Sunlight spilled over us, but all it did was cast Griffin in a long shadow. His typical forest eyes were nearly impenetrable. “Because this could get us killed, but it is also the best way to keep you safe. I need to announce it when we are surrounded by allies who will fight for it.”
“We’ll be right behind you darlin’,” Levi reassured.
The crew moved around us, working to secure a bridge to the dock. As soon as they were done, Griffin didn’t hesitate, leading myself and, by extension, Julian off. Separating me from Levi’s comforting hand and leaving a frigid unease in its wake.
It wasn’t until we were on the dock that I realized how off-kilter I felt. My entire being attempting to rock into my next step.
“Sea legs,” Griffin muttered. It was clear he was forcing himself to remain upright, but I could see the uneasiness in his gait too. “I hate this part.”
But he didn’t allow it to hinder us, leading us further down the dock. With the distraction of my own shortcomings gone, I once more honed in on my surroundings. On how similar and different it was here. Night and day. Fire and ice.
This is the ice.
My foot slipped on a patch on the dock, but Julian’s steady hold didn’t allow me to stumble.
Literally.
Drago’s guards from our ship flanked us, masked men with weapons and wearing full gear.
It put me at ease because I knew Oleks was among them.
But what if Ivan is too?
Stamping the thought down, I focused on the shore. The ground was covered in white, a thick snow that I had only seen in books. But poking up and through, everywhere I looked, there were familiar pretty pink and purple flowers. And past that, there were…more.
A gathering just on shore near the river, hundreds of people—correction, hundreds ofmen—huddled in a circle around a singular stage that the High Priestess stood on. Behind her a boat rocked in the river, an oversized…metal, elongated tube on it? It was smooth, similar in shape to a ginkgo seed, with a single barred hole on top. Her eyes burned a hole into mine, but I ignored them as best I could. She wore the same garb as before, and I realized the flower on it was the same that littered the ground.
Julian’s warmth and support kept my nerves planted in my stomach, but Griffin’s statement from before threatened them to come up my throat.
Raven will marry us both.
Our arrival drew another crowd of its own, but the guards from Drago’s ship were keeping them at bay, not allowing anyone to approach enough to get a look.
Even still, as we stepped onto the ground and off the docks, they were able to get closer. I could hear them.
“A woman.”
“ASacred Cherished.”
“It’s true!”
“The Creator must be punished!”
“Our prince? They had him too!”
The words overlapped, one on top of the other as the crowd forming around us began to bow; Griffin stiffened at my side, frozen in place. Even as the crowd of men slowly raised their heads and forcefully turned their attention back to the stage, the High Priestess stood on. Except I clocked the fear that swam in the air, the ashen faces of the men around us. As if they were terrified to go against the High Priestess, even in the presence of a prince.
The High Priestess is the higher entity. But it seems she has their fear, not their respect.
With the men gone, I could see now that we were heading towards a vehicle as Griffin had described. It was similar to the cars we had back home but older?A carriage was more accurate as he had said, similar to what I would see in one of our history books, not on the road driving.
“As promised. The evidence in the flesh. As you all can see, not only a SacredCherished but your beloved prince were sent to the Redemption!” The High Priestess’s voice was unmistakable. “For this, his crimes areunforgiveable!”
From this angle, I could only see the High Priestess until she moved to the side. Then I saw there was someone else up on the stage with her.
Older, badly bruised, restrained, butfamiliar.
I didn’t realize I had broken free of Griffin and Julian’s hold. Didn’t realize my body was propelling me towards danger, until Felix stepped into my path, physically stopping me.
