I grit my teeth.
I channel the lessons I learned from Commander Eddo during my year in Aurora. “Don’t panic,” I mutter, forcing deep breaths into my lungs. “Assess the direst situation first, then start from there.” Leigh is the queen. Finding her is the priority. Though I admit she would be my priority even if sheweren’tqueen.
I redial Leigh’s number, but the call goes straight to voicemail. Cursing, I dial Gianna’s number but get the same result.
“Where the hell is everyone?” I yell into the darkness.
Distant sirens pierce the night, accompanied by breaking glass and angry shouts. Uncertainty gnaws at me, threatening to unravel my fragile composure.
I stare at Leigh’s last text. She’d sent it hours ago, before her Council meeting. My heart constricts painfully. If anything happened to her . . .
“Wilder, are you okay?” Leigh’s voice cuts through the silence like a blade. Relief showers me so intensely that I must clutch the railing to keep from falling. I am so dizzy.
She appears at the top of the grand staircase. I take the stairs two at a time, scanning her for any sign of injury. I can’t speak—can’t move. The fear and panic of the past hour crashes over me, leaving me breathless.
“Say something; you’re scaring me,” she mutters. Leigh tucks a strand of hair behind her ear—a nervous gesture I’ve learned.
And suddenly, I’m laughing. It bubbles up from deep in my chest, bordering on hysterical. Leigh takes a step back.
“I’m scaringyou?” I manage between gasps of laughter.
“Yes.” She stares at me as if I’ve lost my mind. And maybe I have.
As quickly as it came, my laughter dies. I close the distance between us with three quick strides, my earlier fear morphing into something darker—more primal. Leigh swallows hard, andI watch the delicate movement of her throat. It would be so easy for someone to hurt her.
“When you didn’t answer your phone, I panicked,” I tell her.
Leigh blinks. “I—I’m sorry. I left my phone in the car. But I’ve been here. I’m trying to pinpoint who could be feeding Stellan his information. Who has the motive?”
I shake my head, crowding her until her back hits the wall. One of her ancestor’s portraits glares down at me disapprovingly, but I couldn’t care less. This is between us.
“You lost your phone in the middle of an emergency?”
“Y-yes.” Her breath hitches.
I shake my head. “Leigh, what am I supposed to do with you?”
She holds up her hands in surrender. “I’m sorry.”
“I was worried out of my skull,” I admit, a bit harsher than intended. How could she be so careless?
“Awe, poor baby,” she coos, gliding her hands up my chest. The touch sends sparks through my body, and I curse her hold on me. My life would be much easier if she weren’t such a distraction. “What if your enemies find out the Blade Commander scares so easily?”
I groan, pressing my forehead to hers. The contact grounds me. Inhaling, I let Leigh’s familiar violet scent wash over me. “I don’t give a shit what anyone else thinks. You are what matters, which is why I am here when I should be out there?—”
Leigh kisses me, soft and sweet, but pulls away before I can react.
Gods. I want her. All the fucking time.
“I’m sorry,” she whispers again. “Thank you for checking on me, but I am fine and safe. I sent some of my guards to get Gianna, and the others are inspecting the perimeter.”
“You drive me so goddamn crazy,” I murmur. Leigh’s eyes widen slightly, and a mix of emotions flashes across her face.
Say it,I urge her. I want to hear her say it.
I’m not going anywhere. She can rely on me if she can’t rely on anyone else.
“I’m sorry.” This time, there’s a hint of a smile playing on her face. “I’ll try to be more careful.”
