Reaching up, his thumb brushed across my cheek as if he were trying to map every peak and valley of my facial structure. “Then myheart is yours, my prince, and you can do whatever you wish with it, so long as it ensures I remain by your side.”
I chased his warmth, nuzzling against his calloused hands that always touched with softness, as if they’d never been made for war. “As mine is yours, and together, I am fully confident there isn’t anything we are incapable of accomplishing.”
With a lengthened inhale, he nodded, slowly retreating from me. “Then fight we must. Together. For the people of Veilmar. For the people of Serevalen. For the people of Darswyth. For the people of Thornebay. For the people of Hollowmere. And for the people of Velispar. There is nothing we cannot achieve if we are together, and if you plan to oppose the malicious forces that manipulate our lands, then I will faithfully follow you.”
Before he could move too far away, I leaned forward to press my lips against his. It was a slow kiss, one intended to display every emotion I harbored. Feelings I had yet to tell him, commitments I planned to make once it seemed right to do so.
Pulling back, I brushed my nose against his and offered one peck to his stubbled jaw before I opened my eyes. The grunt he released was divine, something I wished to claim even in the ethereal forest we seemed to be standing in. But I knew there was still far too much to do, too many innocent lives to save in the face of my father’s attacks.
I would be the one to end him, and I would be the one to reestablish a flourishing Wraelira, a continent where captivity and treachery no longer existed.
Trailing my fingers down Percy’s chest, I slowly stepped away and gestured toward the forest’s opening. “We should get going.”
“Right.” He cleared his throat, running a hand through his hair. Following my request, he moved in front of me, always adamant about remaining there. “With your father’s temper, I’m sure he sent numerous waves. And knowing who scours these lands—Caspian Vayne specifically—he selected those equipped enough to handle such a renowned man. We keep our steps quiet as we move in, no brashness. I need you to remain mindful that these soldiers are trained tomanipulate to get their way. There is no telling what is truly safe here anymore.”
I dipped my chin to acknowledge his statement, and we progressed. Our pace picked up quickly, maneuvering through the forest as if we had a solid understanding of where we were. Retracing our steps wasn’t difficult, and when the foliage transitioned from a simple trail to taller grasses, I knew we were nearing the town once more.
Percy lifted his booted foot to cross the threshold from the protected woodlands, and before I had the opportunity to react, the pommel of a blade came into view. Slamming against the side of his head with enough force that a crack followed, he swayed once before greeting the ground with a sickening thud.
Soldiers stood flanking the opening of the forest as if they’d known where we were and had merely waited for the perfect opportunity to strike. But I wasn’t focused on them; my attention had settled on the man who held my heart. He remained motionless, crimson trickling from his head.
“Prince Kaelivan, it is by your father’s direct order that you are expected to return to Serevalen. While we would prefer to avoid using force?—”
Blinding anger swept over me, a film of red consuming my line of sight. Hand trembling, I reached for the dagger on my waist. Without so much as offering a blink or a suggestive warning, I freed it, slicing its tip through the throat of the man who continued to spew bullshit as if the king’s word remained law in an era of rebellion.
They’d hurt Percy.
They’dhurt Percy.
They’dhurtPercy.
As the leader went down, the shouts from the remaining men became audible, though the words they uttered were incomprehensible. Moving with the fluidity Percy had trained me to wield, I carved my way through each of them as if they’d never posed a threat—and they hadn’t. Crimson splattered, speckling my flesh with its sticky warmth as each man dropped with far more ease than the last. The squelch of flesh andblood became my only focus as I made quick work of the gruesome slaughtering, displaying the abilities I’d kept hidden my entire life.
None would survive to warn the others of the darkness I carried. The side of my father that lingered in my veins, no matter how many times I’d attempted to rid myself of him: lethality.
Chest rising on a shuddered inhale, my gaze danced between the line of forest and street, vibrant scarlet seeping into the boundary that separated them. Counting, I scoffed with a mix of amusement and disappointment. “Only twelve? Does he underestimate me that much?”
I wiped the dirtied blade on my trousers before sliding it back into its home. Dropping to my knees beside Percy, I brushed his curls from his forehead with a gentle stroke. A hiss escaped me as I crossed over the gash the soldier had left behind.
“Shit, Percy?—”
“I wouldn’t say he underestimated you.” The six words came with such grace, such… harmony. “More like he sent suitable backup tohandleyou and your… mutt.”
Their timbre rasped, an articulation that wove syllables together as if they were spoken by numerous voices.
Standing, I pivoted on my heel and came eye-to-eye with a woman. Dark hair spun into a messy bun with fallen strands, her defined brows arched with amusement. Her nose seemed to be hand-sculpted, and the plumpness of her lipsalmosthad me convinced she was human. But it was the ancient carvings that gave her away, intentionally etched into her worn flesh, peeled back like rotting wallpaper.
She smiled, the act itself enough of a sight to haunt my nightmares for the rest of my life. Yellow eyes sparked to life, and horns slowly grew from her skull as if she’d been waiting for me to turn to reveal her true form. With a slight cock of her head, her bottom lip jutted out in a feigned pout as she settled her palm over my chest.
“It’s a shame,” she crooned. “You’re quite handsome. I would’ve enjoyedfeastingon you.”
Before I could open my mouth to reply with venom, an ache so deep, so inescapable settled in the center of my chest. Unable to gatherair, I collapsed to my knees, clawing at my sternum as my surroundings immediately began to fade. A rasped breath was the only sound I could muster, and just as soon as it came from me, my frame collided with the earth.
Shadows swathing my vision, I heard a sinister laugh as the woman dropped beside me. Running her taloned fingers through my hair, she was the last thing I saw as she snickered, “The name is Kyrn, by the way. I’m Sorva’s third in command. Though I suppose it doesn’t matter. I just hope you remember me when you wake up and realize thatwewere the ones who ripped everythingout from beneath you.”
CHAPTER 41
Sonof Death
