Page 132 of Destiny of a King

Dravic’s jaw tightened. He didn’t need a fairy pointing out what he already knew. Seger and his warriors had followed him into Driochmor and fought beside him. Every instinct demanded that he go to them. But walking out the front door would accomplish nothing except give their captors the one prisoner who mattered most.

“You said they’re all alive?”

“Aye. The Hunters too. They have them surrounded and disarmed, but no one has been hurt.”

He did not have to wonder why his men were not harmed. An attack would have woken him. This way all they had to do was wait until he left the cottage to capture him. But who waited to capture him?

“Did you see who commands them?” he asked.

“Nay. Some may be mercenaries and warriors disguised as villagers.”

Dravic cursed beneath his breath. “This could be Tharne’s doing.”

He looked at Adira again.

He would not take a chance with her life simply because he felt honor-bound to walk out that door to his men. Remaining free gave him a chance to find help and return for them. Captured, he could do nothing.

Fiora fluttered impatiently near him. “We don’t have much time.”

Dravic made his decision. “We’re leaving.”

He and Adria dressed quickly.

With their cloaks on, Dravic went to the window and eased it open and peered outside.

The rear of the cottage remained deserted, just as Fiora had promised. A narrow stretch of frozen ground separated the cottage from the forest, the trees close enough to offer cover once they reached them.

He glanced back at Adira and held up one hand, telling her to wait. Then quietly as possible he climbed out a window.

There was nothing graceful about it. The opening was narrow for a man his size, forcing him to turn sideways and duck his head before dropping to the ground.

Under different circumstances, he might have been annoyed by the indignity of it. Today he was simply grateful no one was there to witness it.

Fiora fluttered through the opening behind him. “I saw.”

Dravic sent her a warning glare.

The fairy grinned.

“Not one word.”

Fiora pressed both hands over her mouth.

Dravic turned back to the window and stretched his arms out to Adira. “Come to me.”

Adira heard him clearly.

She gathered her skirt enough to maneuver through the narrow opening, then hesitated when she saw the distance to the ground.

“I’ve got you.”

Her heart gave the same ridiculous leap it always did when she heard his voice, but this was no time to savor it.

She lowered herself through the window.

Dravic caught her around the waist and lifted her easily away from the wall, setting her on her feet without allowing her to move out of his arms.

For a moment, they stood there together.