Her hand reached for the pendant on her neck. “Yes, I’ll speak to her as soon as we’re done here.”
“I have one more item to bring to your attention.”
All eyes fell on me, but I let my gaze land on Nol.
“Nol, I think you should go back to Alethens.”
Nol opened his mouth, but I continued before he could stop me, “I know you want to help, and I appreciate that, but we just got you back.”
Kara and Luce looked at me eagerly. I hadn’t told them about my plan, but I knew they both felt the same way. “I don’t want to worry about Adreona targeting you—and I have no doubt she might. She knows you’re my weakness; she’ll use that to her advantage all she can. And, besides, we need someone to be the heir if something happens to me or Luka. I need to ensure Lethenia will be in good hands no matter the circumstances—I need to ensure this war won’t be for nothing at the end of it all.”
Nol scrubbed his hand over his neck before letting his hand fall to his side. I held my breath, steeling myself for his argument as he rolled his shoulders.
“Okay.”
I shook my head, trying to process his words. “Okay,” he said again. “I’ll go back to Alethens.” His eyes met mine, there wasn’t a hardness—not any resentment in his gaze, butrelief.
I knew he had been holding it all together—not yet ready to deal with what he went through. I wouldn’t push him, not yet anyway. After this war was over when things were all settled, I’d help get him back to his new normal—whatever that looked like. We all would.
I’d help him heal like everyone had helped me.
“I’ll get a list of things for you to attend to while you’re there if you can. Even give you an official title and everything.”
“Not necessary.” He smiled softly. “Thank you, Len.” I dipped my chin, giving my brother a tight smile.
I hated letting him go, letting him out of my sight. But I needed to do this, for me and for him.
He was my older brother, after all, he always could handle himself.
“I know they’re necessary, but strategy meetings are kind of boring.” I tucked into Luka’s side as we made our way back to our tent.
“The first one was interesting, and it’s nothing against Declan, but I feel like I’m there to approve of plans and not much else. I know it’s war, but I’m ready to get fighting. That’s where I feel like I can do some good.”
“Give yourself more credit, Lennox. You add to those meetings.”
“Sure,” I scoffed. “All I do is follow Declan’s lead. And you know me, I’m not a big fan of following directions. I like to be giving them.”
Luka’s hand flexed on my waist. “I have an idea as to how you can practice following directions.”
“Hmmm. What’s that?” I spun in his arms as we entered our tent.
“Take your clothes off.”
I raised a single brow. “You need to practice following directions. So be a good girl and take off your fucking clothes.”
His eyes sparked with desire. Now this wasmykind of following directions. The kind of following directions that had me clenching my legs together.
I lifted my shirt up over my head and slipped out of my pants, leaving me only in my black lace undergarments as I stood in front of Luka.
In front of my husband. Mymate.
“Now the rest.”
Luka crossed his arms, his eyes never leaving my body as he watched me slip out of the rest of my clothing.
“Good girl.”
My chest heaved as I stood naked in front of him,goosebumps peppered my skin. I felt exposed with him fully dressed. But I loved the thrill.
