Quentin eyed the guard. Why was he telling him this? What lurked in the jungle that made this man so concerned for the well-being of strangers he had no reason to care about?
“Thank you,” he finally said, pulling out the words. “We’ll be careful.”
The guard nodded. “Travel well.” He whirled on his heel, boots loud against the stone of the courtyard as he retreated.
Quentin watched him go, shaking his head. There was nothing to worry about. If he could survive all those years on the streets, if he could survive literal Kreah death fighting pits, then he could survive some jungle beasts.
But it wouldn’t just be him this time. His skin prickled with discomfort—with something that inched dangerously close to fear.
Footsteps and soft feminine voices echoed from the corridors. Ciana, Sebastian, and Delaynie spilled into thecourtyard—the former two dressed finely, the latter back in her tunic and travel leathers.
Quentin’s mood lifted. “Sad to be leaving the courtly life behind once again, little wolf?”
Delaynie scowled, picking at her baby-blue tunic, stray strands of auburn hair falling out of her loose bun. “Maybe,” she said. “But I’ve started not minding the leathers so much.” She lifted an eyebrow, as if daring him to speak.
Quentin’s grin only kicked higher. Before he could respond, Ciana grabbed Delaynie’s shoulders, pulling her in for a crushing hug.
“You be careful out there, okay?” the petite girl murmured, words half-swallowed by her mass of curly hair. Delaynie chuckled softly and returned the hug.
Sebastian clapped a hand on Quentin’s shoulder. “You have everything you need?”
“I have six skins of wine. That should be enough, right?”
Sebastian rolled his eyes. “Please don’t get drunk. We need you to reach Sacale in one piece.” He pressed a folded letter into Quentin’s hand, something guarded in his gaze.
“Find my parents in Sacale,” he said. “They’ll take you in. Ask anyone in town for the Riqueti residence; it won’t be hard to find.”
Quentin pocketed the letter. “You sure?”
“I’m sure. I wrote to them before we left Kreah. They’re expecting you.” Sebastian nodded to Quentin’s pocket, where he now carried the letter. “That will get you past the gates and assure them you are who you say you are. From there?—”
“I know.” Something hardened inside Quentin. From there, they would charter a ship to the Kizar Islands.
Whose pirates had burned and scoured their city over the winter. Where Quentin’s father—whoever the fuck he was—hadsailed from before knocking up his mother and abandoning her to the cruelty of the world.
Quentinhatedthose pirates. He despised the fact that he was going there for a purpose beyond burning them all to the ground. But for his queen, he would do it.
Maybe.
Something warm and small slammed into him. Blonde curls tickled his face as Ciana tightened her grip and he couldn’t help but smile.
“Hey, Cee,” he said with a chuckle, wrapping his arms around her. “We’ll be all right. I promise.”
“I know,” she murmured before pulling back. Her wide amber eyes met his. “Take care of Del, okay? And let her take care of you.”
He glanced over Ciana’s head, meeting Delaynie’s icy stare. Something shimmered there, something he hadn’t seen before on her, even as she turned away and gave Sebastian a hug. “Don’t worry about that. I’ll always take care of her.”
Ciana smiled—warm, but a little slyly, a little knowingly. “Good.” She released him, stepping to Sebastian’s side, folding her hands together as if she were trying to keep herself from grabbing her friends and pulling them back in.
Quentin’s gaze found Delaynie’s. “Ready to go, little wolf?”
Her expression flickered. “Yes.” She turned, hoisting herself into the wagon. Quentin followed, settling beside her on the padded bench and picking up the reins. Their hardy mule tossed his head, ready to go.
“I’ll see you when it’s done, brother,” Sebastian said.
Responsibility weighed down on Quentin’s shoulders. He wasn’t used to it; hadn’t really had a chance to come to terms with it until precisely this moment. Quentin started fights or followed orders. But leading? Guiding? Protecting? That wasn’t him.
Delaynie shifted, her smooth skin brushing his. He swallowed.
