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“My apologies. But I suppose we should talk about the mark.” Sweat dampened his lower back. “Do you know what it means?”

She shook her head. “You?”

“I’ve looked at many libraries, but I haven’t found anything definitive. And I don’t trust anyone enough to ask. Not even my grandmother Elora. She’d wonder why I was inquiring.”

“Theories?” her eyes seemed to sparkle, and he had an inkling she was hiding something.

He smiled. “I have many.”

The blond dragon scholar appeared from around the bend in the path and bowed to Valeen. He narrowed his eyes at Hel before facing her. “Goddess, I hate to pull you away, but guests have been asking about you, and War is, I wouldn’t say under threat, but everyone is wondering why there is an outsider here.”

“I’ll be right in.”

He bowed again and Hel watched him disappear. The dragon certainly had feelings for Valeen. What he couldn’t discern was if she shared them. Was this the male who broke down the chaste goddess’s walls?

“Poor War left alone to defend himself.” Hel chuckled. “But he loves attention. I’m sure he’s enjoying himself.”

They started back. “You and War are close friends?”

“The best. He’s my brother. Well, cousin but you understand.”

“I understand completely. Katana wasn’t my blood sister, but she was still my sister.”

Once they reached the double doors, Hel grabbed the handle to pull it open then stopped and turned to face her. He found his breath unsteady, even his hands trembled. As if her very presence ignited him with energy and made him want to shy away at once. No one had ever had this effect on him before. “Will I ever see you again?” He swallowed hard. “I would very much like to see you again.”

He heard her heart beat faster, the only betrayal of any emotion. “Meet me at the cliffs of Amonlee on Luna’s next full moon.”

Chapter26

LAYALA

Layala and Piper stood out in the training yard. The grass was damp from the rain the night before, which made it soggy under Layala’s boots. Handfuls of other soldiers sparred in the area around them, their swords rang with metal on metal. Some laughed as they watched a pair of their buddies grunt and beat on each other in a wrestling match. A trio of soldiers shot arrows at bales of hay painted with red targets at the center.

Layala toyed with the throwing star in her hand and stared at the fake wooden soldier who was about to get a weapon embedded in its head. The breeze picked up pieces of her hair and brought the smell of the nearby waterfall.

Piper pulled back on her bow. “So, what’s on your mind today? You haven’t asked me to train with you in a while.” The bowstring twanged and the arrow whistled, hitting the stuffed soldier in the chest.

“Well, you’ve been busy training others. It’s not that I didn’t want to.”

“True but there’s still a reason we’re out here?”

Layala readied her feet and threw the star. It cut through the air and embedded in the stuffed soldier’s chest. “I just needed to get my mind off things. Now there’s a demon prince doing the bidding of the council because he wants me dead for stealing his ring. Something I don’t even remember doing.”

“And? I heard all about the demon from Thane and Fennan already, so I know there’s more.”

Layala laughed. “Fine. I hate Varlett. I hate her. I saw her in the hallway today and I want her gone. She almost killed Thane and stole my aunt which then made me almost kill Talon, just to name a few offenses, and I don’t know what to do about her. And the way she and Hel touch each other, it’s disgusting. I want to gouge my own eyes out thinking of them…”

Piper frowned and then quickly turned it into a smile. “We’ll figure it out. We always do.”

“What was the frown for?” Layala tossed another star and it hit with a thud.

“Um.” Piper pulled back the arrow and released it. She faced Layala and let her bow fall to her side. “Why does it bother you that Hel and Varlett are together?”

“It doesn’t.”

Piper dragged her fingers through her loose hair. “You said you wanted to gouge your eyes out thinking of them together. I’m worried that this bond between you will cause problems. Have you been feeling drawn to him, or do you have any sense of loyalty to him?”

“Of course not,” Layala said.