Page 87 of The Crowned Queen

Then tell her that, the shadows rebuked him, several of their voices pulling together. Instead of languishing around feeling sorry for yourself.

“I’m going to go find her,” he said to Finn. “They’ve been gone a long time.”

No one stopped him as he strode into the trees, following the narrow game trail to the clearing where they had been training. Of course, he’d made sure it was safe before he agreed to let Araya go with the others. Far enough from camp that she felt like she had some autonomy, but close enough that he’d be able to reach her easily if the Arcanum found them here or the forest lashed out at them again. Although it had been strangely quiet ever since that first attack. If Loren hadn’t witnessed it himself, he would have doubted that it really happened.

But when he stepped through the last screen of trees, the clearing was empty.

Loren stared at it for a moment, his heartbeat suddenly too loud in his ears. They had been here—he could see the disturbed leaves, the scuffs from their boots in the dirt. But there was no sign of them now. Like they had all packed up and gone somewhere else. Except there was nowhere to go here—just more forest.

Which meant someone had taken her.

Loren couldn’t breathe. His vision blurred at the edges, narrowing to a single point as the shadows surged up around him. He stretched out his mind, letting their muted bond drag him forward. He didn’t even feel the branches that lashed his face, tearing at his clothes. He couldn’t slow down. They hadn’t dosed her with the tea yet, but the moment they did he wouldn’t be able to find her. The shadows raced ahead, urging him on faster and faster. If he could just reach her before they got her out of the forest⁠—

Araya’s laughter pierced the fog of fear clouding his mind. Bright and unrestrained.

Loren stumbled, almost plunging down a steep embankment. The forest opened around him, soft dirt giving way to mossy rock and clear water. A hot spring. Steam rose from its surface, wreathing Araya and the others in a cloud of mist and sunlight. Her eyes were closed, a smile lingering on her lips as she leaned her bare shoulders back against the rocky ledge.

Relief punched the air from his lungs. She was safe. Goddess. He hadn’t heard her laugh like that since⁠—

“Are you going to join us, Your Majesty?” Caela’s voice rose above the others, cutting through the chatter as cleanly as a knife.

Araya’s eyes snapped open, her silver gaze locking on his. For a suspended heartbeat, something flickered across her face. Surprise—and something else.

Uncertainty. Wariness. Guilt.

Loren’s relief fractured, giving way to the sharp sting of hurt. She’d known he wouldn’t like this. That it wasn’t safe. But she’d gone and done it anyway behind his back. He stepped forward, shadows spilling over the rocks and into the water as he picked his way down to the edge of the spring. Moss crunched under his boots, the sweet perfume of their tiny white flowers filling the air.

“She’s not supposed to be here,” he said.

“Why not?” Caela bristled, her sapphire eyes flashing. “Does she need your permission to soak in the hot springs with her friends?”

Well when she said it like that he sounded like an overbearing ass.

“You were supposed to be in the clearing,” he argued. “A place we’d already scouted and made sure you could be reached easily if something went wrong. Instead you came here. When I came to get Araya, I had no idea where she was⁠—”

“I’m with my friends,” Araya protested softly. “We’re not in any danger. We’re fine—or we were, before you barged in here yelling at us.”

Loren gritted his teeth. How could she possibly believe that after everything she’d been through? “The Arcanum could ambush us at any minute,” Loren bit out. “Both of us are high-value targets⁠—”

“Funny how that only dictates where I can go.” Araya’s voice rose, her loose hair floating in the water around her like a war banner. “You’re obviously perfectly capable of running around the forest completely alone with no protection.”

“I have dara’el,” Loren snapped. “You have nothing.” He took another step, stopping at the edge of the water. “You need to come back to camp, where I can protect you.”

Silver eyes flashed. “No.”

“Fine.” Loren unbuckled his sword belt, dropping it to the ground. “I’ll pull you out myself.” His boots went next, kicked back away from the water. “The rest of you should go back to camp,” he said. “I’m sure the others are waiting for you.”

“Fuck that,” Naeva snapped. She rose halfway out of the water, making no move to cover herself. “We aren’t leaving our friend alone with an angry male. Not even you.”

Beside her, Caela nodded in agreement, her expression set and grim. Loren’s hands faltered on the buttons of his shirt. Even sweet Brynn—still sunk in the water up to her neck—had braced herself, looking more than ready to stand her ground.

“It’s alright.” Araya settled back against the ledge, breaking his gaze. “He won’t hurt me.” The smile she gave the others was soft, but her eyes said something else entirely. “I think there are some things we need to work through here.”

“Are you sure?” Caela’s voice dropped, her golden hair glimmering in the sunlight as she leaned closer to Araya. “You don’t have to let him⁠—”

“I’m sure,” Araya said. Her silver gaze flashed back to his. “And I’m not going to let him do anything.”

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