“We should go,”I tell her.
An odd shadow passes over her face, and an irritated huff trips off her lips. She stands abruptly, stiff, her shoulders squared hard, her chin lifted. Even the simple act ofbeingis different from her norm, lacking the elegant grace of a gifted swordswoman that accompanies Hel’s every waking minute.
She stabs her arms through the gambeson’s sleeves and fastens the toggles from neck to waist with the steadiest of hands. She acts like she’s not cold anymore. Not in the least.
Face hard, she snatches Tuck’s reins from Alexus and swings a long leg up and over the horse. “Raina rides with me.”
Another tremble quivers through Tuck from mane to tail, the whites of her eyes visible. Alexus’s gaze shifts, meeting mine in question.
His face seems to say,Is everything all right here?
I’m honestly unsure, but also convinced that Hel is just a young, sheltered woman experiencing trauma amid absolute calamity. I understand that far better than I want to, so I craft another calming spell for the horses and take my friend’s offered hand.
As we leave the lake, I think of Nephele and pray to Loria that she’s safe.
And that she’s watching over us.
Ithrow on my red longcoat and head out into the cold morning. I’m furious enough that I could uproot a thousand trees.
Knowing exactly what to do with this anger, I stalk across the snowy castle grounds and make my way toward the king’s stables, ready for a fight with Colden Moeshka. If there’s anything I know about my king, it’s that he’d rather die than leave those he loves to suffer alone.
Unfortunately for him, I’m not one to allow those I love to place themselves in danger.
I glance southward. Men and women sit high in the watch towers, eyes sharp, their bows and arrows ready.
To the west and north, the village is busier than usual. We witches sensed the intrusion in Frostwater Wood the moment the first invader crossed through the trees our magick protects, so everyone in Winterhold has been warned.
I believe Colden when he says the invaders are from the Eastland Territories and led by the Prince of the East. He’s never seemed more certain of anything—nor more worried—thus strategic preparations are underway should an army of Eastlanders reach our lands.
I’m going to do everything within my power to make sure that doesn’t happen.
People watch as I cross the road between the castle and the stable, throw the doors open, and march inside. I plant my fists firmly on my hips, a move that makes me feel like my mother as I pass stall after stall, my boot heels clacking on the wooden planks.
Colden stands at the far end of the building, saddling his horse with his back to me. “Could you walk any louder, Bloodgood?”
I stop a few strides away, nostrils flaring. “I’ll walk as loudly as I please, especially when I’m angry.”
He keeps working, tightening the saddle’s billet straps, though he spares me a glance, looking me over, from windblown curls to snowy boots.
He flashes a mischievous smile. “Ooh, wonderful. I like it when you’re mean.”
I stomp my foot. “Colden! Do you really think I’m going to let you go back out there?”
After a long moment, he finally—if slowly—turns around and crosses his arms over his chest. “I fear you’re in no condition to stop me, love.”
I jerk my head back. “Nocondition?If you remember, I just built possibly the largest and most complex construct that any Witch Walker has ever created. Believe me,love, if I want to keep you here, I can.”
He waggles his eyebrows. “Mmm, now you’re just teasing me. You know how much I enjoy being tied up.”
I give him my most serious glare and aim a finger at him. “Stop it, right now. I mean it. Don’t do that.”
“Don’t do what?” he says with an innocent shrug that isn’t innocent at all.
The tilted smirk I love forms across his full lips as he closes the distance between us, his usual swagger accentuating each step. In one swift move, he wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me against him.
I try to remain stiff, armoring myself with irritation, but…this is Colden.
I smack his chest. “I’m not playing around. You cannot go lookingfor Alexus. You just got here. He wouldn’t even let you ride into the valley with him. What makes you think he’d want you riding out to meet the enemy alone?”
