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“I heard a mention of a convoy. Hunters were seen in a small village not far from here.”

“So, it wasn’t a lie?”

Erix looked to the shadows, inspecting them for secrets. “The Hunter part, no. But the Nephilim didn’t seem awfully surprised. If anything, I heard that the party had been expected.”

My first instinct was that something terrible had happened. A pillaging of the village. I had the impression that Cassial’s mention of being needed at the border had little to do with the wedding, and everything to do with Hunters. Why else did he not seem surprised when Damious came in? It was certainly like news he expected to hear.

“What did they – these Hunters do?”

In the dark of my mind, I saw a flash of destruction. It was brave, for the Hunters to continue their goals, knowing everything they’d lost – or believed they’d lost.

If only they knew the truth. If only they found out what I had bound to the bed in Imeria.

Erix shook his head, searching the shadows around us for threats. “I don’t know. I heard Damious mention something about the wagons being empty. The Hunters are giving something out to the locals, saying it’s in the name of the capital. Cassial went into a fury and departed before anything else was said.”

I shook my head, unable to make sense of it. “So whatever is happening, Cassial will resolve it.”

“Will he?”

I could only hope. “He has no other choice.”

“Robin.” The seriousness in Erix’s tone had me snapping my eyes back up to his. My breath hitched in my throat at the bright glow of his silver irises, next to the red-tinged whites of his eyes. Whatever was bothering him called to the monster inside of him. “If I even get a whiff of a threat, then I am getting you far away from here, wedding or not. Your safety is all that matters to me.” His hands gripped my upper arms and held me firm. “I promised Duncan, and I take that vow seriously. Do I make myself clear?”

The severity of his words made my knees tremble. “Loud and clear,” I answered, finding words hard to grapple. “But dealing with Hunters is nothing new. The Hand’s poison will take more than a few months to purge–”

“It’s not the Hunters I worry about. It’syou. And something is screaming at me, an intuition that is telling me something isn’t right here. So, the second I feel like those worries are proven right, we are leaving.”

“But that’s not it, is it?” His grasp on my arms lessened, but the intensity in his eyes never faltered. “Something else is worrying you. I can tell.”

Erix paused, taking in my accusation. That was the thing about him. Erix could read me, just as I could read him. So, when he shook his head and dismissed my question, I knew he was lying again.

“I think our focus should be getting through tonight and tomorrow. Then we can make plans to visit Irobel, with Duncan – and save him.”

I looked around, panicked for hidden ears to overhear. “Not here.”

“We are alone,” Erix said, and something about it sparked a heat inside of my gut. “No one will hear me.”

Erix was the only person I had been completely honest with when I left Rafaela. He knew everything that happened, all but a small detail spared. Mostly because I trusted him with my biggest secret; this one paled in comparison. But we were a team, as Duncan wanted. I wasn’t going to waste the only true ally I could afford.

“Then you know why we can’t cause any issues,” I reminded him, clutching his hand desperately. “The next few days must go smoothly for us to get a chance to get back to Duncan. Then we can worry about the charter to Irobel.”

Erix calmed, if only slightly, but it was enough. “I have already sent word back to Imeria for my gryvern to prepare for Duncan’s movement. I would suggest they meet us at the coast, it would cut the journey back to Irobel in half.”

A warmth of thanks enveloped me like the embrace of strong arms, knowing I wasn’t the only person to deal with this issue. With Erix, I didn’t feel as lonely as I had before.

“Thank you, Erix. I mean it.”

He laid a soft hand upon my cheek, my breath caught in my throat. “For what?”

I swallowed hard. “Shouldering this burden with me.”

“Of course. As I said it’s my–”

“Duty and pleasure,” I repeated the sentiment he’d said to me a number of times. “I know.”

“Exactly, little bird.”

I drew a step back, hyper aware of his hand falling uselessly back to his side.