I watch as she flips her raven ponytail over her shoulder and give her a tight-lipped smile, before extricating my hand from her grasp.
“That’s not up for discussion, Leilah. Blaise, moronic as he can be at times, is the best spy and warrior in our kingdom.”
She pouts dramatically before leaning back against her chair. Akaori, how did I ever get tangled with this clingy vampiress? If she weren’t so damn good at what she does—interrogation and torture to be more precise—I would have beheaded her myself a very long time ago.
Besides, I can admit my own faults here, too. I do have a tendency to stick my dick in the wrong females at the absolute worst of times. Call it a character flaw. Probably one of my few or many, depending on who you’re asking.
The door opens, and in comes Blaise, not a care in the damn world, having the gall to whistle an animated tune.
“Finally.” I throw him a pointed look, and he shrugs nonchalantly. “Have you no sense of time whatsoever?”
“I do,” the corner of his mouth lifts in a knowing smirk, and I sense that whatever comes out of his mouth next is going to piss me off further, “But I was raised to be hospitable and pleasurable with guests, especially ones that we need to win over to our side.”
So, he was withthe sister. The thought sits heavy in my stomach, but I don’t want to explore why right now.
“Oooooh, you mean the little Fae girlie with no magic you brought in as part of your monumental fuck-up? That guest?” Leilah says, almost too satisfied with the situation. She was against our desperate attempt at finding the Foretold One, for obvious reasons. As much as Aurora Vaureghain will be the answer to our problems, Leilah doesn’t seem all too thrilled with our quest to fulfill the prophecy. She believes the union mentioned in the ancient text refers to an actual,real relationshipbetween me and the shadow wielder, and, clinging as she is to the delusion of a possible future for us, she would try all other fruitless options before accepting we simply need that Fae.
I, on the other hand, have no interest whatsoever in being romantically involved, neither with the chosen Vaureghain, nor anyone else, for that matter. My duty is to my people, and I will do whatever it takes to save the kingdom from the blight that’s been spreading its rot and decay through my domain for the last several years. If I have to maim, murder, fuck, or marry my way to victory, I will do it. But feelings will not be involved. Only cold, calculated risks and strategic decisions.
I remember that summer night when the sky bled for hours on end, announcing the birth of the chosen Fae. Her kind thought the natural phenomenon occurred only above their lands, but it was a realm-wide event. We saw it too and knew what it meant. However, finding out her identity was a much more tedious affair. One I didn’t really care about, not until the Fates forced my hand to seek her out.
“Enough, we’ve lost enough time as it is.” I snap at them both before turning my attention towards Marhus. “Frontline reports?”
“Not much has changed in the last week, Killian,” the vampire straightens in his seat, his blue gaze facing me straight-on. “Things have been suspiciously calm—no sightings, no disappearings. I believe they are preparing something massive.”
I turn to study the kingdom’s map that hangs on the wall behind me, although I know it by heart. Black dots darken the whole upper part, showing all the towns and villages that have fallen prey to the spreading cancer.
“Dithrau is the biggest city on the other side of the mountains that is still under our control. You believe they are planning to attack there?”
It’s the only thing that would explain the sudden stop in smaller strikes on the villages surrounding the mountainous range that shields us from the war going on the other side.
“I believe so, yes,” Marhus says.
“Deploy more warriors in that area, then. We have to maintain our position on Dithrau and any surrounding towns to hinder their advance.”
If that city falls, the hordes will have easy access to the Gorgnome Pass, which cuts through the mountains and connects the North and the South of Wrahta. They will reach Drovillan, my capital. They will attack Sangeries. That can never happen. I won’t fucking allow it.
I turn my gaze towards Leilah. “Any luck interrogating the prisoners? We need to find out where their base of operations is located.”
“No, nothing yet.” She sighs, displeased. “We managed to narrow it down to four locations, but they are all so deep in enemy territory that we can’t risk sending scouting missions without them being captured.”
“Press harder,” I grunt in response, and she nods.
“Blaise, would you care to share anything from your side, or are you too busy picking your nails to participate?”
He straightens from where he was casually leaning against the doors, and regards me seriously.
“My network of spies reports that there have been several sightings of a vampire resembling Vladymyr. They’re inconclusive at best.” My shadows awaken at the sound of that, swirling on edge.
I haven’t heard that name in six years, since we lost our brother in arms to the enemy. He was part of the inner circle, and the first one of us to fall.
“Any lead on Vladymyr needs to be followed thoroughly, no matter how inconsequential it may seem. Send some of your best spies with the clear order to confirm his identity, without engaging. Go yourself if you deem it so.”
“And how should we proceed on the matter of the Foretold One?” he inquires last, gaining a clear scoff from Leilah.
“Since your failed attempt at securing her has landed us in the position to bargain her sister’s life for hers, get the word out on the streets of Vroni. No matter where they keep her hidden, she will emerge for her sister’s sake,” I say, still on edge. The welfare of my kingdom depends on it.
“Dismissed,” I state with a heavy sigh. We’ve been running around in circles for months now, even years. It’s becoming more and more blatantly clear that without the correct Vaureghain sister, we are doomed.
