He reached for my hand on the table and then admitted, “Lia was worth changing for.”
“It appears so,” Lynelle said as she moved to pour another cup of tea that a young soldier had brought in for us some time ago.
Jace leaned back casually in his chair and wrapped his arm around my shoulders. “And what exactly is this situation?” He gestured to them. “It appears you two have become…closer.”
Leon’s eyes narrowed in on him. “She is a wonderful cook. It would’ve been a shame for her to have an empty table all this time.”
“Uh-huh,” Jace teased as he reached for more tea himself. He raised a single brow. “Have fun telling Zaela. I’m just ecstatic her focus won’t be on being aggravated with us any longer.”
Or maybe even Avery and Gage, I thought to myself.
Lynelle’s eyes flared as she loudly sipped from her cup. “Remind me to remind my daughter where she received those balls of steel she flaunts around so carelessly.”
“Certainly not her brave father who led these armies,” Jace heckled.
Her lips turned up, but there was a sadness in her eyes. “She is a mix of us both, that is certain.”
“Sass and bravery,” Leon started as he wrapped his arm around Lynelle. “Although a dangerous mix, it makes for an exceptional woman.”
Jace let out a laugh and looked in my direction, earning a grin from me. “I’ll say.”
A rush of warmth flooded my cheeks, and I playfully punched him in the arm, eliciting laughter from everyone in the room.
“I know we’ve sent falcons back and forth since I was last on this side of the peaks, but is there any further news about the soldiers?” Jace asked.
Leon blew out a breath. “Each week, our numbers continue to increase. Young men eager to throw themselves into the fight for freedom.”
“And many nervous mothers,” Lynelle added.
Leon tried to hide his eye roll before adding, “Regardless, these boys certainly have the heart for it. They will be excellent soldiers—we train daily. And they will be honored to finally meet you now that you’re home.”
Home, I thought to myself. This was Jace’s true home, whether he considered it or not.
Suddenly, the door to the front of the room swung open, putting us all on high alert.
All of our hands flew to our hips, reaching for our swords, until Leon spoke to the young soldier who now stood in the doorway. “What is it? What’s happened?”
“Apologies for startling you all,” he began. “But dawn is on the horizon, and our scouts have spotted the citizens of Ellecaster emerging from the passage. Your horses are ready to bring you back to them.”
“Excellent,” Jace said, and we all moved toward the doorway.
Chapter eighteen
Avery
Gage had barely spokento me for the remainder of our time in the passage between the peaks, deeming it a constant necessity to remain at the front with Zaela. A lump had formed in my throat, wondering if he regretted riding with me atop my sister’s horse, even if it was only for a few moments. Whenever the thought plagued me, I leapt down from Matthias to walk with Nyra as she trotted alongside us in an attempt to distract myself.
Dawn was finally emerging on the horizon, casting the snowcapped peaks in a golden glow.
“We’re about near the end!” Gage shouted. “Send it down the line!”
Murmurs erupted, and cheers shouted, echoing through the passage we had been in for an entire day now. I was exhausted, even though at some point in the night, I had fallen asleep in the saddle—how the men who walked on their feet this entire time were still moving, I had no idea. Even on our journey across the continent, we stopped to rest, even if it was for a few hours.
Veli approached me for the first time since we began the trek the day prior. “Is there a particular reason you’ve been pouting for the last twelve hours?”
I scoffed at her, earning a rare, wicked smile from the witch. “I don’t know what you mean.”
She cackled under her breath. “I don’t think you should deem yourself threatened by the mortal girl.”
