“That’s not a house pet—it’s abeast,” another adds.
Graylen chuckles under his breath and leans over to say, “Technically, it would be acastlepet.”
I fight a smile, knowing that laughing probably wouldn’t help the situation much. I can’t wait to see what Zeph thinks of Soren.
Any amusement sparking in my chest dies at the thought.Ifwe can get back to Zeph.
The men talk over each other, protesting Soren joining us. If the situation were reversed, I would feel the same way. I’d befuriousif the animal that just tried to kill my friend was being rewarded and invited to tag along.
But the situation isn’t reversed. Soren wasprotectingme.So, I don’t care what these soldiers have to say—Soren comes with us.
“Themonstershould be put down instead of given shelter,” the guard whom Graylen had by the throat calls out.
Rage pours into my chest like boiling water. I’d like to see him try.
I unsheathe my dagger and step around Soren, positioning myself in front of him. “I’m getting pretty fucking tired of you,” I snarl.
If only I had access to my Essence right now. My shadows would’ve already wrapped around his neck, cutting off his airway to stop him from spewing any more vile words.
The man’s nostrils flare, and he opens his mouth.
“Enough,”Adrian shouts, cutting him off.
Betrayal twists in my stomach. But Adrian’s gaze is set on the soldier, his hands clenched into fists and his chest heaving.
Silence falls around us. Once Adrian realizes he has their attention, he continues.
“The animal is Amira’s,” he says slowly.
My old name rolls off his tongue as smoothly as silk. No hesitation. It reminds me how much he still sees me as that girl.
“Where she goes, he goes,” Adrian adds. “You’ve already seen what trying to harm her will do. Keep your hands to yourself and you won’t have a problem.”
Michael groans, finally rousing and drawing our attention to where he’s sprawled on the ground—blood still leaking from his throat.
“He can’t travel like this.” Adrian sighs. “Clarence, run back to Wisebech and send for a healer.” He nods to two men crouched down beside Michael. “Tristan and Ben, stay with Michael until he gets back.”
“And the rest of us?” the one I’d like to run through with my dagger asks.
Adrian turns to me, Graylen, and Soren as he says, “We go to the castle.”
Fifty-Three
Aureum Obsidian
The morning sunbegins to lighten the sky as we break through the trodden path in the woods. It stops just ahead, intersecting with a new road.
A chill snakes down my spine as the familiarity begins to sink in.
I know this path—walked it week after week, with a guard Reichardt assigned to me in tow. This place… I’d know it anywhere.
It’s the trail that connects the royal training camp to the heart of Runnswick. The one I took on my weekly market runs, Reichardt’s list clenched in my hand or shoved into my pocket.
As much as I wish I could ignore the gnawing in my stomach at being here again, I can’t. How could I when I’ve tasted what it feels like to be free? Felt what it’s like to be trulyloved.
I see a decaying tree up on our right, one that I’d walked bya hundred times. Without any markers along the path to let me know how close I was to the market, I’d use the fixtures nature had left for me.
The tree either brought increasing dread and longing for being so trapped in a place I could never leave, knowing I’d have to go back, or a rush of exhilaration at the thought of getting to see Linnick. And, for a short time, getting to see Adrian, too.
