He looks up at me as I stop still, stunned by his declaration.
“If you rescued your sisters from the prison, maybe one day, you will free my family, too,” he says.
The two soldiers on either side of Tyrus also take a knee, their heads bowed.
I’m speechless, blinking at them as I try to understand how these once-hostile soldiers are now kneeling to me.
“We pledge our loyalty to you, Nova Madden,” Tyrus says. “You are worthy of your father’s crown. Please allow us to help you in this time before the final elimination.”
I’m beyond stunned now. All I can say is, “Thank you.”
My focus returns to my sisters, but now that I’ve stepped outside the edge of the concealment rune, I can’t see them. Can’t tell what they’re thinking or feeling as these soldiers… who tried to kill them nine days ago… are now offering to help.
“I have to take care of my family,” I say to Tyrus. “But I need to know if Crone changes the rules or the timing of the fight. I don’t trust her not to try to undermine me.”
“We can assist you with that,” Tyrus replies, without hesitation. “We’ll also set up a perimeter a few blocks from here and warn you if Crone or any of the royals approaches.”
“‘Three of you against Crone…” I say, not trying to insult him but needing him to consider the danger.
He rises to his feet, drawing his shoulders back as he shakes his head. “Not three. All of us.”
At that moment, a legion of soldiers approaches, appearing from within the shadows, their footfalls stealthy and quiet.
I’m shocked that I didn’t pick up their presence before now, worried that my senses were somehow damaged within the prison.
Tyrus seems to read my unease because his hand rises, a calming movement. “Please don’t be alarmed. We’re chosen at birth to join the Royal Guard and we spend our whole lives learning to hide our presence when we need to. I’ve been trying to gather information about the King’s disappearance, but it’s been difficult.”
My memory jolts. In the Wilds, Roman mentioned that he had gathered information about the next trial, but he didn’t say how. My focus flashes to him as I wonder if Tyrus was Roman’s source.
Tyrus continues. “I apologize for the fact that I didn’t know about the trial by poison. If I had, I would have warned you.”
I recall that even Arga didn’t seem to know about that one.
Tyrus takes a step back. “You’re as much a surprise to me as my loyalty must be to you, Princess,” he says. “But we’ll leave you to take care of your family now. Please rest assured, we’ll warn you if Crone changes the rules.”
I exhale as the demons disappear into the shadows, uncertain if I’m comforted or alarmed by how well they blend in, the way they evade my wolf’s senses and my demon sight. “That’ssometraining,” I murmur.
Quickly, I shake off my unease and swing back to my sisters, reentering the rune to find them nearly collapsing with exhaustion.
Roman is already focused on the building. Multiple runes—each a circle—rise up from his fingertips, joining and twining before they fly silently toward the front door. The surface shimmers, and when the light fades, the opaque surface has disappeared and Roman steps through ahead of us.
Gathering up my sisters, I help them inside.
My power reacts strongly as I step through the door, my energy prickling at the strength of the security that shrouds this place. It rakes across my head and shoulders, and I find myself wrapping my arms around my sisters, protecting them from the dark tendrils of magic wafting around the doorframe.
The building is clearly designed to keep others out, but Roman has trusted its location to us. A slow drip of happiness fills my heart at the trust that continues to grow between us. It’s a moment of warmth and comfort to know that Roman is here with us and that my sisters are currently safe. No matter what the final fight brings, I know that Roman will keep them alive.
“Your sisters need food and hydration,” Roman says as he ushers us along the short hallway and into a large living area. “Wait here. Don’t step beyond this room without me—there are extra layers of security that could harm them. I’ll bring what you need.”
The room has dark mahogany floors and equally dark wooden shelves lining three of the walls. The shelves are filled with what could be thousands of books. It smells like Roman in here, powerful and spicy. His scent is strong enough to make me think that, despite the Wilds being his true home, he must have spent a lot of time here before my father disappeared.
My sisters lean heavily on me, and I help them as quickly as I can to the soft-looking sofas that sit near the farthest wall, which houses an empty fireplace.
They stumble as we near the seats and finally fall onto the sofa side by side, sinking into it. They’re drained. Days of limited food and an illusion that would have been sapping their energy have taken their toll.
My wolves span out across the floor in front of them, all except Ace, who paces the room, sniffing at each corner. Allowing him to settle in as he needs to, I pull up an armchair so I can sit opposite my sisters. Neither of them has spoken since we left the prison and it’s worrying me.
Dark circles ring Malia’s eyes, her skin’s healthy glow all but gone. She looks as haunted as Taniya, whose teal-blue eyes are glassy with tears.
