Page 71

Six Days Later…

Heavy wind and rain beat against our faces as we ride through a torrential downpour.

The thick mist creates a visor, making it impossible to see through as we navigate the Malvorian woods.

For three days and nights, the rain has pelted us without reprieve, and it’s taken quite the toll on our bodies.

Even Danté seems to be weary from the continuous dodging and jumping over unexpected tree roots that appear out of nowhere.

“Perhaps we should find shelter for the evening,” Laisren shouts above the howling wind.

After his cyclothymic tantrum with Maeva in the clearing, it took him almost a day and a half to return to himself.

Once he was fully in charge of all his faculties, he apologized to Maeva for how cruelly he’d treated her.

Of course she accepted it, but has continued to keep her distance from him.

Perhaps that’s for the best until the beast is fully tamed. Laisren might be okay for now, but who knows if the beast is still waiting for a chance to reemerge.

On my opposite side, Riordan holds up an arm to block the rain. “Somewhere warm and dry,” he yells.

“The d-d-dome would be lovely r-r-right about n-now,” Maeva says. Her teeth chatter so violently that the sensation radiates into my body. She’s so pale, and her wavy hair is soaked and limp from the storm.

“Indeed, but it pulls too much from my signet for extended periods of time. I can’t be drained, especially this close to the border,” I reply, restating the same response I’ve already given her for the last three days.

We’re still a four-day ride from the border of Zulgalros, but every step closer makes me on edge.

It’s been years since I’ve crossed it, since my once beloved kingdom changed.

“Ju-just saying it w-w-would be nice,” she grumbles, distracting me from my thoughts.

“Keep your eyes open for shelter,” I command. “The first one that’s acceptable will be where we rest.”

“Yes, High General,” they reply.

Two hours have passed—still no sign of anything that we can use for a suitable shelter.

Many of the small woodland houses that once dwelt along this route are decimated—eliminating them from our line up of possibilities.

Then, I revisited the old peddler’s hovel that’s along the route to Zulgalros, taking the path on the outskirts of the woods and aligning us closer to the cliffs.

However, by the time we arrived, we found it completely destroyed, with only the broken wooden frame left standing.

That was half an hour ago, and we’re no closer to finding shelter.

Exhaustion overwhelms my senses, making it hard to focus on the route now, which is unfortunate since we’re so close to the cliffs—one misstep, and we’ll fall to our deaths.

If we don’t find shelter in the next few minutes, I’ll have no choice but to use my dome to protect us from this deluge.

“Emyr!” Maeva yells. She points at something resembling a large black hole along the side of the cliff just up ahead. “Are my eyes deceiving me, or does that look like a cave?”

I faintly make out the outline of what resembles a cavernous space, and the heaviness in my chest eases.

Siorai, let it be a shelter, I inwardly pray.

“You two go,” I shout to Virgil and Riordan. “Make sure nothing currently occupies it.”

They take off quickly, leaving the rest of us to wait. After a few minutes, Virgil rides back. “The cave is secure,” he yells. “No signs of life or creatures within it, nor is it flooded. It’s acceptable for the evening.”

“Thank Siorai,” Maeva exclaims. Then she yanks Danté’s reins from my hands, urging him into a gallop.

I hold onto her with one arm, while the other grips the slippery saddle. “Rosey, slow down!” I shout.

“I’m drenched to the bone, my stomach is rumbling, and my energy is depleted,” she growls. “No offense to Danté, but I’m chafing from his saddle. I want to be dry, fed, and asleep in the next half hour—or, so help this realm, there’ll be a price to pay.”

“Understood,” I reply, refusing to utter another word lest I endure her wrath.

Upon entering the space, Maeva dismounts Danté with such surprising speed that she face plants into the floor.

However, this doesn’t phase her as she moves toward a small fire in the center of the cavernous space.

The limestone fortress towers above us with a small, blue pond of water on the backend.

It’s dry and mostly quiet, except for the sound of the crackling fire, rain, and Maeva’s sigh of relief.

Reaching into the saddlebag, I retrieve a small treat for Danté. “You’ve done well,” I say. He accepts it delightedly, nuzzling my hand. I pull out the blankets and lantern from the weatherproof portion of the saddlebags. “Time for you to rest, my friend,” I say .

Danté whinnies in response.

Opening my palm, his shadow-form curls up my arm before becoming one with my signet once more.

“How were you able to start a fire with such a storm drenching everything?” Maeva asks Riordan enthusiastically.

“Oh, Mae-Mae,” he chuckles. “Your naivety is so endearing.”

Maeva punches his shoulder, making him laugh harder.

I smirk, taking a seat opposite of them.

The tension in my body releases for the first time in several days, forcing an audible sigh to emerge from my lips.

The weather has presented so many challenges to this journey, but it’s at least allowed me to have more time with Maeva before her assignment is fulfilled.

Maeva rubs her hands together in front of the burning flames. “I apologize for inquiring about such knowledge,” Maeva grumbles.

After letting her stew for a moment, Riordan leans in. “The brush and cut up wood were already here in the cave, Mae-Mae,” he replies.

She observes him as he pulls a small grayish-black rock from his pocket. Her eyes dazzle in amusement.

“What is that?” she asks.

He offers her the piece of flint rock. “This is how I started the fire,” he says. “You strike it a few times for a spark to ignite—well, at least, if you’re really good at it.” His fingers linger over hers for a moment too long. As if dazed, he shakes his head, removing his hand from hers.

She marvels at the rock as if it possesses some hidden truth. “That’s amazing,” she murmurs.

Riordan smiles, leaning over her shoulder. A growl rumbles in the back of my throat, which forces him to scoot away—giving Maeva her space once more.

Good.

Laisren claps me on the back as he joins us, reclining back on one of his elbows. “Settle down, mate,” he whispers. “He’s being friendly.”

“A little too friendly, Laisy,” I say through gritted teeth .

Riordan is quite the ladies’ man, and he’s especially popular amongst them.

Although Riordan has teased Maeva from the beginning, this feels different.

Almost like a taunt to see how far he can tempt me before I rip out his jugular.

However, even I have to admit this behavior is out of character, even for him.

“You know he’s harmless,” he sighs. “He’s still not over Geneva’s rejection, so he covers it up with his playful banter.”

I don’t answer as I watch Maeva speaking quietly and laughing with Riordan.

It’s true that I see the small glimpses of his broken heart in his mannerisms, but why try to snuggle up to Maeva?

As close as I am with my cadre, it makes me wonder what other secrets they conceal from me.

Do they also have private affairs that they wish to keep hidden?

“Emyreus, come here,” the girl’s voice rings out . “I have something to show you.”

“NO,” I cry out.

I rub my throbbing temple. The memories are trying so hard to come back, but I just can’t bring myself to face them— especially not here.

“Are you alright, High General?” Virgil asks. I turn my head, unaware that he walked up. He’s drenched as water drips down his scarred face. I’d been so focused on getting Maeva settled that I hadn’t noticed he hadn’t followed us back in immediately…. Until now.

I square my shoulders. “I’m fine, Fourth Commander,” I reply. “What were you still doing out in the storm?”

“Scouting the perimeter,” he says, not missing a beat.

The Galrosan doesn’t flinch or show any sign of deception.

Granted, we were trained together as teenagers, but Virgil has always been an enigma—never allowing anyone too close.

The bits and pieces of his family’s story finally became known when we were nearly twenty.

Which is why I find his activity as of late to be quite unnerving. What is he hiding? I push him a little further. “I didn’t give you that order,” I say .

For a millisecond, his eyes convey emotion beneath, but he quickly hides it away. “I apologize for assuming incorrectly that you’d want a full perimeter check, High General,” he replies. “I assumed you’d like to ensure Maeva’s full safety.”

“Indeed,” I say through clenched teeth. My fists open and close as I decide if I should punch him across the face for making me look like an arse for not suggesting the order. However, if I punch him, Maeva will be disgusted, and I don’t wish for her to despise me more than she already does.

Laisren clears his throat, cutting the growing tension in the air.

He places a steadying hand on my shoulder.

To others, it appears that Laisren is standing in solidarity with me, but in reality, it’s his signal that I need to cool down.

“Go relax, Virgil,” he says. “We’re all tired and in need of rest before rotating watches for the evening. ”