Page 218 of Of Masks and Fury

“You’re right about that,” I muttered softly.Are any of the companions talking about this? If they knew who the traitor was, would they tell?

Companions loyal.

To their bonded, she meant. An important detail to note.

Trew must’ve sensed my unease, because his hand found mine across the supply crate, squeezing gently.

“How long do you expect this mission to take?” Maddox asked from where he was loading water flasks into a bag.

“Hard to say.” Trew shrugged. “Could be days. Could be longer if complications arise.”

“That’s a significant time to leave the castle with an army about to march this way.” Malcolm frowned as he calculated numbers in his head. “What if Caldrith’s allies join them in the assault?”

Coralee nodded, stroking her ermine’s white fur. “We’ve arranged patrols along our borders.”

“The garrison commanders have been given contingency plans,” Trew said, but I caught the tension in his shoulders. The weight of command sat heavy on him, the constant balance between protecting the people he ruled and helping those beyond his borders.

“And if we’re delayed?” Maddox pressed. “This mission could take longer than expected.”

“If so, we’ll adapt.” Trew’s voice carried the confidence of a king who’d learned to make impossible choices. “Some risks are worth taking.” He collected a loop of rope and stuffed it into a bag, his jawset with determination. “I couldn’t live with myself if I turned my back on people who need our help.”

This was another reason why I loved him. I admired his unwavering moral compass, even when the cost seemed impossible.

Naveah sealed the last pack. “Supplies are ready. The dragons have been fed and are rested.”

“Good.” Trew looked around at all of us. “Time to leave. I’ll arrange for guards to carry our things.”

The dragon aerie buzzed with chaos as we prepared for departure, guards and staff silently helping us load our supplies. They’d held back their questions, though their frowns followed us up and down the hall as we gathered anything else we thought we might need.

Inside her stall, Kyreth’s scales caught the late afternoon light streaming through the big opening to the valley, her intelligent eyes tracking my movements as I started up her side to secure packs to the spike between her shoulders.

Finished with her, I left her for others to ride and went down the hall to Lakast’s pen, finding Trew stroking the dragon’s cheeks while the beast groaned and wiggled and Gavelle perched on a trim board and watched. I swore the bird was rolling his eyes at Trew and Lakast.

Pherin flew off my shoulder to join him.

Trew came over to stand in front of me. His voice carried a rougher edge than usual. “I know you’re capable of handling yourself, but if something goes wrong?—”

I caught the look in his eyes, the same one he’d worn before the battle at Silverstream, when he’d been afraid he might lose me. I reached up, stroking his face in my fingertips. “Hey. We’re twin flames, remember? We burn together or not at all.”

His hand covered mine, pressing my palm against his cheek. “I love you, Minx. More than my crown and more than my kingdom. If I have to choose between saving those prisoners and keeping you safe?—”

“You won’t have to.” I rose onto my toes, brushing my lips against his. “Because I won’t let you. We can do this.”

He kissed me back, deep and desperate, his hands tangling in my hair. When we broke apart, he stared down at me, searching my face. “You willnotdo anything stupidly heroic.”

“That’s rich, coming from you.”

His laugh came out strained. “I’m serious, Isi.”

“So am I.” I smiled, letting him see the steel beneath it. “I promise not to do anything more stupidly heroic than you.”

“That’s not—” He shook his head. “You’re impossible.”

“You love me anyway.”

“Against all reason and common sense, yes.”

Pherin trilled, her tiny form gleaming in the late-day sunlight.