Page 35 of Love of the Bladed Dove (Drakaren #1)

Chapter sixteen

Layla.

H ours dragged by as Layla sat slumped against a tree, betrayal and heartache an inferno in her chest as the morning quickly crept in.

After those moments with Theron, she'd allowed herself to foolishly hope.

She had believed, just for a moment, that maybe she was no longer just a prisoner.

But that fragile illusion was now shattered.

Theron had chosen his mother, chosen war, chosen revenge… over her.

She stared bitterly around the forest at the Antonin warriors preparing to invade her home.

The thrill of bloodlust was nearly tangible in the air, rippling off their armored bodies like heat waves.

Even Sparrow, always so composed, practically vibrated with anticipation beside her.

She hated the calm before the storm. Hated being made to watch her world slip from her fingers while she sat like a caged animal.

She had spent hours running through every desperate plan she could conceive: take out the warriors closest to her, somehow slip inside the castle undetected, bypass both Antonins and Bartorians, find her family, and escape with them into the city—back to her own soldiers.

But each plan crumbled faster than it formed.

She sighed, her head thudding against the bark behind her.

She was trapped. And they were all going to die.

The Antonin warriors began dispersing, slipping into their assigned routes like ghosts in the trees. Layla’s stomach twisted as she imagined the slaughter to come. That was when Kain appeared, stepping casually in front of her and Sparrow, like he hadn’t just been preparing for war.

“Change of plans,” Kain said, voice low. “You're leading my group into the castle. I'm staying with our little captive.” Layla’s eyes narrowed. Her heart rate spiked. What is he doing?

Sparrow blinked, his hand still resting on his blade. “I don’t believe you.”

Kain just shrugged, totally unbothered. “Well, Theron wouldn’t say this out loud but ” he leaned in slightly, “I’m kind of the better shot from a distance.

You two are all about that up-close-and-personal thing.

I interpreted this with his grunts, of course, but it's what his soul was saying.” Layla almost rolled her eyes.

Even now, Kain couldn’t resist being a smug ass.

Sparrow, however, remained stone-faced. “He’d be pissed if this plan went to shit because I trusted you.”

Kain shrugged. “That’s between you and his soul, friend.

Now go kill some bad guys.” He gave Sparrow a casual salute, the smirk never leaving his face.

Sparrow lingered a moment longer, eyes flicking between Layla and Kain, before finally nodding and jogging off into the woods.

Kain turned to her then, and the grin he wore wasn’t teasing anymore—it was determined.

“Come on, Little Dove. Let’s go save your family.”

Layla’s heart leapt. “You’re helping me?!” she asked, breath catching. “…Why?”

He turned back to her with a slight groan, clearly annoyed. “Because unlike my brother, I don’t feel compelled to follow every command like it’s divine scripture.”

“But Theron…” Her voice faltered. “Did he send you?”

A pause. Kain’s expression shifted—something almost gentle in his voice.

“He couldn’t say it. Not in front of them.

But he knew I’d do what needed to be done.

” A weight settled in her chest. Theron hadn’t blindly followed.

He hadn’t bowed to the bloodshed of her family.

When it mattered most, he’d chosen what was right. He’d chosen her.

Layla nodded before quickly following Kain into the thick of the forest. They approached the southern cliffside entrance just behind a group of Antonin warriors scaling the rocks.

Blending in, Layla and Kain moved swiftly, unnoticed amid the chaos.

Making the treacherous climb in stealth with all of the others.

When they reached the secret door, Kain leaned in, his breath barely a whisper.

“Once inside, you lead. I’ve got your back.” Layla simply nodded in response.

They slipped into the castle. The roar of steel on steel rang out around them, Antonins clashing with Bartorian guards.

The battle had already underway. Layla kept her focus.

Long corridor. Ballroom balcony. Through the garden.

Southeast wing—dungeons. She repeated the route like a mantra, grounding herself in the plan.

Her grip tightened on her blades just as a Bartorian appeared in front of them.

Kain's arrow hit him before Layla could even raise her arm. They kept moving.

Another hall—more blood. Layla flung a blade into the skull of a Bartorian who had pinned an Antonin to the ground. The man gave her a grateful nod and charged back into the fray. They pressed on, slipping behind a pillar near the ballroom balcony.

A warrior sprinted past, bloodied and breathless, catching sight of Kain.

“They pulled the queen back to camp,” he shouted over the chaos.

“Bartorian blade caught her in the gut during the breach. She’s alive, but pissed—won’t stop barking orders from the tree line.

” Layla didn’t slow, but the words struck like a jolt to her spine.

The queen was down. Which meant… Theron was leading now.

Inside these walls. Inside her home. His voice.

His command. She didn’t know what that meant—what he would choose to do with that power.

Only that, impossibly… it gave her hope.

“Gods,” Kain muttered, breathless, “that woman’s made of iron.

” Layla nodded, driving one of her daggers into the side of a Bartorian who lunged from a blackened corridor.

She twisted sharply, yanked it free, and kept moving.

But her gaze lingered on Kain a beat longer.

He didn’t waver. Didn’t let the blow of his mother’s near-death rattle him.

He fought with steady hands, sharp focus—like a soldier bred for chaos. Like a son forged by a queen.

Another enemy rushed them. Kain stepped forward, parried with his sword, and rammed his elbow into the man’s face. Blood splattered. The body dropped. Then he tapped Layla’s shoulder.

“Three ahead,” he whispered. Her breath caught, but she nodded, daggers ready as her focus snapped back into place. Kain leaned out, loosed three arrows in quick succession—thwip, thwip, thwip. Three Bartorians fell.

“Go!” he hissed. Layla darted forward. She was immediately met with a Bartorian guard swinging wide with an axe—she ducked low as she slid past. Slashing her dagger across his thigh as she went. He howled before collapsing behind her.

She vaulted the stair rail, boots landing hard.

Below, she caught an unexpected glimpse and nearly stumbled.

Theron . He was forged fury as his sword carved through the chaos with devastating precision, each movement as fluid as it was lethal.

She hadn’t expected to see him here. Not like this.

Not like some wrathful god made flesh. She nearly stopped to watch, heart stuttering at the sight of him—until Kain grabbed her by the collar and shoved her down the stairwell.

“Live now, gawk later.”

Layla swore under her breath—but immediately obeyed, sprinting into the dark.

Layla’s chest rose and fell as they reached the garden entrance. She paused for a heartbeat—too exposed, but the fastest path. Seeing no one in sight. She inhaled sharply and then they darted into the open garden. Instantly, pain exploded in her shoulder. An arrow. Blood.

“Kain—!” She winced. He immediately threw himself over her, arm wrapped tight around her as they continued their sprint. She felt more than heard two arrows thud into Kain’s back. He stumbled but didn’t stop. Before she could truly react, he squeezed her tighter, yanking her on.

"Keep going! Don't slow down!" Kain yelled with an edge of pain in his voice.

Layla abided, not slowing down until they ran behind an archway near the entrance to the dungeons.

Kain's warmth was instantly gone as she heard a loud groan.

She spun around to check on him while they were momentarily safe from the aerial assault.

He was leaning his shoulder against a wall.

Two arrows sticking out of his back. Layla gasped in horror.

Her face must have shown her concern because Kain looked at her with a pained smile.

"I'm okay, Little Dove. But if I'm going to be of any help to you, I will need you to pull these out," Kain sarcastically quipped. She couldn’t believe he was joking around at a time like this!

"You want me to take them out?! Now!?" Layla exasperatedly responded. Thoroughly alarmed by the request.

"Just do it quick, Little Dove. We don't have time for this.

" He retorted. Still acting as though it wasn't a big deal.

Layla reluctantly nodded her head and stepped forward.

She slowly reached her tremoring hand for the first arrow that had pierced just below his right shoulder blade.

As her fingers wrapped around the shaft, Kain let out a small groan of pain .

"Just pull it!" Kain snapped with biting humor through gritted teeth.

Layla instantly yanked with all her might, ignoring her own screaming pain from her left shoulder as she did it.

The arrow was dug deep but thankfully came out.

Blood started pouring down his back. She looked around but there was nothing she could cover it with.

Shit, shit, shit! Layla internally panicked.

"Just get the other one, Dove. We need to get going before our friends come down to find us." Kain tossed out dryly.