By the time they finished, she was out of breath but exhilarated all at once.
Adan arched a brow as he filled her a cup full of water from a carafe that Zara had brought for them earlier. “Looks like you did learn something after all.”
He handed one of the cups to her before she practically downed it in mere seconds.
“Then I’ve passed your test,” she said, wiping her mouth with the back of her sleeve. Unable to hold back the hope that filled her words.
He let out a grunt, his eyes unreadable until he spoke again. “If I say yes, can I trust that you’ll be able to truly defend yourself? That you won’t freeze at the first sight of danger?”
She paused, then set her cup down on the floor before she stepped up to him. There was no doubt in her mind that she’d been an eyesore to him these past few weeks, but for once she could see that there was genuine concern behind that mask of indifference of his. Adan cared, as Zara had said before.
Ensuring she could survive by any means necessary.
Anelize tilted her head up and, while the pain behind her eyes was still there, she did not waver as she said, “You can.”
It was a long time before Adan spoke again. “All right. I’ll tell Aeric you’re ready. Though, given how…nauseatingly attached he is, I can’t say for certain he would let you, even if I did insist upon it.”
Anelize frowned. “He’s not?—”
“Anya is free to choose where she wishes to go. If she says she’s ready, I believe her,” Aeric’s voice sliced through the stables as he made his presence known from somewhere behind her.
Adan’s eyes gleamed with amusement as he stared at her, and she gritted her teeth. Ignoring him, she turned around and found Aeric standing in the doorway along with Castian, who had a knowing smile on his lips.
Aeric was wearing his usual leathers but this time he’d tied his hair back, taming the wave of curls save for that damn strand that hung over his eye.
“Is that what you wish?” he asked her.
“Yes,” she said, meaning it this time. Knowing that the only way to go was forward if she stood a chance of reuniting with Enid. There was still much she needed to do, and, perhaps to Adan, she may not be fully ready—their conversation from the previous night weighing upon her—but it was time to put an end to all of this. “I want to do this, for all of us.”
For a moment, she caught a flicker of sadness in his gaze mixed with admiration. So potent she felt it down to her very bones, in her blood. The fire within him warming her cold heart that only ever seemed to beat harder when he was near, it would seem.
“Very well, then I shall make the arrangements. We’ll get you settled before the Senin, so you know to find your way around.”
Castian stepped forward then and, with a reverence she hadn’t expected from the future king of Elvir, said, “Thank you, Anya. For everything you’re risking to save this kingdom. My people. Should we all survive to see another day, and I manageto sit upon the throne, I will forever be in your debt. Make no mistake.”
Anelize smiled. “No pressure.”
The men chuckled at that.
Their amusement was short lived however, when a distant sound outside caused them all to shift their attention toward the stable doors. Footsteps stomped across the cobblestones in the street, multiple all at once.
Then the screams started.
Aeric and Adan stalked toward the doors and eased them open, peering outside where the screams grew louder. Anelize stepped closer and watched as people ran down the street, tripping over each other as they looked behind them with wild eyes. Whatever it was that sparked such fear sent an inkling of dread through her.
“What’s happening?” Castian asked, his concern unmistakable as he came to stand beside her.
The sound of pained cries from another street over was followed by the familiar barking orders of men.
“Watchmen?” Anelize asked Aeric, dread curling in her stomach.
“So it would seem.” His face was grim as Adan cursed and stalked past them.
“What are they doing?”
“That’s what I’m about to find out,” Aeric said, his tone filled with silent rage.
Adan returned, wearing a black mask that covered half of his face and a hood already over his head. He handed one to Aeric which he took before fastening it around his nose and mouth. “There’s no telling what they’re doing. No doubt an order issued by the council.”
