Hoping I wasn’t making a huge mistake, I put the crossbow back beneath the bed and walked to the bedchamber door. My hands were damp as I fought with the heavy wooden brace, shoving it up and out of the brackets holding it firmly against the door.
Once it was leaning against the wall next to the door, I unlocked it and pulled it open. The commander stood outside with his arms crossed over his chest.
“Let’s get it done,” I stated.
I couldn’t be sure, but I thought I saw the gleam of approval in his eyes.
Chapter
Twenty-One
Bokkan
My back was against the rear wall of my cell, my knees up, and my head drooping over them as I tried to rest. Daemons never did well with confinement, especially when the bars of their cell were spelled to dampen their magic. The stronger the magic within them, the more difficult the confinement was.
I had very little magic compared to most daemons, but its absence was nearly painful after decades of having it at my fingertips. It was as if I no longer had my ability to see or hear. Or lost a limb.
“Stonesword, the magistrate has recalled you.”
My head came up then, and I rose to my feet, shaking out my stiff legs and arms.
The guard came to the cell door, opening it with his magic. “Let’s go,” he stated.
I wanted to ask him what was going on, but he was a guard. He would not have been notified why I was being called before the magistrate again so soon.
Worry simmered in my gut as he led me toward the hearing room. Because I had come with the guards willingly, andbecause of my standing with the king, I was spared the indignity of shackles as we walked past the other cells.
None of the prisoners spoke, but some watched me with dark, angry eyes. They belonged to males who had not completed their training with me or had been on the wrong end of my fists at one time or another.
The hearing room was almost empty when I entered. Save Guldan and a human female. A female I distinctly remembered promising me she would stay locked inside my bedchamber.
The magistrate was shaking his head when he turned toward me. “Why didn’t you tell me, General Stonesword?” He waved a hand. “Never mind. I understand. You were still feeling protective of your female.”
I looked toward Guldan and Leda, my eyes narrowing on my commander. Leda had no idea what she was to me, but Guldan must have realized. There was no other way they would be here right now.
“The inspectors will likely be by to speak to you in the next few days, but I doubt that you will have any more issues.” The magistrate shook his head. “I’m surprised at Darkblade. He knows better than to approach another daemon’s mate.”
“We are not—” My voice caught, and I cleared my throat. “We are not mated.”
“Yet,” Leda said, stepping forward. “We’re still testing our compatibility.”
“Of course, of course,” the magistrate said. “It is excellent that you are taking your time before making such a big commitment. Especially as you are from the human realm, Lady Leda.”
My molars ground together when he used the title. Not because it made me angry, but because I liked it more than I should. If we were truly testing our compatibility and Leda chose me as her mate, that would be what she was called.
It created a physical ache in my chest to think that she would never have that title.
The magistrate offered me his hand. “I wish you the best, General Stonesword. And I hope you have a successful chase and branding.”
Though I did not want to, I reached out and clasped my hand around his wrist. He wrapped his fingers around my wrist, squeezing briefly.
“Thank you,” I muttered.
We released each other, and I stalked toward my commander and my female. With each step, I fought the urge to growl at how close Guldan was standing to Leda. He caught my eye and took a small step away from her. Once again, I ground my back teeth together.
Somehow, my commander knew about my feelings toward the human female. I had no doubt that he persuaded her to do this by leaving out important aspects of the daemon courting and mating process.
“General,” he greeted, nodding to me.
