Eddie gave a nervous laugh. “Well, I suppose you did. I am just glad that I am not being replaced, like the others on the palace’s security council.”
“Replaced? Like, fired?” Ava questioned.
“Oh no, princess,” Eddie said, sounding very serious. “The Head of Security, General Ibrahim, as well as his second, Colonel Amilda, were both executed immediately after it was discovered the prince was attacked yet again within palace walls.”
“What?” Ava screeched. “They’redead?”
“You must understand,” Eddie replied, sounding confused. “They had their second chance after Danielle infiltrated, and they blew it. The Emperor was not going to allow them to fail a third time and put the prince at risk yet again. They were happy to kneel before the executioner, to atone for their humiliation at failing the royal family. Death was the only way to repay the crime they had committed, and they were glad to pay the price.”
Eddie’s voice fell in shame. “The Emperor knows you favor me, and that we are close. It is the only reason my head is currently still on my shoulders. Otherwise, he would’ve found Charlie a new guard.”
“But that’s absolutely ridiculous!” Ava yelled.
“Ava, quiet down,” I ordered. We didn’t need anyone overhearing us.
I have to agree,Oberi spoke up.That does seem barbaric.
“Your safety is paramount here within the palace,” Eddie stated. “This time, not only Charlie was attacked, butyouwere also in danger. The Emperor nearly lost his mind when he was told the princess was nearly stabbed within his walls. It is a mistake that must be accounted for.”
Eddie’s tone grew cheery once again. “But regardless, we must press onward! I will not leave your side for anything, my prince! Not ever again!”
I nearly let out a groan. There went any private time I had to breathe without Eddie being there to ask if I needed him to do it for me.
We returned to our quarters. Eddie reassured us that we’d have privacy within our room, but anywhere else we went in the palace, we’d be thoroughly watched.
“Eddie’s brainwashed,” Ava hissed under her breath the minute we were away from him. “Can you imagine! Cassiel orders these people to die, and they just… do?”
“Look at the family we’re in, pidge. This is how things run around here, how they’ve been run for thousands of years,” I insisted.
“Charlie, it’s fucked up your grandpa killed those guards,” Ava said fiercely. “They might’ve made a mistake, but it didn’t warrant them dying, let alone beinghappyabout walking themselves to the execution block!”
“Maybe those guards didn’t deserve death, but they definitely fucked up by letting Danielle into the palace, along with Takahashi and Hemlock,” I pointed out. “Something could’ve happened to you— somethingdidhappen to me, and the only reason I’m still here to talk about it is because you’re exceptional at pulling miracles out of your ass. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t have you, and we’re important to the Elvish people. We can’t die; otherwise, the Warden wins. One mistake could cost us this whole war. If he has to send a message to prevent one of us from literally dying, then so be it.”
Ava paused, thinking this over. “I still don’t think it was right.”
“You don’t have to. When I’m Emperor, you can help me call the shots, but it’s my grandfather’s palace now. That means we have to play by his rules— which I’m more than willing to do, if it’s going to keep you safe.”
She huffed. “I just don’t want to be locked in a cage.”
“That’ll never happen,” I promised, and I leaned down to give her a kiss. “I’ll make sure of it.”
A week passedsince Takahashi and Hemlock arrived in Ilamanthe, and they were doing much better now, though I couldn’t say they were back to normal. They never would be.Normalwas a long-lost concept now. The Mission had put them through heinous torture, and it wasn’t the kind of thing they’d ever forget.
But Hemlock and Takahashi were strong. If anything, their experience had only made them more resolute. They were going to take down the Warden with us, and failure wasn’t an option. The minute they were released from the hospital, they were already back to work with the Demigod Guardians, meeting frequently with Professors Amber and Wykoff, and helping the Elvish Associates fortify the city.
I was pissed about what happened and angry that the Warden had ever gotten his hands on my teachers. I needed to hit something, and my friends knew me well enough to know it, even though I hadn’t admitted it out loud.
Marcus had planned a bachelor party at a boxing club in the city, but since the palace was on high alert and security followed me everywhere, he decided to bring the boxing club to me. They’d transformed one of the state rooms into a temporary boxing arena, complete with a professional boxing ring and a set of bleachers for the others to watch when they weren’t in the ring. Alistair had set up a whole bar with a keg, and Eddie had ordered a bunch of junk food from the royal kitchens. We drank and laughed and beat the shit out of each other.
Alistair finally went into the ring like he’d wanted to all these years, and he had Marcus on the ground with his arm twisted behind his back in under a minute. Rishi yowled, and Pig tackled him, until the cats were engaged in a match of their own. Rishi won, so Marcus and Alistair agreed they were even.
Eddie was hesitant to fight, because it wasn’t in him to hurt someone unless it was to protect me, but I convinced him it was good for practice. He was pretty bent out of shape that he hadn’t been there with me when Takahashi attacked, and he was looking to make it up to me. Once he got in the ring with Ezekiel,Eddie was laughing maniacally. Eddie was a natural, and poor Ez was pretty beat up by the end of it.
Chancey and I went at it for what felt like hours. We’d always wanted to get in the ring and see who was better, but the last time we did it, Captain wanted us to fight to the death. This time, we got to go at it properly— no cheating, no using magic, and no kill shots.
It was fantastic. I’d had the time of my life whacking him around, and he felt the same.
Chancey ended up tapping out, and we both stumbled to the edge of the ring with massive black eyes and a couple of missing teeth. Nothing the healers couldn’t fix up. I didn’t think the royal cleaners would be pleased about all the blood sprayed across the tile, but it was whatever. I had the best time with my buddies that day, and I felt a hell of a lot better about all the shit that had happened recently.
