The energy around us charged, and I could sense she was about to run, to shadow, to leave. So, I didn’t hesitate and shadowed behind her, my hand already wrapping around another dagger at my side and unsheathing it. The dagger was slicing down for her throat, but she blocked it, spinning with too fluid speed and kicking me in the chest. I went flying, my body rolling over the damp earth, until I was able to steady myself, crouching and lunging myself back toward her.
Lana had a sword in her hand now, and I realized it was mine. Growling, I shadowed another into my palm from the training yard and met her blade. Each strike echoing in the night around us..
Panting, she said. “Not bad,brother.”
“Don’t call me that,” I roared, and her smile widened. She struck so forcefully that my blade flew from my palm, the wind sending me flying backward onto my back. She was above me, palms up as if she were surrendering, and this time I stayed down. She hadn't hurt me. Only defended herself. She threw the blade she stole from me onto the ground, her palms still up in surrender. Her brows pinched as her eyes fell, and I followed her line of sight.
The black pouch Xavier had given me was open on the grass next to me. My uncle's black pendant peeking out of its case. Lana was already reaching for it, and I scrambled too, my hand meeting hers as we both touched its smooth surface. A twisting sensation deep in my gut flared, and the ground fell out from beneath us. My hand was still touching Lana's, our fingers somehow fused together as we both touched the pendant.
“What magic is this?” Lana spat, and I shook my head, meeting her gaze.
Swirling darkness surrounded us, and a flash of blue exploded, filling my vision as we fell through a glittering expanse.
Chapter 25
Theo
Bouncing red curls slapped me in the face for the hundredth time, and I gritted my teeth. I had been the one who insisted she ride with me, not trusting her to have her own horse, but the smell of her hair, the feel of her body against mine—it was a mistake. I should have made her ride with one of the other guards. Then I wouldn’t have to endure this torture.
Then again, the thought of someone else touching her had me growling low and deep in my throat. Cynthia’s body pressed back into mine as her head turned toward me.
“Are you some sort of beast?”
I clenched my jaw. “No.”
“Then why are you growling like one?”
My stomach twisted in annoyance, and I leaned forward, my lips going to her ear as I spat my response. “Your hair keeps hitting me in the face, and you won't stop squirming. It's—aggravating.”
The red-haired siren laughed and once again shifted her hips, the sensation making my cock twitch. My gaze narrowedon the side of her face, and I watched as a smirk sprang to her lips. My chest rumbled again with another growl, and I shifted backward, trying to adjust my position. To my dismay, instead of creating more space like I intended, our bodies somehow pressed further together, my chest now firmly at her back.
“You are the one who insisted on this idiotic rideshare, and if I must endure your incessant growling, then you can deal with my squirming,” she snapped, and I leaned forward again, adjusting my grip on the reins so that my arms were touching her sides. I could have sworn I heard her breath hitch, and the sound had my lip curving upward.
Lowering my mouth to her ear again, I whispered, “I’ll remind you, you are still technically our prisoner. And mouthing off to me is unwise.”
Her body shook, and the sound of her chuckle floated to me. I gritted my teeth, and her head turned suddenly toward me, our lips nearly touching. I flinched back, swallowing thickly, and watched as another smirk lifted her lips.
“You forget I am not afraid of you, lightning boy, and let’s not forget I just helped you guys take down an entire enemy camp. I think I have earned a little trust here.”
“Maybe, butIstill don’t trust you.”
Cynthia rolled her eyes and turned forward again. Her hair swept across my face once more, and I bit back a snarl. Technically, she was right. Shehadhelped us. It turned out the mark on her waist is how her people could enter and exit the ward, confirming something Xavier apparently already figured out. The swirling blood hadn't just been Cynthia’s, but also Morgana’s. Some sort of witchy loophole.
Disgusting, if you ask me. I wouldn't want that evil old hag's blood anywhere near me. But Cynthia didn’t hide it. Shetold Jaxon vital information about their camps, their armies. I listened to them talk for hours, and it had made my skin crawl. After everything that happened with Zara, I wasn’t sure why everyone was trusting her so easily.
I mean… I was the one to tell them to trust her… but ahh, it was too confusing.
Once Xavier arrived, a plan was already in place. Aria hadn't been happy with the plan, with her village, her home getting destroyed… but most of the buildings were made of stone and would hopefully be intact when we took it back. The portraits of her mother and her father, however, would now be lost and my heart ached for her at that. But she agreed, and knew it was the right thing to do for our people, our safety. It gave us an advantage we couldn't afford to pass up.
Xavier was the only person besides me who was skeptical of Cynthia’s motives. He entrusted me with watching her, making sure she didn’t run or turn on us. Which meant I had to endure her fucking hair hitting me again…
My stomach rumbled but I ignored the feeling. No way was I going to share my sandwiches with her.
We hadn’t stayed to find out what happened with Territan. We had been sent away by Jaxon to round up the remaining ogre clans before heading back to Blackrock for the funeral.
The thought of Flynn made me nauseous, and I shifted uncomfortably. Grief threatened to overwhelm me, but I couldn't let it show, not here, not in front of her, my men. I haven't allowed myself to think of him. If I did, I wasn't sure what would happen, and I couldn't afford to find out while I was on the road. Once I was back, with Dedra or alone, then and only then would I allow myself to feel even a sliver of the crushing pain that consumed me.
The thought of my sister brought on a fresh wave of guilt. With so much happening and so many moving parts, we had to tell her about Flynn in a letter. I knew it was wrong, but we couldn't risk her hearing it from someone else, especially since we were too far away to tell her in person. It had been our only option. My eyes burned and I tried to push down the overwhelming emotions. Not now. Not here. I sniffled, and Cynthia’s head turned slightly as if she’d heard, and I coughed to cover it up.
