Page 118 of Ravenrose

“You’re a cynic.”

“And you’re naive.”

My cheeks heat.

“Better yet,” he continues, his voice dropping into a lower, menacing tone, “I’ve lived it. Are you really going to tell me what happens on a border you’ve never seen?”

I open my mouth⁠—

“The fae killed my father. My brother. They set our home on fire with my mother and little sister still inside. And my best friend, Ridge…” He trails off, his jaw tightening along with his fist at his side.

My heart clenches.

“Raiders…” I start, but Ayer rises to his feet, cutting me off.

“They weren’t raiders, and they weren’t wild fae. They were soldiers from Sitara.” He glares down hard at me. “Soldiers sent on the King of Sitara’s orders.”

Stunned at his accusation, at the lie, all I can do is shake my head.

“I nearly lost everyone on your father’s orders.” There’s a sharp bite to his words.

“No, that can’t be true,” I say, but the words come out barely a whisper.

They wouldn’t. He couldn’t. Not innocents…

“You don’t know anything, Princess.”

Chapter 50

ROWAN

The argument last night shattered whatever fragile truce Ayer and I had somewhat stumbled into.

And another restless sleep on the ground has us both crabby.

We travel the whole day in silence.

Again.

My stomach grumbles, but I ignore it. Ayer’s pace has increased over the last couple of hours, and I feel we’re closing in on our destination. The day is nearly at its end when his body goes tense. The rigid set of his shoulders is subtle but unmistakable. I notice it just before the forest thins, revealing a stone outpost.

I swallow hard, chewing my lip as I glance up at the formidable stone walls of the fort. The sight of them sets off an overwhelming urge to run. They grow taller and maybe even thicker the closer we get. My steps slow, and I nearly trip over myself when I catch sight of the banner flying from the nearest bastion.

A blood-red crescent moon with a small black raven perched atop it, with five smaller ravens flying in the background.

My stomach drops. I hadn’t realized we had fully crossed out of Sitara and into the broken and cursed Daekhar Kingdom. This must be an old border fort.

I jump when men I don’t recognize emerge from the trees. Their armour isn’t black like that of Ayer and his men; theirs gleams silver instead, with the winged sword of Kovaria on their chest. They greet Ayer before escorting us the rest of the way to the fort.

Heavy gates creak open when we reach the fort’s entrance. My stomach twists as I walk through them, into a training yard for its soldiers. My feet are heavy. The stone wall of the fort encircles the entire compound. It serves a dual purpose: to keep enemies out and prisoners in.

The slam of the heavy gates closing behind me sends my heart rate flying.

Inside the compound, I recognize a few familiar faces, Wyatt among them. He strides forward quickly, his face solemn, immediately murmuring something low into Ayer’s ear. The captain nods once.

I can feel it. The tension. And I don’t like it.

Ayer continues forward, and I follow, keeping close to him. I’m not safe—he’s still my enemy and my captor, but… at least with him, I know what to expect. He’s familiar. The devil you know.