A gravel roadway flowed up and out of the forest, leading us to a set of sealed iron gates. We halted in front of them so Sebastian could address the nearest guard.
“Long trip back from the ruins of Caelestis. Lost a horse, too.” He gestured to where I rode behind him. “Care to open these gates?”
The soldier’s narrow gaze raked over us before he bobbed his bald head. Two others stepped forward, using their strength to unbolt and open the gate.
Even with the sweat dripping down my face as we rode past them, I was immensely grateful for the Draemornian helmet that matted my hair.
The road led directly to the front of the castle, surpassing a few small huts and shops along the way. The protective fortress stood taller than Caelestis’ castle had, but it was dark and dreary. Nothing like the fortress I had met Sebastian and my friends in.
We veered a sharp right, a new pathway leading us towards a stone terrace, swarmed with the residents of Draemor.
We dismounted our horses, tying them to an empty fence post off to the side.
“Why are they all standing there?” I whispered to Sebastian, my eyes steady on the ever-growing group of civilians.
“Looks like they’re waiting for something.”
“Duh,” I mocked, to which he rolled his eyes while simultaneously fighting off a snort of amusement.
“Should we see if we can get any information out of one of these people?” Jensen suggested, pointing vaguely to the crowd. “The less we have to venture into the grounds, the better.”
“Yes. All we really need to know right now is if that bastard lives,” Kade responded. “Everyone meet back here in twenty minutes.” His eyes roamed towards me. “And nobody do anything stupid. If you get yourself killed, your body is staying here.”
I grimaced. “Lovely eulogy, Kade.”
Sebastian lifted his headgear enough to grant me a clear glimpse of the concern flickering in his eyes. “Stay close by. Please, Maeve. I’m begging you.”
Going against my original intentions, my growing anxiety forged the agreement with a quick bob of my helmet.
The rest of our group split when we stepped onto the patio, but I remained near Sebastian. We maneuvered to the front ofthe crowd, stopping a few paces from a stone podium settled upon a raised platform.
Nonchalantly, Sebastian elbowed a stranger beside him. “We just returned from duty at one of the northern outposts. What’s going on here?”
The older woman turned to him, her graying curls blowing in the gentle morning breeze. “We’re waiting for the meeting to start.”
“Meeting? About what?”
She smiled, though still looked mildly taken aback. “King Beaumont is about to make his first public appearance since the battle of Caelestis. You didn't hear before you left?”
My pulse jumped, skipping a few beats. How the fuck did he survive that? I nearly died—probably would have if my father hadn't found me when he did—so how in the gods' names did Beaumont make it out?
“Of course.” Sebastian falsely chuckled. “How could I forget?” He thanked the woman then ushered me to the back of the crowd.
“Well, that was easy,” I whispered, trying to mask the dread in my words.
“I knew it was too good to be true.” He shook his head. “We have some time, let's see if we can get more information from some others.”
We spent a few minutes chatting with the locals. I learned that Cyprian returned to Draemor in one piece, though was severely injured. Their healers had been working diligently to mend him, and today was the first day since the battle that he felt well enough to speak.
We were preparing to return to our horses when the douchebag himself appeared behind the podium.
Cheers combined with ludicrous clapping tunneled through my eardrums, and at the sight of the King of Draemor, I thoughtI might be sick. The reminders of his cruel words and plans for me mobbed my brain, creating a heavy fog over every firing nerve.
At the sound of my breathing getting heavy, Sebastian’s fingers teased mine.
“You okay?” he asked under his breath, his attention not swaying from the podium.
I didn’t answer, but grabbed onto his fingertips, using his touch to soothe me for the first time since the battle.
