Page 25

There’s so much venom, hatred, and sorrow in each word she speaks. Each one’s a deep punch in my gut. She’s right that the king rules cruelly, but I can’t say that… nor can my men. We’re his to command and control, despite our reservations.

Virgil pushes ahead of me, bending down, eye-level with a weeping Maeva. He removes his helmet, holding a hand out to her. Maeva flinches, as if she expects him to hit her. “I’m not going to hurt you,” he whispers, placing his hand on his own knee.

What is he doing?

In all the years I’ve trained with Virgil, I’ve never seen him so tender or soft-spoken. Yet, he is kneeling in front of her, trying to understand her. Perhaps it’s because Maeva is in distress. Maybe he sees himself in her—alone and defenseless. She wipes her face with the back of her hand .

I fully expect Maeva to make some snarky comment, or even spit in his face. To my surprise, she doesn’t attack or push away. She just stares at him, almost dazed.

“The captain killed your family, didn’t he?” Virgil asks.

“Yes,” she whispers. “Along with others. The Cales took me in as an orphan and adopted me when I had no one else. They are— were— kind people, and he snuffed them out for a crime they didn’t commit.”

“Is it correct that they didn’t know of your ability?” he asks.

She shakes her head. “I didn’t even know,” she replies.

My brows furrow. “How could you not know?” I ask, not believing that she didn’t have an inkling of such an ability. She looks at me before averting her gaze to the floor.

She doesn’t utter a word.

I suppose she doesn’t want to answer my questions.

A part of me wants to remind her of who I am, but Laisren speaks before I can.

“Is that why you killed him so brutally and left his body?” he asks.

Maeva smirks. “What happened to him is what that coward deserved, but I didn’t kill him. I just left him to rot,” she replies with such vitriol. Her words are chilling, but her answers leave me with more questions.

Where is her signet tattoo?

How could she not know of her ability?

How did the captain come to discover it?

Then my eyes focus on the pendant around her neck, my jaw clenching. “Where did you get the Dragon’s Flame pendant?” I ask, needing to confirm that she is in fact the wielder the king has sought after for so long.

She remains silent while absently reaching for it.

“Did you steal it?” I ask.

My question makes her feral eyes look up to meet mine. “No, I didn’t. I have always had it as long as I can remember,” she says.

“As long as you can remember?” Laisren asks .

“Yes, I don’t remember any details of my life before the last ten years,” she replies.

Well, that’s interesting.

“The first memory I have is wandering the streets here at fifteen,” she continues. “I was cold and homeless. The Cales saw me and took me in. They’re all I’ve known these past ten years. So, I don’t know whether I’m a thief. I have no recollection, even though I’ve tried to remember.”

“I see,” Laisren replies.

I’m nearly speechless. Her story is getting more interesting by the minute.

Is it possible that she truly doesn’t remember?

Is she trying to paint herself as someone non-threatening?

I know I won’t get those answers tonight.

We need to rest and prepare for our journey back tomorrow with Maeva in tow.

Now, I just need to find out whether she’ll come willingly, or if I’ll have to force her to join us.

Without any reason to stay, perhaps it’ll be an easy extraction.

“Well,” she says, pulling me from my thoughts. She holds out her arms, looking at us expectantly. “Go on. Let’s get this over with.”

The Cadre and I exchange looks, unsure of what she’s referring to.

Does she already know why we’re here? If so, who told her?

When none of us immediately reply, she speaks up again.

“Aren’t you here to execute me?” she asks.

“Isn’t that the punishment for killing some of the king’s most esteemed soldiers? That’s why you’re here, isn’t it?”

This woman has no filter.

“No, Miss Cale,” Laisren says, removing his helmet. “We’re not here to kill you. We’re here to escort you.”

Her eyes widen as she drops her arms to her sides . “E-escort me?” she asks.

“That’s right,” I say. “King Tiernan has requested that you be brought to the palace in northern Malvoria,”

“Why?” she asks meekly.

“The fact that you’re wearing the Dragon’s Flame is enough to pique the interest of His Majesty,” Laisren answers.

She chews on her bottom lip, obviously thinking .

“And if I refuse to go with you?” she asks.

“You’re coming with us, even if I have to throw you over my shoulder kicking and screaming,” I growl.

Her eyes blaze with such venom that I’m sure she’s thinking of the thousands of ways she could kill me.

“I’d like to see you try,” she sneers.

She has a death wish too, apparently.

“What he means to say,” Virgil interjects, “is that we’d gladly let you stay here to grieve, but our job is to retrieve you. I promise no harm will come to you by our hands, as long as you willingly choose to accompany us.”

Her fiery gaze lands on him, and I don’t envy him at this moment. For such a small thing, she seems to be quite feral.

“We’re staying at the inn tonight,” Virgil continues, ignoring her glare.

“You’ll be given your own room, with fresh clothes, and a bath.

We’ll rotate watches at your door. Then we’ll head to the palace at first light.

Our job is to keep you safe on this journey.

I promise on Siorai’s reign that we’ll protect you. ”

What is it about her that makes him want to open his mouth and talk?

Truly, I have never heard him speak so much.

“Fine. There is nothing left for me here, and I suppose a bath wouldn’t be so bad,” she replies, rising from the floor.

“Now you’re seeing reason,” says Riordan, also removing his helmet. He holds out a hand to her, grinning brightly. “No offense, but you smell like a kelpie’s breath on a good day.”

“How would you know what a kelpie’s breath smells like?” Laisren retorts.

“I can’t reveal all my secrets, Laisy,” he jokes.

Despite her sadness that rolls off in waves, the tiniest smile lifts the corners of her mouth. It’s so brief that if I wasn’t looking at her, I would’ve missed it. I also don’t miss how Riordan doesn’t release her hand right away. I count to five before he finally does— five seconds too long .

My chest tightens, and I contemplate cutting off Riordan’s appendages myself.

My shadows stir restlessly, hoping I’ll do exactly what I’m thinking.

He shouldn’t have touched her. None of them should’ve touched her.

Yet, something in me wishes it’d been me to offer a hand first. I’m familiar with anger, disappointment, hatred, or even fear, but not whatever this is.

Well, there is only one logical conclusion… She’s bewitching us. I’ve never wanted to hurt a member of my cadre before, yet here I am contemplating murder just because Riordan made her smile.

She grins lightly as she listens to Laisren and Riordan bickering. Well, that is until she looks at me, and the small glimpse of amusement melts away. Her eyes cut me with a stare so cold I’m sure I’d feel warmer in the snowy Galrosan woods right now.

“Lead the way, High General,” she sneers.

Siorai, help me.

This woman will be the death of me.