His eyes widened slightly, and he blew out a nervous breath. “Captain, he didn’t return with us.” He took a hesitant step closer to me.
“What?” I demanded.
“A few of the soldiers witnessed him get shot down with arrows. The commander and a few others swarmed him once his body hit the ground. He’s either dead or has been taken captive. He was never among us the ride back to camp.”
No. No, that was absolutely fucking unacceptable. Vincent? Killed in battle or taken as a captive? I refused to believe it.
My hand shot out, gripping William's throat with a firm hold. His arms went lax at his sides, and he didn’t show a hint of fear as I was about to choke the life out of him for being the one to deliver the news to me.
“I don’t believe you,” I hissed through teeth clenched so hard that I thought they would shatter in my mouth.
“You don’t have to believe it, Captain, but it is the truth.” He paused for a brief moment as my stare continued to bore into his. “What can I do in his place?” he choked out with the small amount of air I allowed into his lungs.
With my grip tightening on him, my arms started trembling, and I then hurled his body several feet away. It took him a few steps backward until he found his footing. He straightened his armor and re-approached me, unafraid.
“As I said, Captain…what can I do in his place?”
I huffed out in annoyance, rubbing my temples as the madness continued around us. This soldier was young byour standards and appeared to be hungry for power. As I stared into his eyes, holding him by his throat, it was almost as if I was peering into a younger version of myself—that could prove useful.
“You want my trust and respect? Tell me what the fuck is causing all of this madness.”
His spine straightened. “Scouts reported a wyvern headed directly for us. The creature was reported to be only a few miles east when the messenger falcon arrived.”
“You’re shitting me.”
“That’s not all, Captain,” he started, and my eyes bulged as if this could get any worse. “The report stated there were figures atop the beast, essentially…riding it.”
My panic disintegrated instantaneously. It appeared that I no longer had to draw Elianna out of her hiding spot once more, after all. No—my little traitor was coming right to me instead. And she was alone.
I dragged William with me through the disorder of the camp as I invited myself into Kai’s tent to find that Callius was already with him, preparing him for a possible battle.
“You run, you hide, and as an absolute last resort…you fight. Do you understand me, Prince?” Callius said sternly to him. “I know I have provided a small amount of training for you since you were a boy, and we have revisited this on our journey here, but you do not possess the skills needed for attack.”
“You lack belief in your future king?” Kai waved him off as Callius’ eyes flared with nerves at his words. “Regardless, if the army we brought does their job correctly, I won’t be doing any of those things,” he hissed. “And you better ensure they do just that,” Kai tacked on threateningly.
“Don’t worry, Prince.” I took a step forward since neither of them had noticed we had entered yet. “For it is not an army that approaches us.”
Callius pivoted to me. “Adler,” he growled, and I smirked. “If it’s not an unexpected attack, then what has everyone frantic out there? I couldn’t get an answer from anyone.” His voice rose with each word.
I crossed my arms as my smirk grew from ear to ear. “It isn’t an army. It’s Elianna.”
Kai’s face turned lethal. “Your males are afraid of Solus?! A single fucking female?” he barked at me. “What kind of army are you running here, Captain?”
I bit my tongue so hard that I felt blood trickle down my throat as I worked to keep my retort from coming out. “Well, I assume they fear the wyvern she rides and not necessarily her.” I watched as they both eyed each other knowingly. “And we know just how to deal with that wyvern, don’t we?”
A wicked grin crept up Kai’s face, making it clear he was out for her blood.
“I’ll have the lines formed,” Callius started as he moved past me. He turned back and met my stare. “You want to earn back your rank and my trust? Make yourself useful this time and keep the prince safe. It's all you're tasked with, and so help me gods ifanything happens under your watch…” he growled as he made his way through the flaps of the tent built for a king.
A blaze of fury ignited within me as I turned to the prince, who eyed both me and William. “Remove yourselves from my tent immediately. I don’t care what he said, Adler. I can handle myself,” he snapped, as if I would try to coddle him like his fucking mother.
The clattering and shouts beyond the tent ceased as Callius’ voice boomed, demanding they all get in formation beyond the camp.
“Of course you can, Prince. Just stay put and do me a favor… Don’t do anything stupid,” I demanded of him.
Before he could get out his retort, I exited the tent, forcing William to follow.
Chapter four
