Dante nodded. “Yes, I needed more time. I needed to study the inner workings of thedungeon. I would not risk leaving any of the innocents behind.”
An assassin with a conscience. Who would have thought it?
“Guess I came along at the right time,” I joked.
He let out a low laugh. “Yes, Your Majesty. You most certainly did.”
As we started to walk, the general sounds of the summer woods slowly changed. I was starting to hear some clashing, even a few muffled yells. Enough to tell me that we were no longer alone.
I halted, and when Dante turned to me, I said, “We need to stay out of sight. It will not help having our position revealed to the queen before we get there. We don’t want her preparing for this.”
He nodded. “Prince Caspien said you wanted to see your people before you left, the ones who are here training with our army. They’re on the edge of these woods. I was simply leading you closer.”
I had almost forgotten about Blaine and Bianca. Planning to assassinate someone could do that to a girl.
“Just Bianca and Blaine at this stage.” I turned to Kade. “Right? You don’t need your bear guard?”
He shook his head, and I turned back to Dante.
“I will lead those two to you,” he said, asking no more questions.
We hurried along this time, staying close to Dante as he led us through a veritable maze of trees and shrubbery. I couldn’t keep anything straight; it all looked the same, but the noise of battle was definitely getting clearer.
“Wait here,” he told us after about ten minutes of walking.
Using the trees to keep ourselves hidden, the four of us remained in a tense bundle, waiting for the fae to return. I wasn’t sensing betrayal from him, but … we had to remain vigilant. Dante was not someone I knew or trusted, and I would continue to treat him with caution.
Footsteps crunching through undergrowth gave me a few seconds’ notice before a figure darted out from the trees and strong arms wrapped around me, yanking me up into a hard chest.
“Princess! Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”
Blaine pulled back, his eyes raking across me, taking in my no doubt tired face and battle-ready clothing. He grew more serious. “What happened?” He crossed his arms over his chest, his expression formidable.
I marveled at how fit and healthy he looked, his skin golden, kissed by the sun of this court,wearing fae leathers that fit his broad shoulders and slim hips to perfection. I knew Bianca was standing close behind him, but my focus remained on my old friend.
“We are here to assassinate the winter queen and Dark Fae Lord,” I said in a low voice. “I wanted to let you know, because if we are not successful, you need to head back to Earth and prepare our people. There will be a war.”
Blaine continued to stare down at me, his silence unnerving. I knew he was upset; he had the telltale signs, the shaking of his arms, the small flame deep in his eyes. A hand crept up across his shoulder, resting against his biceps. Bianca pressed in close to his side, and he finally tore his gaze from me to stare down at her. Something passed between them, a moment, and that flame dulled somewhat from Blaine’s green eyes.
Happiness burst to life in my chest, and I found myself swallowing the sudden flurry of tears threatening to pour from me. I had loved Blaine forever, but I would never bein lovewith him. He hadn’t felt the same way, and there had been a lot of rocky times between us since Kade and me. But … there was something with him and Bianca. I saw it. And apparently so had Violet. This had to be the prophesy she spoke of. It all made sense now.
Bianca continued to comfort him; she had tamed my hotheaded friend with one look.
“What else do you need from us?” Bianca asked me, staring straight at me. I had always liked the Boston alpha. She stood by me through the Selene thing, and was strong and respected by her pack. She was a good match for my Blaine.
“Continue what you are doing now and wait for our word,” I said to her, while still flicking glances at Blaine. “One way or another, you should know in the next day or so if we are successful, or if you need to head back to New York to regroup.”
“Prince Caspien will let you know,” Dante added. “Even if things do not go to plan for us, he will get you back to Earth.”
Blaine was shaking his head now, that formidable expression still plastered across his face. “No, Ari, you cannot do this. You cannot sacrifice yourself to try and save everyone.”
Kade let out a little growl of agreement. Of course. I should have expected I would have to have this same argument with the other dominant male in my life. “I am the queen of the shifters,” I said, my tone filled with my annoyance. “This is the sole reason for my existence, to make sure I keep my people safe, that I take the first hit so they don’t have to. Atrue leader stands on the front line, not behind. You know this.”
“Let me go instead.” Blaine’s voice rippled with a growl, and Kade’s bear was suddenly in our midst, his own rumbles growing in strength. Blaine, with his very annoyed wolf shining from his eyes, just lifted his head and met my mate’s gaze. They had a silent conversation over my head, and must have come to some sort of agreement, because Kade backed off a little.
“You’re not going,” I bit out, hating to pull rank, but we didn’t have time for this. My mate could protect me. I could protect myself. Blaine needed to just let it go.
Blaine’s lips twitched at the corners, before finally he let out a long sigh, rubbing tiredly at his temples. “Why can’t I at least come along to guard you?”
