Rising onto my toes, I searched for Sandy and Zanta in the crowd, but I didn’t see them. I rubbed at my chest as I reminded myself that didn’t mean they were dead. Humans and demons were still combing the field for our dead and injured. Sandy and Zanta could be there, guarding the wall, or in the clinic.
I’d look for them when we finished here.
The king pointed to someone in the crowd and waved them forward. The crowd parted to reveal Corson and Bale striding toward the dais. When the queen’s son let out a small squeak, one of the skelleins in a pretty blue dress emerged from the shadows behind the stage. The queen shook her head and held her son closer as the colonel and king walked to stand beside her.
Corson and Bale climbed onto the stage; their boots thudded across the wood as they strode over to join the couple before turning to face the crowd. Hawk clasped my hand and started to wind his way through the crowd toward the dais. He didn’t acknowledge the disgruntled grunts of those he elbowed out of his way.
We were almost to the dais when he stopped beside a demon who was at least eight feet tall with hands that could engulf my head. Each of his three eyes was a different color—the right was green, the left orange, and the one in the center of his forehead was aqua blue.
Despite the additional eye, he was handsome with his broad cheekbones. I’d seen him around town, generally with the queen, but I’d never been this close to him before, and my neck hurt from looking up at him.
“Calah,” Hawk greeted. “Lopan.”
The giant nodded a greeting while the small creature at his side grunted. Lopan was another one I’d seen around town, often near the queen, but I’d never been close to the odd-looking man with brown hair that hung in ringlets to his shoulders and deep-set chestnut eyes. The ridiculous red outfit he wore had a green belt and hat. The pink toenails on his bare, hairy feet were neatly trimmed.
He flashed a mouthful of razor-sharp teeth at me when I leaned over to peer into the black pot he carried with him. I spotted the yellow liquid within before he moved it to his other hand and glowered at me over the tip of his bulbous nose. I smiled at him in the hopes he’d relax a little, but his scowl only deepened.
Note to self: don’t look at his pot or smile at him.
A few feet away and closer to the stairs, I spotted Erin and Vargas talking with another demon.
“We have agreed,” the king said, drawing all our attention to him. “That, for now, it’s best to send only a small group after the horsemen. It could be they are trying to lead us into a trap, or they really could be fleeing. Either way, it’s best to have fewer people who can move faster in their pursuit.
“When backup arrives here, we will send more into the woods after them. Corson and Bale will lead this mission, and they will take Wren, Lix, Hawk, Caim, and Raphael with them. The rest of you will remain here to help the others in the field and to guard the wall.”
My heart plunged into my toes. Hawk would leave, and I would remain here. Unexpected longing speared my heart along with an anger that burned like acid up my esophagus. I couldn’t let him go out there without me, and I couldn’t be the one left here, desperate to hear any word about the mission.
And as much as I hated to admit it, I would be desperate. The not knowing would drive menuts! I wasn’t exactly thrilled to discover myself bound to a man I barely knew, but I was far less excited about the idea of him out there without me. I could protect him better than anyone else.
“Come on,” Hawk said.
He led me toward the stage as Erin and Vargas climbed the steps and walked toward the royal couple. I didn’t look at the crowd as we climbed the steps, but I felt their eyes boring into me with every step we took across the stage.
“Are we going to get Magnus, Shax, and Amalia for this?” Hawk asked as we stopped in front of the others.
“There’s not enough time,” Corson said. “We’re leaving as soon as we’re ready.”
“I’d like to go,” I said, and Hawk’s hand tightened on mine. “I was supposed to leave for the Wilds on this trip.”
I was amazed my voice didn’t tremble when I spoke. I’d never been this close to the king and queen before, but I could feel their power as the king’s unnerving black eyes studied me. Then his gaze fell to the marks on my neck, and when he looked at the ones on Hawk’s flesh, his eyebrows rose.
He didn’t look at Hawk as he spoke. “If you survived the battle yesterday, then you stand a chance of surviving the Wilds.”
Uh… thanks?But this time I managed to keep my mouth shut as I didn’t think my thanks would go over well.
Then, I noticed Corson staring at Hawk, whose face was unreadable, before Hawk gave a brisk nod. I glowered at Hawk when I realized Corson would have allowed him to turn down my offer and he’dconsideredit. Hawk’s eyes were unapologetic when they met mine. I tried to tug my hand free of his, but he held on.
Son of a bitch. I ground my teeth together until I was sure they were going to be stubs, but I didn’t try to pull my hand free again. I wouldn’t make a scene, but I wanted to kick him.
“You can find two more demons to go with you,” the king said. “But no humans, they’ll only slow you down.”
“I’d like to go,” Gage offered.
“Absolutely not,” the queen said.
“But I’m immortal too, and I’ve been training,” he protested.
“You’re not immortal yet; you’re still growing, and you arenotgoing.”
