Page 52

Chapter Fifty-Two

Jasce

The next day, I sit inside my command tent with the morning sun filtering through the open flap.

The memory of last night consumes my thoughts as I stare at the maps spread across my desk. Annora’s small body curled against mine, her fingers clutching my surcoat.

No words passed between us. None were needed.

I trace the outline of House of Crimson territory, but my mind drifts to how she pressed her face into my neck.

Her breathing eventually steadied. In those quiet hours, I memorized every detail. The way her eyelashes fluttered against her cheeks, how her fingers twitched against my chest, the soft sighs that escaped her lips.

The sun climbs higher now, but I remain rooted to my chair, the ghost of her touch still burning my skin.

The maps blur as I remember how she finally drifted into true sleep just before sunrise, her body going slack against mine for the first time since I brought her here.

Reeve enters the tent and drops into the chair opposite me. “Asha’s army has already moved,” he says, tracing a finger along the northern edge of our territory. “If we don’t act now, she’ll breach more of our villages by week’s end.”

Jude follows him to the table and sits next to him. “A frontal assault won’t work. She’ll expect it.”

I nod as I consider our options. “We need to outmaneuver her. Hit her where she least expects it.”

The sunlight skims Reeve’s features as he taps a spot on the map. “We should attack her in The Whispering Woods. They’re dense enough to conceal our forces.”

Jude is silent for several moments before speaking. “Those woods have swallowed armies whole. But if we navigate them—”

“—we can flank her,” I say. “And cut off her supply lines and force her hand.”

A rare smile pulls at Reeve’s mouth. “Grandfather used to call that move a hawk circling unsuspecting doves.”

“Exactly.” I straighten as the plan takes shape in my mind. “We will split our forces. Reeve, you take the main contingent through the woods. Jude, you lead a decoy force along the riverbank and make enough noise to draw her scouts.”

A slow smirk spreads across Jude’s mouth. “I’ve always fancied myself a distraction.”

“At least you excel at something.” Reeve’s lips quirk into another rare smile. “Though, being loud and obnoxious isn’t much of a skill.”

“Says the man who lurks in shadows.” Jude leans back in his chair and crosses his arms. “When’s the last time you actually saw sunlight, brother?”

I bite back a smile as Reeve’s eyes narrow.

“Some of us prefer strategy over strutting around like a peacock in heat,” he says.

“Strutting?” Jude clutches his chest in mock offense. “I’ll have you know the ladies love the way I walk.”

I lean back in my chair, watching my brothers’ familiar banter.

“Do they? Or do they hide their laughter every time you walk by?”

“At least I don’t need my magic to get a woman’s attention,” Jude says, propping his boots on the table’s edge.

“No, just your insufferable mouth that never stops moving.”

“My mouth is one of my finest features.” Jude grins. “Along with my—”

“—if you finish that sentence, I will personally ensure you never speak again.”

“Such violence from my own brother.” Humor twinkles in Jude’s eyes as he continues. “And here I thought we were having a pleasant conversation about my many admirable qualities.”

“Your only admirable quality is your ability to annoy everyone within hearing distance.” Reeve glances at me. “Right, Jasce?”

I raise my hands. “Leave me out of this. Last time I took sides, one of you put salt in my wine.”

“That was him,” they say in unison, pointing at each other.

“It was definitely you, Jude.” I tap my fingers against the edge of the table. “You’ve never been able to keep a straight face when lying.”

“Me?” Jude looks between us as he speaks. “I would never waste perfectly good wine with salt. Now, pepper, on the other hand...”

Reeve snorts. “At least you admit to seasoning our brother’s drinks.”

“Only the ones he doesn’t share.” Jude winks at me. “Speaking of sharing, remember when Reeve tried to court Lady Marina and ended up hiding in that tree for three hours?”

“We agreed never to speak of that again,” Reeve says.

“No, you agreed. I made no such promises.” Mischief dances in Jude’s eyes as he continues. “The look on your face when her father’s hounds—”

“—enough.” I spread my hands on the map, though I can’t quite hide my smile. “We need to focus. Asha won’t wait while we reminisce about Reeve’s failed romantic endeavors.”

“Failed?” Reeve scowls at us. “I wasn’t the one who got caught in Lady Natalia’s chambers wearing nothing but—”

“—the war,” I cut in firmly, tapping the map again. “Asha’s forces are moving north. We need to coordinate our attacks precisely if we want to outmaneuver her.”

Jude sobers immediately, boots dropping from the table. “How many men should I take for the diversion?”

“Two hundred, at least.”

He nods. “It will be done.”

“Our timing is crucial,” Reeve says. “If she catches wind of our movement too soon...”

“She won’t.” I study the map as I speak. “We’ll move under the cover of darkness.”

“There’s one problem,” Jude says. “She has Watchers of the Dawn working with her, and they may anticipate this.”

A muscle ticks in my jaw at the mention of the Watchers. They have been a menace to my people for far too long.

“They make things more difficult but not impossible.” I shift my attention to Reeve. “Reeve, select your best navigators. Only those who can move unseen and move out at first light.”

He nods. “I already have a few in mind.”

“Jude, your decoy unit must be convincing.”

He grins. “They won’t know what hit them.”

As they both turn to leave, Reeve pauses at the tent’s entrance. “Jasce,” he says, his voice low. “We’ll stop Asha.”

“I know,” I say, believing in our ability to end this war.

They depart, and I’m left alone with the maps and my thoughts. I trace the route we’ve planned, determination hardening within me.

I stand and move to the tent opening, watching the sunrise paint the sky in shades of crimson. How fitting. The color of blood. Of fire. Of the magic that flows through our veins.

Asha will never stop. She’ll keep pushing, keep destroying, keep tearing apart everything we’ve built. She’s beyond reason, beyond redemption, and her hatred has poisoned her soul so deeply that there’s nothing left of the woman who once loved her sister.

The truth settles heavy in my chest. There’s only one way to end this. One way to ensure peace between our houses.

Asha must die.

It’s not a decision I make lightly. Taking a life never is. But sometimes, to protect many, one must fall.

I return to the map table, my resolve hardening inside me. This ends now. For Annora. For our people. For the future generations who deserve better than endless war and bitter hatred.