My throat tightens as my eyes meet his. I half expect to see doubt or frustration in them, but I only find steadiness there. I know it kills him to let me do this, but he stands by my side anyway. I didn’t know it was possible to love him more than I already do, but I was wrong.
Graven glances up. “You’re serious? We’re going to defy the Queen?”
I nod, knowing I’ll do anything to save my best friend. “We don’t have time to wait.”
A grin slides across his face and he almost looks like the same carefree demon I met not too long ago. “Fuck yeah.”
My lips pull into a smile that matches his. Fuck yeah, and fuck the Queen. I don’t answer to her. I have the blood of a fucking Goddess flowing in my veins. Theia is the only one I answer to now.
CHAPTER 39
Zarreth
The strap of the pack cuts across my shoulder, weight shifting with each step. It’s loaded with what we’ll need: rations, water, blades. Enough to last a few days.
The courtyard’s mostly quiet, just the distant clink of armor from the guards pacing the upper wall. I trace short distances between the shadows, the scent of hay and ash pulling me toward the stables.
The horses inside lift their heads when I enter. They’re taller than mortal ones, and their manes glow when I pass by.
“Careful,” a voice warns from the dark.
I spin toward the sound, hand already on my blade.
The falkyrie with the black streaks under her eyes steps forward, bow resting across her back. She eyes me like she’s weighing what to do now that she caught me. “You’re not supposed to be out here.”
Fuck, she was one of the falkyrie I didn’t mind. I’d hate to kill her. “It’s a good thing you didn’t see me.”
Her gaze flicks toward the horses and back to me. “The Queen ordered a full lockdown. No one leaves. She’s convinced another surge is coming.”
I grunt, unhooking the lead rope from the nearest stall. “She’s not wrong.”
For a beat, neither of us moves. Then she exhales sharply through her nose. “You have ten minutes before the next shift, and I can’t guarantee the next falkyrie will be as awesome as me.”
I’m stunned, but not entirely surprised she decided to help. “You’re not afraid of getting in trouble?”
She smiles. “I live for trouble.”
She moves past me, checking harnesses with practiced hands. “Those two are fast and quiet.” She nods to the horses in the last two stalls. “I’ll ready a cart while you get your friends.”
“Thank you,” I say, quickly tracing away before she can change her mind.
Frankie jumps up the moment I walk through the door. Jess pushes down her blankets, and Graven pulls her into his arms. Her boots are already on, and they’re ready to go.
“We need to move quickly,” I tell them. “We’ve got about nine minutes. Once they realize the horses are missing, they’ll be on us.”
“You stole horses?” Frankie asks, eyes nearly bulging from her head.
I pull her in for a quick kiss. “Anything for you, little mate.”
“Finally, some action around here. I thought I might die of boredom if I had to stay in this fucking infirmary any longer.” Graven gives me the same look Ronin does when he’s about to do something we’ll both regret. They look more like brothers than cousins.
We slip through side corridors, taking the back way, hoping there’ll be less guards. We almost reach the exit when voices drift from the hallway behind us. Frankie freezes mid-step, so I grab her wrist and pull her into a small nook. Graven squeezes in beside us, careful not to jar Jess.
“Search every exit,” a voice calls out. “The Queen wants the halls cleared before dawn.”
Footsteps get closer and closer as Frankie stiffens beside me. I’m ready to knock him out so he doesn’t alert the others, but luckily he stops before reaching us. “All clear,” he shouts, turning back the way he came.
Graven shoots me a look like he’s questioning how the Queen’s guards ever made it past training. The sound of boots echoing through the hall finally disappears and we keep moving.
