“Braxton is the Harbinger of Justice’s son,” Skylar casually threw at her over her shoulder.
“He’s what?!”
“Larie! That is supposed to be a secret,” Asher chided, shaking his head at his girlfriend.
“Oh, please. Thea is family, and everyone will find out tomorrow anyway.” She gave him a one-shoulder shrug, carrying the bag with her as she walked away.
“That woman is going to be the end of me,” my brother huffed.
16
Dinner had never felt as long and uncomfortable as it did tonight. No matter how hard I tried to ignore it, I could feel the weight of Lachlan’s eyes on Evanna and me through the entire meal.
What the hell was his problem?
I hadn’t really believed he would back down after learning who I was, and something told me I was right. Yeah, I was the son of his idol, but if anything, that gave him another reason to hate me. Perhaps, in another life, we could have been friends, brothers. We both cared for our people, we were both fiercely protective of the princess, and he’d even been part of the guard. A friend of my friends.
However, this wasn’t really about me, a stranger, coming here before he learned the truth. It was about him believing I took Evie from him. He’d even stormed out of the feasting hall at one point after noticing Evie whisper something into my ear. His men, or guard, followed after him.
“Where is your mentor?” Evanna asked, breaking me out of my thoughts when we began to exit the feasting hall with our guard.
“Imogen left for the sixth floor ahead of us, something about needing to check on the construction of the extra rooms for my guard.”
“Oh, I see.” Her distracted gaze shifted over her shoulder, searching the area where Lachlan and his men usually sat.
“Are you going to tell me what happened yesterday? It has something to do with him, doesn’t it?” I asked, sensing he’d done something to her. Probably took advantage of me not being around to talk shit again.
A taxing sigh left her before her attention returned to me. “When we get to our quarters.”
It was obvious that whatever happened affected her, so I just nodded. Still, I was going to kick his ass from here to Sunday after I found out what it was anyway. I was done with his bullshit, but I would wait until she was ready to tell me. I could at least give her that.
Before we could turn the corner into the corridor that led to the staircase, our steps faltered. Nikau Battlesky, Lachlan’s cousin, stood there with a few men who followed him like a shadow wherever he went. They had been rescued alongside him from the Crimson Fortress by us as well.
“Chief, Princess Evanna.” The man’s expression filled with respect as he bowed his head at them. “Please forgive me for interrupting your evening this way, I—”
“If you wish to speak with the princess, you need to request an audience, Nikau,” Kingston interjected, his voice firm and leaving no room for discussion.
The guard straightened instinctively, and so did I. We all knew the chief was not to be trifled with when he used that tone, and hehatedwhen people ambushed Evanna like this.
“My apologies, Chief Knightsky. I did not mean any disrespect. I was actually hoping to speak to one of your Elevated Warriors. If that is at all possible. Though I’ll be glad to request an audience with him if that is what you require.” His tone was sincere and reverent, which contrasted harshly with the way his younger cousin behaved.
The difference was, I assumed, that Nikau was a grown man, a weathered warrior. He was once a sentry who served Raithian at the same time Kingston had. More importantly, he appreciated the Hidden Kingdom Evanna had built, recognized the existing hierarchy within it, and respected the man Kingston had become here.
“Which of my warriors do you wish to speak to?” the chief asked, confused.
Nikau’s gaze flew straight to me. “Braxton.”
Damn it. Now what? Had Lachlan sent his dogs on me?
Kingston’s eyes also reached me, silently asking if I was willing to talk to him, so I nodded. “It’s fine, Chief.”
Stepping aside from Evie and the guard, I stood next to the wall and watched Nikau stop before me. Neither Kingston nor the guard moved a single inch, and he glanced at them before focusing on me. “I assume you trust them all with your lifeandyour secrets.”
It wasn’t a question, but I answered, nonetheless. “I trust them.”
A small smile reached his lips, and he nodded, taking a deep breath before standing tall before me. “I served our Harbinger of Justice for many years. Hallowed be his name,” he began, nostalgia feeding his smile. “I served him in secret from inside the walls of the Hollow, and as I look back on my life, I think that without knowing it, I pledged myself to his cause even before the Uprising.”
He knew.
