With a final burst of his flames, he took out the last of the beings on his side while a howling wail echoed when the lastof Kailia’s victims faded to nothing. Cethin rushed to her while Razik sank to the ground, resting his arms atop his knees and pressing his brow to them. That fight might have lasted less than an hour, but the amount of power it took for him to kill one of those beings was immense, let alone the total number he took out. Without Kailia’s help, he had no doubt they would have lost another tonight. There was a decent chance none of them would have survived if he were being completely honest.
“Razik,” Wren said, worry ringing in her tone as she dropped down beside him. Her smaller fingers took his hand, slicing a blade across his palm before he felt her power seeping into his. She scooted in closer, her other hand landing on his shoulder. “Are you hurt?”
“No, Wren,” he muttered because that was all he could muster. He couldn’t even lift his head to look at her. Not as adrenaline and exhaustion warred in his soul. Not as he sat there tense and rigid, unable to relax because instead of protecting the future queen, he’d been forced to fight alongside her. Something Cethin was sure to hurl at him the next time they argued.
“We can go back to Aimonway, Razik,” Wren said softly.
And he finally lifted an arm and curled it around her, pulling her into his side. He’d been an ass to her, and here she was, still offering him something she didn’t have to.
“After the hunt tomorrow,” he answered.
He still had responsibility here, and he wasn’t about to give his uncle yet another reason to lecture him about his duties.
So he stayed, Wren tucked in close as the others adjusted the watch schedule, and they slept. But he’d be having words with Cethin because if Kailia needed that arrowhead back to make more of those weapons, then he’d make sure that was what fucking happened.
Chapter 17
Cethin
“All I’m saying is that I would feel better if we shared a horse from here on out,” Cethin said for what felt like the tenth time.
Kailia didn’t even look at him as she finished adjusting the saddle on her horse. “I’m sure you would, but I assure you I can protect you just as well from atop my own horse.”
“That’s not what I meant,” Cethin said dryly, but of course, Razik heard it.
“She has a point. Maybe you should stay in the middle from here on out,” the dragon said, wandering by with two horses trailing him. Despite drawing from Wren, he still looked exhausted, and Cethin was sure Wren was in a similar state.
“Maybe you should stay the fuck out of things that don’t concern you,” Cethin retorted, but Razik hadn’t even slowed, and he didn’t bother acknowledging the comment.
By the gods, he needed to get his shit together. Tolerating Razik was so much easier when he was a Cadre member and not a personal guard to his future wife. The male was around all the godsdamn time now. He just needed to focus on her and nothing else.
Moving closer, he sent a whisper of his power skittering along her fingers before he placed his hand atop hers where she was working on securing a saddlebag. He gently moved her hand aside, taking over working the buckle.
“I had it handled,” she said defensively, the fingers he’d touched now curled into the fabric of her cloak.
“I know you are more than capable, tiny fiend,” he replied without looking at her. “But agreeing to this partnership means you do not have to do everything yourself.”
Her features turned thoughtful, studying him as he turned to face her. The smoke swirling in her eyes was so much slower, drifting rather than the usual whirl of magic. She’d used a good amount of her power last night, and he still hadn’t worked out how long it took for her to recover.
Sending another trace of his magic, this time along her side, he placed his hand on her hip a moment later. She stiffened but didn’t pull away, even if she did take a small step back. Small touches. That was what he’d been working on. Small touches to get her used to it. Used tohim. People would expect affection from their king and queen, especially if he was breaking the same tradition his father had by not taking a Fae as a partner.
He’d been told that was the sole reason his parents’ union had been accepted. That their love and devotion to one another was so obvious and candid that no one could argue or stand in the way of it. Some even believed they were bonded in a way known only to the stars. Something similar to the twin flame bond but different, since that bond could only be forged between a Legacy and a Fae.
Despite his best efforts, they were failing. He could sense the hesitancy of the advisory council as they observed her. He knew of the rumors that were whispered—or blatantly gossiped about—in the streets. If they couldn’t be convincing, she would neverbe fully accepted as their queen. More than that, his judgment would always be questioned, even more than it was right now.
And yeah, part of himwantedto touch her more. Fuck, Wren and Razik showed more affection for each other than he did with his betrothed. Kailia was living in his quarters, sleeping in his bed, wearing those fucking nightclothes…
Yeah, he wanted to touch her. Found himself getting lost to fantasies he had no business having when he knew so little about her. When she had a clear and severe aversion to touch. When he’d forced her into this partnership. But he’d thought…
He’d thought it would be easier, if he were being honest, but there was nothing easy about her.
His hand on her hip, he swiped his thumb along the band of her pants a few times, watching for any sign it had any effect on her. But there was nothing. Always nothing.
Swallowing his sigh, he said, “I need to thank you.”
“Thank me?” she repeated, her head tilting and her black braid sliding over her shoulder.
“Yes, thank you,” he said again, slowly reaching with his other hand to move her hair back. “For fighting for all of us last night. We have no defenses against them, save for Razik and Tybalt. But now there’s you.”
