“I’ll heal. It didn’t hit my heart.” But I grip his hand when he begins unbuckling my armor. Contrary to my assurance, the arrow might havegrazedmy heart. Still, there is no time for him to fuss over me. “Thegiof Mountains heals me faster than the other shinbiins. The bleeding already slowed.”
“Thank gods.” Then he looks back at our soldiers and barks, “Stay back.”
“Do you think this is a trap?” I lean my head against the tree, breathing through the pain. Iwillheal. It just hurts like a son of a bitch for the time being.
“No.” Jihun shakes his head. “The camp hasn’t stirred. It must be a lone assassin.”
“Whoever it is must have night vision,” I mutter. “Their aim is deadly.”
My royal adviser beckons one of the officers from the company nearest us.
He approaches us on quick feet, low to the ground. “Yes, Lord Adviser.”
“Form two squads of your best trackers and find the assassin,” Jihun orders succinctly. “Do it quietly. I want them alive.”
“Yes, Lord Adviser.” The officer’s gaze flickers toward me, and I give him a thumbs-up. He frowns at me for a second, then bows his head. “With your leave, Your Majesty.”
“Go right ahead.” I slur my words, and Jihun’s sharp gaze focuses on me.
“I thought you already stopped bleeding?” he accuses and reaches for my armor again. I slap away his hand.
“Almost but not quite.” I shift on the ground and groan. “And I have to admit it stings more than a paper cut.”
“Fuck, Ethan.” Jihun almost runs his hand down his face but stops when he sees my blood all over it. “You better not be lying.”
I need to stop fucking around. I close my eyes and breathe, focusing on absorbing thegiof Mountains. I feel the tear in my heart healing first. Then, slowly, the wound on my chest mends itself.
I open my eyes again. “Let’s go find that tent.”
“Like hell you will,” Jihun says through clenched teeth.
“I’m not taking this armor off, but my wound is completely closed.” I push up to my feet before he can object. “Trust me.”
He narrows his eyes at me with a distinct lack of trust. “Can you at least give our trackers a five-minute head start to capture the assassin? Or do you really want another arrow through your heart?”
“Notthrough,” I grumble. “It just scratched my heart.”
“I knew it.” Jihun points a finger so close to my face that my eyes cross. “The arrowdidhit your heart.”
I walked right into that one. Maybe I do need that extra five minutes to get my head in order. I clear my throat and muster as much dignity as I can. “We will set out in five minutes, Lord Adviser.”
“As you say, Your Majesty.” He bows his head without a trace of irony.
But I know it’s there.
I lean back against the tree trunk and sigh. I wish I had some Slim Jims to make up for the blood loss. They seemed to work wonders for Sunny.I allow myself a wistful smile.She’s coming home.Now that I know she’s safe, nothing seems as dire. Not even the war. I can do anything with her by my side.
And the things I want to dotoher when I get her to myself.Gods.I grow lightheaded for a reason entirely unrelated to an arrow to the heart. I chuckle under my breath. I’m hiding in the woods from an enemy battalion, and I have a hard-on for her. Having been inside her once, I don’t think I could ever get enough.
I surreptitiously adjust my pants and turn my thoughts toward less arousing topics. Such as a sullen teenage dragon. My lips curve into a fond smile. I miss that kid. It’ll be good to see them. I know they are one of the reasons Sunny is coming back to me.
Draco is utterly devoted to her. I know they did everything in their power to keep her safe. They are such a good kid, and I’m grateful they went after her. But I am ready to have Draco and Sunny back by my side, where I can keep them safe. They would both balk at the idea, but I will die protecting them, whether they like it or not.
“Has it been five minutes?” Adrenaline prickles across my skin. I can’t stand around for another second.
“Not y—” Jihun goes still when there’s a dull thud and a groan in the distance. “Sounds like they found the assassin.”
“That’s our cue.” I step away from the tree and head toward the enemy bivouac with careful steps. Jihun follows close behind, without argument for once.
