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If only he knew the truth, then perhaps he would think differently.

Rian hesitated at the end of the stacks and peered back at Kallie. The corners of his lips curled into a small, polite smile, a splash of pink tinting his cheeks. An awkwardness that hadn’t existed before soaked the air, and the peace that had grown between them over the past several days extinguished.

With a single nod, he left Kallie alone without another word.

* * *

The next day,Rian was not in the library.

Chapter22

GRAESON

For a week,Graeson paced in the guest room the Tetrians had provided him. With every passing day with no answer from the Tetrians, the floorboards grew increasingly worn. He spent a week worrying that Cetia would change her mind, that her daughter would say no once she was informed about their plan. And each day, the beast within him grew more impatient.

Time was not on their side. They needed to get moving if they wanted to arrive before the wedding.

While Graeson and the others waited, they planned, they trained, they worried.

Everything, however, rode on whether Medenia would attend the wedding and have them join her party. It didn’t matter if Emmett could hide their identities if they didn’t have an invitation to the wedding.

On the sixth day, Medenia finally approached them. The Tetrian princess would accept their plan on one condition: Ellie and Ophelia would accompany her.

Their party was already large enough with seven people. Adding two more people in addition to the princess would no doubt slow down their pace. But he had no choice. If that was the princess’ price, it was a sacrifice Graeson was willing to make. It wasn’t as if Graeson needed Medenia or her guards to assist them beyond getting them in the door. As long as the Tetrian women stayed out of his way, the additional members would not pose a threat.

Eager to get on the road and unwilling to waste any more time, they set off.

Between the ten of them, there were two carriages. Moris drove the first horse-drawn carriage, which carried Medenia and Ophelia, while Emmett drove the second, which housed Armen, Terin, and Sylvia. Since Ellie, Dani, and Graeson were the best riders, they rode on horseback.

As the Tetrian castle disappeared behind them and the swamp swallowed them, Graeson took a deep breath in and exhaled.

In a week, they would be at the doorstep of the Frenzian castle.

In eight days, the wedding festivities would begin.

In fourteen days, the wedding ceremony would take place.

Only fourteen days to rescue Kalisandre, once and for all. If Graeson couldn’t stop this wedding within the next fourteen days, all hope would be lost, and his fate sealed.

* * *

With Ellie leading the pack,Dani made continuous rounds, ensuring that the path ahead was clear and that they were not being followed from behind. A silly endeavor, according to Ellie, since they were in friendly territory. But Dani was not going to risk it.

Meanwhile, Graeson observed everything, Dani especially. While she hadn’t done anything to warrant his wariness, Graeson wasn’t sure when she would snap. Because with Dani, it wasn’t a question of if but when.

As they rode through Tetria, Graeson missed his horse, Calamity. His Pontian steed had an uncanny ability to predict his movements, and he could read her moods easily. It was as if they spoke a language only the two could understand. Before they left Pontia, however, he had discovered that Calamity was pregnant. Although a loyal rider, Graeson had to leave her behind. Once he ensured she was in the best hands before leaving.

Although he had to admit, Darling, the Tetrian horse he rode now, was beautiful, even if she had a silly name. She was strong and knew the land well. Unlike the land between Ardentol and the port in Borgania, the terrain in northern Tetria was covered with swamps. The Tetrian castle sat in the center of three large lakes, the Three Ladies. Cypress trees sprouted near the lakes and rivers that snaked their way across the land saturated with water. Dry land was far and few between.

Because of their environment, the Tetrians lived in smaller groups scattered across the terrain. Most gathered around the drier spots. However, there were some who built atop the lakes through the use of raised platforms.

Ellie led them down designated trails that did not disturb the surrounding ecosystem. Even the horses were hesitant to take the path less traveled. Whenever Dani attempted to survey the surrounding area, she returned every time more irritated than she had left. Apparently, the Tetrian horse she rode, Winter, was a stubborn creature, downright refusing to travel down any path that was not one of the identified trails.

But at least Dani’s anger wasn’t directed at Graeson. Yet anyway.

As they rode east, Ellie turned to Graeson. “So, am I going to have to ask what happened?”

Graeson groaned. “Go away, Ellie.”