longer my love, my General. Now he was General d’Alvey, the man who would lead them to and through war.
“We leave now to stop tyranny in its tracks. If that isn’t enough of a reason for you, we ride to protect those we leave behind here. We go to protect Elyria and all we love in it.”
There were mumbles and shouts of agreement that crested through the sea of black.
“Move out!” Rohak commanded.
Hooves clattered against stone, leather creaked, and horses whinnied as the army moved through the streets of Vespera and into the plains beyond.
I clutchedFia to my chest, taking care not to bobble her head too much, as I climbed staircase after staircase, searching for the one person I knew I could trust.
My pack was already packed and strapped to my back. I donned a new set of Mage blacks and even the boots Rohak had made for me when I’d first come to Vespera. Runes of protection and a few for battle were etched on my skin, my daggers strapped to my waist and thighs, a few even shoved in my boots. A horse was saddled and waiting in the stables.
I was ready to leave Vespera and follow the path of our army. They’d disembarked nearly three hours ago—a large enough head start that no one would be able to see me from the rearguard, but not enough of a gap that I’d lose their trail.
All that remained was entrusting Fia with someone who would look after her as if she were their own.
What a guardian I would make, I thought scornfully. As if she could hear my thoughts, Fia cooed and made gurgling baby noises. Her round, celadon eyes sparkled with inherent curiosity and intelligence as she gnawed on her fist.
Hungry, I thought.Hopefully Felix knows what to do for that.
Wasn’t like either of us could breastfeed her.
My boots slapped loudly in the nearly empty Academy. Those of us who stayed behind, voluntarily or otherwise, were few and far between. Many had gathered together in the mess hall for dinner, but Felix was notably absent.
If he is who I think he is, then this is the only way.
I approached the door to his room, knocking quietly before taking a small step back.
Instantly, the door opened, revealing Felix with a sling already fashioned to his front and a bottle of what looked like milk in his hand. A smile of relief and mischief crossed his face as he reached for the little girl cradled in my arms.
