But Jax bumps me with his shoulder. “You should probably save all that for later,” he murmurs.
Malin is close, and he glances over. He’s grown fluent enough that he says, “Tell him a story. That usually works.”
It breaks through my focus and makes me smile in spite of myself— and when I look back at Grey, I realize that there was no judgment in his gaze. No censure. It was all in my head, my own insecurities getting the best of me. The wind swirls into nothing, and I take a deep breath.
“Good?” he says.
It’s not patronizing or condescending. It’s not even an officer addressing a soldier. It’s a friend— addressing a friend.
Any lingering tension in my heart eases. I nod. “More scravers may be coming,” I say. “The Truthbringers definitely are. I don’t know how much time we have.” I glance past him again, hoping there’s a whole regiment waiting just at the end of the lane. “How many other soldiers do you have with you? Surely not a full regiment, but—”
“None,” he says.
My eyes go wide, and the wind kicks up again. Malin and Sephran both snap their heads around to look at me. Any relief they might have felt has vanished in an instant. Alek swears under his breath.
Callyn murmurs something to him, and I realize she’s asking for translation. There’s no missing the disdain in his tone when he reveals that the king practically came alone.
Even Lia Mara draws back to look up at her husband. “None?” she says. “You . . . you didn’t bring anyone else?”
Grey looks at her, incredulous. “You said danger still lurked in the palace! That you had proof the Truthbringers were still spying. You said nothing of . . . ofthis.” He gestures around, then runs a hand back through his hair. “Given the way I left, I thought it best if I didn’t come through the mountain pass prepared forwar. Clearly I was wrong.” He sighs and looks back at me, then to Malin and Jax, lingering for a moment before shifting to the others. His eyes narrow a little, and it’s a more appraising look, assessing readiness and resolve. He’s always soawareof the soldiers under his command, so I know exactly what he sees: a handful of people who barely survived the first battle, and might not have much left to give another.
“Our arrows and blades were tipped in Iishellasan steel,” I say to him. “We should pull what we can before the others arrive.”
Grey’s eyebrows go up. “How did you manage that?”
“Jax,” I say.
Beside me, Jax inhales as if to offer more of an explanation, but the queen leans into her husband and says, “He’sveryuseful.”
Alek sighs heavily, but Callyn hits him in the arm.
Without hesitation, the king looks to one of his soldiers. “Pull the arrows and salvage any blades you can find.” He turns to the others. “Drag the bodies into the trees and clear the lane.” His eyes flick back to us. “Let’s return to the bakery.” He glances down at the queen, then looks to Callyn. “Fetch Sinna and Nora. Tell them it’s safe—”
Callyn pales a shade. “They’re not—” Her voice breaks a little, and she has to start over. “They’re not here.”
Grey goes absolutely still. This time it’shismagic that flickers in the air, like a sudden burst of energy around his form. His voice is deadly quiet. “They’re alone in the palace? Now?”
Callyn shakes her head fiercely. “N- no. We had to send them away—”
“They’re safe,” says the queen, but a desperate note in her voice reveals her own fear. “Grey— they’re safe. We had to send them away from here. We knew what was coming. We told them to hide. Nora will protect her—”
“Nora is achild.” He takes a step back, and his eyes are a little wild. I instantly realize he’s going to abandon all of us to go after his daughter.
I stride forward and grab his arm before he can. “If you go after her, you will lead them right to her. It’syouthey want.Yourmagic.Mymagic.”
“My magic,” the queen says softly.
“And mine,” says Callyn.
That seems to hit him like an arrow. Especially when I add, “Grey. It’s the whole reason youleft.”
He jerks like he really received a blow. “And it still didn’t protect them.”
“Scravers are cominghere,” I say. “Truthbringers are cominghere. Nora got Sinna away. She’s safe. But we aren’t.”
He stares back at me, his arm tight under my hand. If he decides to leave, I can’t stop him. Iwon’tstop him. I remember his desperation when he lost the baby. I know how Sinna’s absence must be tearing him apart from within.
But he’s been a king for years, and he’s been a soldier and a guardsman even longer than that. Grey knows how to put aside emotion and fear in order to do what needs to be done— and he knows it better than anyone. He’s the one who taughtme.
