“I’ll get the horses,” Callum said. “Unless the panthera got to them first.”
“I thought you planned to teleport back?” Theo replied.
“If there are more undead on the road, I want to be there.” Gods forbid Callum missed out on a single fight.
Theo began rummaging through the trunks and found a change of clothes. Something warm for where they were going. At first, he was not maneuvering her as carefully as he should have. He was in a rush. He removed her layers, muscles going rigid from what he discovered underneath.
Protruding clavicles, a concave stomach. She was wasting away. And there, just above her left breast, lay a brand. A circle no bigger than a coin, with an image of a coiling snake inside. He traced the uneven patch of skin with his finger, part of him hoping it wasn’t real. This was such a hateful way to damage a person.
“Who marked you this way?” His voice trembled with rage. “Who allowed you to get like this?” How could her family let this happen? Had no one cared to notice?
He shuffled her into the change of clothes he found. Her eyes fluttered, giving him another fleeting view of those silver irises.
The prophecy had told of a mark, something god-given from birth. He hadn’t been sure what to look for as confirmation.A soul eclipsed in moonlightcould mean so many things. Silver hair, born on the full lunar eclipse. But one look at those eyes, mixed with the power emanating off her, and he knew.
He hoisted her up over his shoulder, then cast his hand in a wave toward all the torchlights and the fiery blaze burning the panthera’s corpse.
In one fell swoop, all of them extinguished.
Theo stayed just long enough to confirm the statuesque bodies of the soldiers began to twitch, their eyes blinking rapidly in confusion.
Then he disappeared between the trees, his forgotten princess in tow.
CHAPTERSIXTEEN
BEFORE
“You’re here early today.” Dolion greeted Helaina with a surprised smile.
“I can leave... if it’s too soon for company.” It was a baited statement, as she hoped his answer would be the exact opposite.
She had tried not to appear so desperate, but she was lonely. Her family had been in Creston for the last month. With no one else to keep her occupied, she found herself here every single day. It was so rare that Oakmire took on new staff, and it was almost never someone young like her.
“No, no, please, stay.” A wide smile graced his golden cheeks.
“I brought you lunch, some small things from the kitchen. Plums, dried meats, and cheeses. If you don’t like it, I can always run back. It’s not a bother.” She was rambling like an idiot again. She felt herself blush. He didn’t say, but she could tell he noticed.
Quietly, he stepped toward her, reaching for the basket of carefully selected items she had spent so much time packing and organizing.
“It’s perfect.” Dolion’s fingers brushed over hers as he lifted the handle.
He set the basket down, remaining close. His toned build still stunned her. Sometimes she would catch a glimpse of the ripples in his abdomen when the wind blew his loose work shirts against his skin.
She needed to say something, she couldn’t keep gawking.
“How is your father?” It had been weeks, and she made a point to ask every time they saw each other.
“Healing is taking longer than expected,” he explained with a grimace. It was the same answer as yesterday, and the day before.
She gathered that discussing Glen upset him. She didn’t want to pry, so she kept her curiosity to herself.
Dolion began brushing a new silky black mare, who was enjoying every bit of her morning grooming. Helaina sighed softly as she started folding a pile of clean blankets, adoring the scene taking place before her.
Behind her, hay crunched in the doorway. Damn it, these guards were insufferable. Could they not give her an ounce of space?
“Laina?”
Oh, not her guards, it was Krysta. They were back.
