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“No, no. You’re good. Tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow is clear. Are you sure you don’t mind?”

“Of course. Is your father okay with that?” I know he’s made his feelings known. That’s why she was so sullen in the courtyard the day I pointed fingers at her, thinking it was her who revealed that The Monarchy was coming, when it was, in fact, Creed and his father.

A flash of gold passes in front of my face, as if thinking the thought made him appear. Looking up, I’m not surprised to find the crimson-stained gold armor blocking my path.

As if I need anything else today.

The three of us come to a stop, letting the other students walk around us as the golden warrior glares down at me. The sight of his eyes makes me want to scream, the familiarity of their deep color making the distance between Creed and me more and more noticeable.

“Follow me.” His grunt is an order, but Brax doesn’t move an inch, squeezing my hand tighter.

“No.” Brax sounds bored as he stares pointedly at Creed’s father.

“I’m not asking. You can continue to class,” he adds, pointing at Leila, who gapes at him like a fish out of water for a moment before turning to me.

Sighing, I smile at her. “You’re good. I’ll meet you there, okay?”

She purses her lips, searching my eyes for something. I don’t know what, but she seems to find it as she nods, joining the other students down the hallway.

The golden warrior turns for the closest exit, not glancing back to see if we’re following or not.

“Is today over yet?” Brax grunts, reluctantly following after the asshole, and I hum.

“I wish.”

We follow him outside, where it quiets, watching as he continues to the left, hovering by a shallow archway. I release Brax’s hand, folding my arms over my chest as I come to stand face to face with Creed’s father.

“Where is he?”

I roll my eyes. I’ve already been through this once today. If Erikel thought sending this fool to try and get any further details from me, he’s mistaken. Yet again, the issue is that they don’t know that we fucking know.

“Well? I said where is he?” he snaps, and Brax instantly growls.

“Watch your fucking tone.”

The two of them stare each other down, the air around us quickly becoming volatile. Sighing, I cut to the chase. “We haven’t seen him since the caves. I just told my Papa the same thing and he promised to encourage Erikel to go back and search for them.” The panic in my voice isn’t as forced this time, and I slam my lips shut, hating the way vulnerability seeps from me so easily.

His brows gather as he stares down at me. “I don’t believe you.”

“I don’t care if you do or don’t. I want him home; I want all of them home. I would never willingly choose to leave him or the others anywhere. You know that. You saw what I was willing to sacrifice for him before, don’t try me now,” I grunt, beyond irritated that it’s not even lunchtime and my day is spiraling so epically.

He takes a step toward me, eradicating any remaining distance between us, but Brax manages to slip between us without touching the warrior.

“Lay a hand on her and I’ll snap your fucking fingers,” he seethes.

A slight grin of amusement drags across his face as he assesses Brax. I’m expecting him to throw his weight around and take the information from me without care, but to my surprise, he takes a step back, dragging a hand down his face instead.

“I love my son. More than anything else in this world. More than he loves you or you him. I don’t care about any of that. Just him. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep him safe. Even from you. If I find him in any harm because of you, I’ll bury you myself.”

EIGHT

RAVEN

“Come on, Raven. You’ve got this.”

“I really don’t think I do,” I grumble, my limbs aching as I consider stopping, but the glint in Brax’s eyes tells me that’s not an option. I know it isn’t, but that doesn’t stop me from dreaming of it.