Leo grinned, all teeth. “Comes with the territory.”
“Leo.” Elira’s voice cut in—low, edged.
He turned to her, eyes wide and innocent. “What?”
“Be nice.”
Leo’s grin returned, looser now. “I am nice. I’m a godsdamn gentleman.”
The gates opened.
I pulled my horse ahead, trying not to show my irritation.
The city beyond was bracing for war. Shadowmere’s outer walls were lined with banners, soldiers standing at attention, citizens watching from windows with tense faces and clasped hands. Some of them reached out as we rode through, touching the air like they could catch a piece of us—like we were already ghosts.
Elira didn’t look back.
Her eyes were forward, jaw set.
Beside her, Leo quieted. Caelen held his reins a little tighter. Slade and I flanked either side of the forward ranks, the road narrowing as the cobbled path sloped toward the valley.
We were going to war. And part of me wondered if there’d be anything left of us when it was over.
**
Elira
Metal groaned against stone, and the path beyond stretched wide and unforgiving.
Two hundred soldiers waited behind Slade and Leo, shadows cast long by the morning
I adjusted the strap on my pack. My fingers twitched against the reins.
This was real now. No more palace walls. No more waiting around.
Phoenix’s horse stepped beside mine. Silent, steady.
Somewhere behind me, Caelen was giving quiet orders to his men.
I let the rhythm of hooves and armour drown out my thoughts.
And then— “Wait!”
The shout cracked through the air, high and breathless.
I turned. Maddie.
She was running full speed down the marble steps, her boots too big, her cloak half-fastened and flapping behind her.
Guards stepped back as she dodged through them, her satchel bouncing at her side.
Leo pulled his horse up short, blinking. “Is that—?”
“It’s Maddie,” I breathed.
She skidded to a stop beside us, panting hard.
“I—Itoldyou I was coming,” she gasped, clutching her side. “Did you really think I was going to let you ride off without me?”
