Master nods stoically, and Grace shifts her head in my lap, her sculpted legs draped over the arm of the sofa.
“Sam was telling us not to come, but I don’t know if it was heroic bravery, not wanting us to jeopardize ourselves for him, or something more than that,” I say.
My magic is anxious, gold shaking in trembling pools as it awaits another message.
Rhett rakes his hands down his face. He lost his father and his best friend in a single moment, and I don’t have anything to offer him other than my sword tomorrow night.
Master’s expression is drawn. “We’ll bleed more losses if we do nothing. Our veil has been broken; I won’t gamble further discovery of our numbers or safehouses.”
I couldn’t agree more.
The front door crashes open, and Grace tenses against me. I grip her shoulder, running a thumb over it, and she relaxes again as Riot comes around the corner, dumping ten enormous logs next to the hearth.
Grace sighs, sitting up. “I agree. If the king found our home, and Lou’s—” her voice catches, “they already seem to know everything about us in Southend. I still think we do this.”
“Aye,” Rhett growls, throwing one of the logs into the fireplace. “We’re infiltrating that castle and getting Sam out. I don’t give a shit what he’s warning us about.”
I don’t bother to correct Rhett that he’s not the one to make the decision because I was about to say the same damn thing.
Master pushes himself to standing, backlit by the fire. “Captain Kade—”
Grace lifts herself from me, and I stand at attention. “Master.”
“We’re moving forward with this war. And we’re going to get my son out of that hell. I’m thankful you’re the man leading us. Your father would be proud,” he says, and my jaw clenches.
“Forever may he rest,” Grace says softly, and I nod at them, falling back onto the sofa.
“You all need to head to bed. Big day tomorrow,” Master says, shuffling toward his room, Rhett right behind him.
Big day, indeed. We’re in the underground by late afternoon to meet up with the legion and infiltrating the castle by nightfall.
Gods be with us.
Grace steps between my knees and kisses me, and I let my hands linger on her hips before she pulls away. “I’ll see you in bed, love.”
“I’ll be right up.”
Riot rakes his hair back as she climbs the stairs, his face stern.
“We’re leaving at dawn to scout the castle and make sure we’ve got that entry point,” I tell him.
“Aye, I might decide to waltz right the fuck in there, though.”
He won’t.
“You know Grace won’t stay behind tomorrow night,” Riot whispers, and my heart thuds in my chest.
“I know.”
“She can hold her own,” he tries to encourage.
“I know that, too.”
“Can’t blame her. I wouldn’t stay behind either. Nothing would stop me.”
I shake my head, slapping my thighs as I stand. “When I married the woman, I made the decision to support whatever choices she makes. I won’t stop her from performing the duties she sees fit for her life. Heir, mother, wife, Hunter. Magic, no magic. It’s up to her.”
“Aren’t you just the perfect fucker?”
