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“Wait, it’s me,” Kerrigan hissed, coming into plain sight.
The shadows vanished. “What are you doing out here?”
“I could ask you the same thing!” She crossed her arms. “I thought I said not to do anything stupid.”
“I’m not.”
“You’re communicating with the House of Shadows. What if someone saw you?”
“They didn’t.”
She wanted to shake him. “Think for a moment what would happen if someone did.”
“I’ve thought about it,” he said icily. “Now, go back to the camp before someone notices.”
She huffed. “I’m not going anywhere without you.”
“You’re not going anywhere with me.”
“You cannot talk to them, Fordham. You’re their natural leader. We need you.”
“I can’t,” he said, whirling on her. “I have to do something. I cannot sit around and wait all night to slaughter my own people. Not without at least trying to save them. They will listen to me.”
“And what if they don’t?” she demanded.
“Then, fine. They will have sealed their fate. But not before I do everything in my power to end this.”
Kerrigan sighed. She understood. Better than he knew. She was still betrothed to March to save her people. She hadn’t found a way out of it that didn’t involve him going to war with her people. She hadn’t even been in Bryonica in twelve years, and still, she would do anything to protect them. She hardly expected it to be different for Fordham.
“Let me go with you.”
“And have you get in trouble again?”
“Then, don’t let us be seen,” she said.
“I can’t travel that far with both of us. And I’m not taking you.”
“We have each other’s backs. No matter what else has changed, Fordham, that remains the same.” She crossed her arms and waited for him to refute that.
To her surprise, he didn’t. He sighed. “We’ll have to get closer to meet the rendezvous.”
Kerrigan smothered her shock. He probably knew by now that she wasn’t easy to get rid of when she set her mind to something.
They trekked through the woods, heading closer and closer to Lethbridge while avoiding scouts and patrols nearby. Once the city came into view and Kerrigan could see the incredible height of the stone fortress wall, Fordham called them to a stop.
“Okay, hold on to me,” he said.
Kerrigan stepped forward into his arms. Her body fit against his like it was always meant to be there. She wanted to rest her head on his chest, but already, her body was reacting to his nearness. She needed to not think about the last time they’d been this close. Or how his body felt pressed against hers. Or anything else that involved a hot spring. Her cheeks colored, and she dipped her chin.
He cleared his throat, wrapping his arms tight around her. “Here we go,” he said, his breath hot against her neck.
She shivered involuntarily, and then they were gone. The shadows enveloped them. Kerrigan gasped. Then as quickly as they’d moved, they stumbled to a stop on the other side of the fortress.
Two small figures appeared out of the darkness. “About time,” Benton said with a smile.
“Oh my gods,” Kerrigan said. She rushed out of Fordham’s arms and toward the twins. She couldn’t believe they were here. And also, the thought shuddered through her all at once. They were here. Which meant they could get hurt in the cross fire. “What are you doing here?”
“We were brought along to help with preparations,” Benton said.
Bayton tugged her in tight. “The last time I saw you, you were saving my life.”
“I cannot believe she threatened to kill you. I’m sorry that I couldn’t take you with me.”
“We’re out now, my lady,” Benton said. “And we suspect it’s because of you.”
Fordham ended the reunion. “We need to move. We’re exposed.”
The twins bobbed a hasty curtsy. “Yes, Your Highness,” Bayton said. “Right this way.”
Kerrigan and Fordham followed the twins through the darkened corridors of Lethbridge. Kerrigan knew little about the Sayair city, except that it was one of the largest outside of their capital. The fact that the House of Shadows had conquered it in a matter of days was terrifying.
Benton and Bayton stopped before a large wooden door and knocked twice. The door swung inward, and Prescott appeared before them. He caught Kerrigan’s gaze, and his smile widened.
“You didn’t tell us you were bringing the brains of the operation,” Prescott said, hauling Kerrigan in for a hug.
She laughed, and Fordham scowled. “Let’s get inside,” he grumbled.
Prescott kept his arm wrapped around Kerrigan’s shoulders as he drew them into the room. No one would know the city was at war here. Everything was resplendent with throw pillows and thick carpets. Candles lit the space with wax dripping down over large candelabras. Arbor lay out across a divan like a welcoming goddess and not a usurper.
“You didn’t say you were bringing the girl,” Arbor said, letting the lush red of her skirts fall to the floor.
