The wolfkin mountain range was a full day’s train ride away, nearly at the other side of the country. I’d never even left Aerlyn.
He seemed to think about that. “Wolfkin don’t use coin money, but I have always eaten well, had a warm, dry place to sleep, and nice weapons and clothes.”
I snort-laughed. “That’s rich.”
He nodded in agreement.
I didn’t think I’d like the salad as much as I did. It was sharp and vinegary, and the leaves were soft and earthy. My stomach was filling fast, but I had to save room for the chocolate and candied nuts.
Kaelric watched me as I popped the first one in my mouth.
I closed my eyes, and embarrassingly, a tear slipped from my eye.
It was the greatest thing I’d ever tasted.
When I opened them, Kaelric looked angry.
“What’s wrong?” I asked as the dark, sweet chocolate melted over my tongue.
“Where I’m from, the poor don’t have large houses, or power, or nice clothes, but theyalwayshave enough food. That is a basic right.” His teeth were clenched.
I squirmed uncomfortably. It felt like itshouldbe a basic right, but that’s not how this world worked. It wasn’t how it was where I was from.
Kaelric kept glancing at something behind me as I drank my water. After a few minutes, I felt his presence in my head.
‘I think this female initiate is going to try to steal Valkaryn. I don’t think she means you harm, and if she tries to hurt you, I’ll kill her, but I want you to let her take the sword as a lesson to everyone else.’
I’d never get used to another person speaking inside my head! My eyes widened as he leaned away from her direction and purposely looked the other way.
He wanted me to just let someone steal my weapon? No way in Hades! I’d earned this. I protectively placed my hand on the hilt, then I felt a presence in my mind. It was similar to when Kaelric had just spoken to me, butdifferent.
‘Listen to Kael,’a female voice said, and I knew, though I wasn’t sure how, that it was Valkaryn.
The sword had a voice, and it was that of a woman.
In shock, I let go of the handle and sat there, patiently waiting.
Two minutes passed, then I heard scurrying behind me. Kaelric tensed beside me, and I turned just as one of the female initiates, Mercy Solvaris, lunged for my weapon.
I screamed, which drew the attention of onlookers.
As the young woman’s fingers clasped around the hilt, a shockwave of blue light shot from the blade straight into her chest, striking her dead on the spot. She collapsed like a sack of flour, mouth open, with a small trickle of blood coming from her lips.
My gaze frantically flew around the room, searching for Corvessa, who would surely strike me dead, but she wasn’t here.
I stared in shock at the dead woman before me, but Kaelric stood, opening his arms wide.
“Let that be a warning to anyone else who thinks they can take the King Killer by force.” His voice boomed across the room, carrying with it a physical power that felt like a slap.
Gasps, whispers—even the Watchers present didn’t move to confront me or question what had just happened.
Cassian approached us, face pinched tight. “I think you both should go now.”
Kaelric grasped the plate of chocolate truffles and candied nuts and inclined his head back to the buffet, urging me to follow.
When I did, he stopped and grabbed another plate, putting over a dozen chicken legs on it.
“Wolf shifters need a lot of calories,” he told the bystanders.
