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His eyes lit up.“Good idea.”
I glanced around, looking for Raenisa. “Can you introduce Tykas to Gavril for me? He’s going to help him out.”
“Of course.” Herrath considered me for a moment. “Are you looking for Theron?”
“No. I want to find Rae.”
“Good.” He dipped his chin. “I’m worried about her.”
After parting ways with Tykas and Herrath, I went searching for her. I might not be great at friendship, but I knew she had to be hurting right now.
Rounding a corridor, the soft thud of blows against a target reached my ears. As I approached, the rhythm intensified--hard strikes of fury and precision. Raenisa’s silhouette, bathed in a shaft of sunlight, was in motion, pummeling a worn punching bag.
“I guess that answers my question,” I remarked, leaning against the doorway.
She halted for a moment, chest heaving, face flushed with exertion. “What?”
I stepped closer, trying to gauge her mood. “Whether you’ve heard about Caelia.”
Raenisa snorted, her hands curling into fists as she resumed her relentless assault on the bag. “Heard? Yeah, I’ve heard.”
“You know, just because Caelia raised an army doesn’t mean she’s married.”
She let out a sharp exhale, striking the bag harder. “Doesn’t matter, Kael. I’m over her.”
I frowned at her obvious attempt at nonchalance. The force behind each blow told a different tale. But I let it hang, waiting for her to continue. The room resonated with her frustration, each thud echoing her internal turmoil.
Seeing that she wasn’t about to spill, I nudged, “You sure about that?”
She halted, panting, and shot me a piercing look. “It hurts,” she growled. “I’d always hoped we would end up together, but she chose Xavier and the throne over me. It sucks, but I’m dealing with it.”
I moved closer, laying a comforting hand on her shoulder. “You deserve someone who would tear down the world for you, Rae. Not try to take it for themself.”
She managed a weak smile. “Thanks, Kael.”
“How about we get drunk and bitch about everything together?”
She huffed a laugh. “I can’t be hungover when we march. I need to be alert.” My shoulders slumped, and she relented. “Maybe you could get me some little cakes? The ones Aella bakes?”
Chuckling, I nodded. “Of course. Only the best for you.”
She sighed, her defenses crumbling. “Thanks for checking on me. It means a lot.”
Before I could respond, she stepped in and wrapped her arms around me. They trembled as she held on tight, and it broke my heart a little. I hugged her back tightly. Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough.
Chapter 11
Theron
Beneaththetoweringwallsof Adraedor, the air was thick with tension as we prepared to leave. The red stone, pitted and weathered by countless sandstorms, bore silent witness to the exchange taking place.
Teodosija and I stood in front of the northern gates, an uneasy audience behind us on either side. The sun above cast a radiant golden glow, turning the distant sands into a sea of molten night. From within the city, a contingent of rebels watched.
On the other side of the portcullis, my soldiers waited silently behind me in the desert. The troops were formidable, their weapons glinting in the sunlight and their armor shimmering like quicksilver. They stood motionless, holding their positions with unwavering resolve despite the late afternoon heat.
“Teodosija.” I began, my voice carrying over the assembled crowds. “I am leaving the city in your hands. It’s time Adraedor was home to the Kyrie once more.”
Her gaze, sharp and piercing, met mine, searching for any hint of insincerity. “I understand the responsibility, War Marshal.”
