A frustrated scream tore from my throat.
“What is it?” Keziq asked as she came to my side.
“The page is missing!”
“Let me see.” She took the journal from me, her blood-splattered face illuminated in the orange glow of the fire at our backs.
I tore at my hair as she assessed the journal. “The last page, I’m certain it’s the one I need. And it’s gone!”
“Do you think the family tore out the page or Lennox Adair?”
I froze. “Why would you think it would have been Lennox?”
“Her magic is all over this journal—her imprint. She’s held this—used it with some form of magic.”
“Well of course it is, she copied it after all and gave me the fake journal. She had ripped half the pages out of the one she gave me.”
The decoy didn’t have anything detailing a spell. I should know, I spent countless hours scouring over every word in the journal, looking for a hint, anything that would lead me to the spell. The final piece of my plan.
“What if she tore out the last page in this one too? As a fail-safe, in case we ever found it.”
A laugh bubbled up in my throat. Keziq looked at me, her eyebrows drawn as I continued to laugh.
“Then that would be fantastic wouldn’t it.” Perhaps my luck truly had started to turn.
44
LENNOX
The camp was up and bustling before dawn, packing up the tents and getting ready for the long day of travel ahead.
My leathers kept the winter morning chill from seeping into my bones, but still, I shivered.
I knew war didn’t bow to our whims, but it would have been much more convenient to be fighting this battle in the summertime. I’d even take late spring.
“Are you ready?” Luka appeared at my side as I looked out at our army,our fucking army.
“As ready as I can be.” This was what I had been trying to avoid, asking my people to go to war with me,for me. But here we were. Readying to march toward the Blood Court with battles looming on the horizon.
What did I know about war? Only what I read in texts and what was taught to me over the last few weeks.
I wasn’t equipped to lead these people into battle.
“I can feel you overthinking.” Luka pulled me into his side, kissing the crown of my head. “We can do this. They believe in you, in your mission. They are going into this willingly.” He let out a huff of air. “Well, as willing as anyone goes into battle.”
“I’ll never get used to it—people being willing to die for me.”
“I don’t think anyone should. It keeps you humble, it makes you a good queen.”
I wrapped my arms around his torso, learning further into him. “I’m glad I have you by my side. I couldn’t do this without you.”
His fingers flexed on my hips. “You could do this without me, we all know that Lennox. But I’m glad you’ve allowed me to be at your side.”
“You’re an equal part of this monarch. You’re the High King. You’re more than a pretty piece of arm candy.” His laugh rumbled against my chest. “Although I’m sure the troops appreciate having something nice to look at.”
“Have I told you I love you?”
“Not in the last five minutes,” I said into his chest.
