“Good idea,” I say.
“I can guard the back, Ezkai Xander and Blood Sentineal can guard the sides, while you approach at the front,” Noire suggests.
“Jax will stay with me,” Nix says without missing a beat. “Ezkai Cassandra and Ezkai Xander can guard the sides.”
I can’t help the sigh as I look out the window at the miserable weather. The drizzle turned into pouring rain right after we hit the road.
“Have something to say?” Nix’s words are sharp.
I don’t turn to face her. “No. Nothing to add, General.”
A long, silent beat passes. Then Nix continues the conversation. “Even if Reizei runs, I don’t want him getting hurt, Noire. You hear me? The Ezkai must catch him, not kill him on sight.”
“Absolutely, General.”
In my periphery, I see Nix nod to herself.
I’m no Decarios, but that unease that swirls low in my belly, and the tight feeling in my chest…it’s not all mine.
She may put up the mask of full, calm control, but inside she’s unsure. Doubtful about her own choices.
Maybe that’s for the better.
That gives me hope she won’t be reckless.
Arrogance and blind confidence are responsible for more deaths than anything else.
The rest of the way,we travel in silence.
Noire sits calmly, snoozing lightly. Phoenix, on the other hand…Her doubt only deepens the closer to our destination we get. And with that, my uneasiness grows.
By the time our carriage halts, it’s suffocating me.
I jump to my feet first, opening the carriage door and inhaling a greedy breath of fresh rainy air. Heavy drops pour down me as I stand next to the carriage, Reizei’s secret estate looming ahead of us.
Clearly, it’s lived in. There are guards stationed at the gate, and many lights in the many windows of this grand estate are lit up.
Phoenix is the last to step out of the carriage. But when she does…she’s regal.
Shoulders back, chest wide, chin held high she approaches Noire, Ezkai Cassandra, and Ezkai Xander to once more go over the plan. Ezkai Bjorn and Ezkai Emil immediately flank her sides.
I don’t bother approaching, remaining by the carriage.
The rest of her army waits patiently, lined up in pairs farther away from our group.
It’s kind of amazing, how dutifully the Ezkai follow their orders. How eager they are to serve, no questions asked.
I guess standing in the cold night’s air with rain pouring down their heads is not the worst these men and women had to survive to get where they are.
Phoenix is lost in a serious conversation with her advisors. She’s so beautiful when she wears that determined look on her face.
Her eyes are full of fire.
Just like her heart.
I glance at the Talbot estate once more. The guards haven’t moved. That worries me.
Surely at least one of them noticed us, even in the darkness, the storm.
