Page 94 of Horns of Wicked Ebony (Deathcaller Duet #2)

T he next outpost coiled into the mountainside like a snake ready to strike. Wooden buildings hugged the slope, with the premier seemingly carved from the stone itself. High turrets jutted into the air, providing a view to the wall.

My heart twisted at the sight because it meant one thing: Kiira and Rapp would leave us.

The High Priestess and I rode beside each other, a few paces behind Rokath and his Hadvezér.

Grem and Zeec barked and bounded forward, icy flakes clinging to their long fur as they buried themselves in the snow.

More sprayed as they leaped and bounded through it, snapping at the air.

Kiira and I shared a laugh at their antics. At least someone was happy to be here.

“I’m going to miss you so much,” I told her, sorrow sliding between my ribs.

Kiira swayed in her saddle for a moment before responding. “Me too. But we’ll be reunited soon.” Somehow, she didn’t sound convinced.

Worry twisted my gut. “Your vision says so. ”

She nodded, eyes still trained ahead as if she were searching for something. “Nothing has changed. I haven’t seen anything else since then, so it is still set in stone. Of course, if I have a new one, I’ll let you know immediately.”

Rokath and Rapp steered their horses downhill, and we followed, leaning back and letting our horses pick their footing. The hounds were nowhere to be found, but a trail in the thick power told me which way they’d gone.

“I still can’t believe so many mates were waiting for each other,” I commented once we straightened out again.

“Truly a blessing from the Fates. Much like your bond. The populace craves more of the two of you, according to Xannirin’s latest raven. I’ll have to write about your latest exploits before we go.”

Heat scorched my cheeks. As much as I’d become the face of this revolution to the army, something about millions of others knowing so much about my life felt foreign, like a splinter wedged beneath my skin.

“The whole army seems to believe in it now too.” My attention drifted behind me.

The Deathveiled rode closest to us, and Zurronar shot me a wink.

Banand was in the prisoner’s wagon some distance back.

The two were basically inseparable, which was understandable given everything they’d endured together.

It mirrored what Kiira and I had forged in Fured, which made the coming goodbye ache like a broken bone.

The clouds parted overhead, making the snow on the trees glitter. More powder slid off the roof of the buildings as a group of males emerged. Rapp and Rokath were nearly to the center of the outpost already. The soldiers fell to one knee and rested their foreheads on their arms in veneration.

“Halálhívó, we’ve prepared space for you and the rest of those joining us. The second accommodation downhill is also in working order,” the leader explained. I noted his rank as Vezet?, though he wore red armor instead of the typical leather—one of Xannirin’s guards.

So it was true, the Kral had sent the aid he promised.

“At ease, soldiers,” Rokath rumbled. He and Rapp slid from their horses, and the guards rose.

Kiira and I came to a stop behind them. With easy grace, we dismounted. Another male approached, taking our reins and leading our horses away.

“If you’d like, I can give you a tour. We’ve spent a few weeks renovating it, since it wasn’t in the best shape when we arrived,” the Vezet? explained.

“Lead the way,” Rokath instructed with a sweep of his hand.

As we stepped inside, I glanced over my shoulder, finding the wagons and soldiers spilling into the valley. Harnessed horses dragged massive tree limbs through the snow, clearing space for supplies and tents. The Parancsok leaped into action, directing the movement like puppeteers.

“How long has it been since you were here, Halálhívó?” the male asked as we stamped our boots on a mat in the center of what appeared to be a weapons storeroom.

“Decades,” he replied.

Much like where we’d stayed near Kohszak, the majority of the building was rows of bunks stacked three high and communal washrooms. The changes, he noted, were that each floor was now designated by sex rather than by unit.

The first level was for the females, and the bathing chamber had been cleaned so thoroughly it gleamed as sunlight spilled over the stone.

“We built additional chamber pots here for privacy.”

Kiira and I shared a look. Whether it was this Vezet?’s idea or Xannirin’s, it mattered not. The females were being shown they mattered.

“That was very thoughtful. We thank you,” Kiira praised, her tone all warm honey. The male blushed and averted his gaze. I resisted the urge to snort. She had that effect on people.

“If you’ll follow me, I’ll take you to your accommodations.”

Up three flights of stairs, we found ourselves on a floor with several rooms hugging each wall. They all had doors that closed and locked. At the end was a meeting space, complete with map, albeit a worn and disused one, and a small planning table.

“The dining hall has been moved to the first floor, adjacent to the weapons storage, where there’s more room to host everyone,” he finished.

“Ensure lunch is served soon,” Rokath instructed, tugging on the tips of his gloves as he surveyed the space.

“Yes, sir,” he replied, scurrying away and leaving the four of us alone.

“So this is home now?” I asked, striding toward the windows.

The view was striking, with the valley spreading out below.

The second building, I noted, was some distance away.

Groups were already striding in and out of it, unloading the wagons.

Banand and Zurronar were helping the group of captive Angels from one of them.

My eyes narrowed on the former as he held the hands of the turquoise-eyed female, Araquiel, as she leaped to the ground.

Their gazes met for the briefest of moments before Araquiel ripped them apart.

Banand’s expression was pained before he smoothed it away.

He’d already admitted to having some affection toward her, but this looked different…

Grem and Zeec burst from between some wagons, tongues lolling and tails wagging. They circled the Angels, teeth flashing as they yipped. Some of the prisoners paid them no mind. Others shrank back.

Our bond tightened as Rokath approached. My body hummed from his presence, and I took a step closer to him. His attention drifted down to the Demons working below us. “We need more Angels for you to impersonate.”

Along the way, we’d picked up a handful of Bassi—the Angel equivalent of a Vezet?.

But it wasn’t enough to sway a swath, not like it had been when I’d used the form of the Myrza.

According to the new captives, word of his betrayal had spread like a plague.

Furious officers spent hours planning his demise before he could wreak further damage on morale and belief. The irony nearly made me laugh.

“We need to speak with Banand too,” I insisted, clocking the way his hand hovered near Araquiel’s lower back as he escorted her inside.

“Why?” Rokath murmured, bracing his forearm on the window and following my attention to the pair.

I hated that I understood the leverage of love.

Of affection. Hated that I was considering using it.

But if it meant that my friends would survive—the Demon race would survive—I’d use it.

War was a game. The weak played it safe and clean.

What I had to say could fall off the edge of the blade in one of two ways—glory or treason.

I hoped it wouldn’t be the latter. “His affections for Araquiel seem to have deepened these past months. I wonder if we can turn her to our advantage.”

A growl vibrated deep in Rokath’s chest. “Now you’re really starting to think like a leader.”

I preened under that praise. “He and Zurronar have been helpful since they joined the raids with us too.”

“Aye, they have,” Rokath agreed. “After our meal and offering, we’ll grab them and bring them here.”

“What for?” Rapp asked, joining us in surveying the scene. Kiira was nowhere to be found.

Rokath gestured to where the two were corralling the Angels inside the barracks. “See if they can convince our prisoners to assist us. ”

A wide grin split Rapp’s face. “That’s brilliant, Rokath.”

“It was all Assyria,” he told his Hadvezér. Pride etched his expression as his regard settled over me.

Rapp raised a brow, the studs above them catching in the midday light. “I’m impressed.” Then, he backhanded Rokath in the stomach. “I told you she was smart and would be useful to us all along.”

Rokath grumbled something under his breath, eliciting a bark of laughter from Rapp.

“Are you ever going to promote them?” I questioned, gesturing to Banand and Zurronar. Both had powerful magic, and after all, we were missing several Parancsok after the massive loss when Rokath chose me over his soldiers.

“I don’t see why not. Now is as good of a time as any,” Rapp shrugged, leaning his shoulder against the polished glass.

“Technically, we replaced them when we thought they were both dead. So they were officers before. Though Zurronar was only a Vezet?,” Rokath pointed out.

“We have plenty of empty slots to fill,” Rapp countered. “Just because they aren’t now doesn’t mean they can’t be placed where they should be. From Trol’s accounts, both stepped up the moment they were well enough to do so after their rescue.”

My mate was silent for a long moment. His brows pinched ever so slightly, his mind working over all the possibilities and probabilities. “We’ll offer them a chance to earn new titles after we speak with them. See if they want the challenge.”

I rolled my eyes. Rokath very much believed in proving value, and if either could turn the Angels to our side, they certainly would have earned their title of Parancsok.

“I need a nap before lunch. Too many early mornings after too many late nights.” Rapp yawned, the motion nearly unhinging his jaw .

A weariness tugged at me too. “I can’t object to that. Besides, if we’re going to go out again tonight,” I looked at my mate, nodded in confirmation, “then I definitely need some sleep to replenish my magic.”

“Let’s go then. They’ll fetch us when it’s time to eat,” Rokath said. When he pivoted to exit the room he commented, “I see Kiira is already a step ahead of us.”

Rapp chuckled as we reentered the small officer’s floor. “Aye. She knows we’ll have a long ride ahead of us the day after tomorrow.”

Rokath halted, his boots squeaking against the newly-cleaned floor. My breath caught in my chest.

“She’s going with you?” His tone was far more measured than I thought him capable with the riot of emotions burning up our bond.

Rapp realized the error of his words a moment later.

Kiira hadn’t wanted him to say anything to Rokath until the moment they were about to leave.

True to my word, I hadn’t revealed a whisper of their budding relationship to my mate.

Though Kiira hadn’t exactly been forthcoming either, so I couldn’t comment on anything more than their shared affections.

“What, you don’t think I’m capable of protecting her?” Rapp said, a hint of challenge in his tone that contrasted his neutral posture.

“After what happened to her?” Rokath ground out. “The only one who can protect her is me.” His nails dug into his palms.

Rapp scoffed. “And yet, you weren’t the one who ripped Ollmund Varrir’s balls off.”

Rokath took a menacing step toward his Hadvezér. “Neither were you.”

Rapp’s eyes flashed, and his lips curled back from his teeth.

I darted between the two, placing my hand on my mate. “ We’re all tired. Let’s talk about this later?” I tightened my grip to get his attention, and he tore it to me.

“Fine,” he said through gritted teeth. Glaring up at him, I shoved him in the direction of the largest room, leaving Rapp standing in the middle of the hall.

I hoped he’d go to a different room than the one Kiira had snuck into.

Their being alone in the same room would only further my mate’s discontent.

I shut the door behind us and locked it as an added deterrent.

Rokath’s jaw ticked, and his movements jerked as he stripped out of his armor.

The moment his chest was bare, I shoved my finger into it.

“You are an asshole. Kiira does not need to be coddled just because some spineless noble took from her what she did not want to give. You never treated me any differently because of it, so don’t do that to her. ”

Rokath caught my wrist and tugged me into his embrace. With his other hand, he threaded his fingers through the hair at the nape of my neck. Pinned in place, he forced me to look deep into his eyes. “I will protect the people I love. No matter the cost.”

“That includes Rapp,” I pointed out.

He looked away, nostrils flaring.

“He will protect her too. They spend all their time together. He wrote to her more frequently than you did while we were marching to Lutsk. I think you can trust him not to let anything happen to her.” The last words slipped out as little more than a whisper as I sensed him starting to calm.

“I know,” he said, blowing out a long breath. “I just feel so guilty. I’ve spent so much time away, fighting. I had no idea so much was crumbling between Xannirin, Kiira, and me. Yet I was the only one who could safeguard us. Still am, really.”

He walked us to the bed. The mattress sank beneath his bulk. I climbed into his lap, straddling his hips, and walked my fingers to his temples. A small groan escaped him as I massaged the tight muscles there.

“You have me to support you now. You’re not fighting alone.”

“Out of the three of us, only my magic serves a purpose on the battlefield,” he murmured. “So it was always my responsibility to fight.”

“You’ve given so much. To everyone. Whether they see it or not.” I moved lower, finding the tension in his jaw.

“What matters is that you see me, mate.” Our eyes locked, and all barriers between us fell, leaving only one raw emotion burning between us—love.

“I do. I see you, Rokath.” Cupping his face, I pressed my lips to his. “Now hold me while we sleep. Because I also know that is what helps you rest more than anything else.”

He offered me a rare smile. “My insomnia is no match for you, little imposter. Much like everything else, you fight it with fire and leave ashes in your wake.”

“Don’t forget that,” I teased as I wriggled off him and stripped out of my clothes.

When we were both bare, he flung back the rough blankets.

We curled together beneath them. I didn’t merely want to sleep beside him.

I wanted to sear the shape of his body into my memory.

Sink to darkness together, where we both belonged.

Where we both could drop our masks and just be .