Page 11 of Death Will Follow

“It was the blade that let him kill his own blood,” Lucan concluded. “Where is it now?”

“He destroyed it. Broke the blade into several pieces and scattered them around Aemoria, vowing never to sire an heir. But after his wife vanished, a vague sense of unease needled him for centuries.”

“A vague sense of me, I suppose.” Nova rubbed her thumb over the smooth white stone of her mother’s ring.

“Yes. His awareness of you grew stronger when you arrived in Pyralis. He sent me there to track you,” Bryn explained. “I trailed you to Nivali. To Silvergard. I was there the day you escaped Idrian’s grasp at Schadwen Mountain. He was greatly displeased by the general’s failure. I wonder if he’s realized his hold on me has been broken.”

“What will he do when he does?” Lucan asked, amber eyes calculating.

“Replace me,” Bryn replied, her expression solemn. “I was his best tracker, but he has others.”

“Nox,” Nova began, turning to face her uncle. “It’s not safe for me here any longer. I must make haste for Nivali.”

“No. We can protect you,” Lucan insisted. “Nox has shielded the Estate.”

“Not well enough,” she replied, shooting a sheepish look at her uncle. “Sorry.”

“We’ll call up our soldiers from around the territory,” the commander continued. “You belong here. You belong with us.”

“No, she’s right,” Nox said. “She needs to be far from Silvergard when Omen discovers what has happened.”

Defeated, Lucan sank back against the sofa, draping his arm over Nox’s shoulder.

“When will you go?” he asked.

“I think it’s best if I leave as soon as possible.”

“I’ll take you,” Bryn offered. “We can fly.”

While Bryn ate another meal and attempted a few more hours of sleep, Nova returned to her chamber and changed into travel clothes: a simple shirt, tunic, and black breeches. She sat before the vanity, her reflection fragmented in the mirror, which had been shattered in her struggle with Bryn, and wove her hair into a braid for the journey.

A rapid knock came at the door as she tied the end, and Lucan sauntered into the room. He tossed a leather pack at her and busied himself looking everywhere else but directly at her.

“Figured you might want to bring some of your things with you,” he said as he leaned against the wall, lightly kicking it with the heel of his boot. “What we have here is better than anything they’ve got in Nivali.”

“That’s very thoughtful of you.” Nova set the bag on the bed and bit back a smile. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were going to miss me.”

He rolled his eyes but finally looked at her.

“Of course, I’ll miss you, you little shit.” His gaze fell to the floor.

“Is that any way to speak to a lady?” They both chuckled quietly, the laughter quickly trailing off into silence.

Lucan raked a hand through his hair. “Look, I know I don’t set the best example for caution and restraint, but I need you to promise me you’ll be careful.”

“I’ll be with Callan. Surely you trust him to look out for my well-being.”

Lucan rolled his eyes once more, but nodded, in the end.

“Do you know where Nox is?”

“You can find him in his garden when you’re ready to say your goodbyes.” He reached out and squeezed her shoulder briefly before leaving her alone in her chamber.

Nova packed a few of her favorite items of clothing in the bag along with a hairbrush and a tiny bottle of jasmine perfume. She left most of her things behind as a silent promise to herself that she would, one day, return. Slinging the creased leather bag over her shoulder, she left her chamber and soon entered her uncle’s garden.

Nox stood at the base of the great magnolia, his back to the entrance. White moths floated in the air like falling petals beneath the night sky. Nova approached quietly, and Nox spoke into her mind before she reached his side.

“I know it’s for the best, but I don’t want you to go.”