Chapter 38
The two of them talked long into84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQVDWy5znY
the night. Vander had let her do most of it since it seemed she had a lot she84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIE2hKQMDGY
wanted to tell him. She talked about her childhood growing up as the third84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyv5H3ctnjW
eldest daughter of the Bricen royal family. Despite Kiara being a twin, she was84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQcScmcEmY
the youngest of the two and wouldn’t gain the throne despite many of the nobles84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6Uqcfx2Am
wanting her to succeed their father when it became time. Since she had been the84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJ3QWmDyxx
third child, there was nothing she could do other than becoming a guard or a84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTV90ErCFa3
priestess of Atza.
When she had just become a84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9h4UIagiF
teenager, she was praying when she was enveloped in a pillar of fire. That was84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCGLNeBBxn
the first time she heard Atza’s voice proclaiming her the chosen, gifting her a84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNC1aLX1n4
shard. Contrary to what Eluvia does, everyone knows who has the shard and they84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeNAyv7ei7
are treated like royalty. They are also free to choose their own path so once84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnl0oqA5bX
she discovered she was meant to be partnered with someone from Eluvia, her84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6LZ8dAQnj
father had given her permission to go with Eliza to fulfill the peace treaty.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6J2JgGS9W
She had been nervous upon reaching Eluvia because she didn’t know what kind of84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIYRZytSr0
person her mate would have been. As she grew closer to the city, the feeling84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgdbXGmb8a
became stronger. She could sense him, the kind of person he was. He was lost,84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaN9VBL2W0U
unsure of himself, and she knew then that he would need her, for as long as84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJP8fznLvA
possible.
She also talked a lot about her84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrooMfijFO
interests. She enjoyed fighting for sure, but she also had fun just taking84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xHnUYf445
walks through nature. There weren’t many forests in Bricen, but she would love84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajNL3JdtKC
to go exploring with him if given the opportunity. She also enjoys swimming but84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIW4T4tqeIt
had never been to the ocean. She made him promise to take her once all of this84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVGtL9k9y5
was over, so he agreed. He also needed a break to unwind from everything.
He told her a little bit about84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDFEz0KJLo
himself as well. He had never known his parents. He was raised by his84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnomhvTm4te
grandfather who never spoke much about them and likely never would. It was a84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxa26mNe1iC
wound too painful to open, so Vander never pried. The people who invited them84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6giOLjj31Y
into her home were Malcolm and his wife. He and Cuvera had grown up like84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WBZf5f3QN
brothers. They did everything together and were inseparable until he had to84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzA7KXsciCS
learn how to be a King and Vander, a Blade. However, they had vowed to be there84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xtk780MDS
for each other, no matter what.
He had received his shard when he84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuF5YKyC2jX
was a Blade trainee. He explained to her the story that he told Kiara; however,84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3epV6u8HDt
he hadn’t mentioned the tooth had taken as a souvenir before, but he didn’t84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYuSpuqPyV
want to keep anything from Eliza. He kept it as a reminder of the life he had84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIuI6MD9Qv
taken. It had been his first kill and despite doing it to save his comrades, he84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJyNsAzSOU
still felt bad about it. Shea had been too young to remember it, but she84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLDwyYAw6r
accepted her friend’s reasoning. Her mother had asked him to take care of her84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyc7BYGUHAw
child, so he had. So, it was also a reminder of the promise he made.
After all the talking, his eyes84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTRL8UCvbi
were growing heavy. He had fallen asleep while she continued. He found himself84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimKHAcAae9
slipping off and soon, it all went black.
When he awakened, he found himself84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8HCrdi8db
drooling into her shoulder. Her head was lying on top of his. He could hear her84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNiCK7iVw7
snoring in his ear. He carefully removed his head from under hers, but the84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wOsyesd9N
sudden movement caused her to fall over, so her head was resting upon his lap.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbe3vdC8fa
He couldn’t resist the urge to stroke her hair. It must have felt good because84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVus6R8oOl
she moaned into his lap then shifted to give him more access. He smiled looking84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8h4xstdZr
down at her. She looked so adorable sleeping that he had to resist the urge to84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwTE56ki1I
pinch her cheeks.
After a half hour, her eyes84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZoRCuF47t
fluttered open. She looked up at him with a small smile on her face. “Good84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgwNMoCvpZ
morning.” She whispered.
“Good morning.” He smiled down at84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDI4uugr8g7
her. She sat up, rubbing her eyes while she yawned.
“Despite the terrible84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFR8dRwxyZE
arrangements, I slept quite well.” She beamed. “I hope you slept well too.”
“I’ll sleep even better once I’m84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEasNy4ilUc
back in my own room.” He stretched, thankful to be removing the knots from his84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52cUFCOEmu
back.
“Hopefully that will be soon.”
“I wouldn’t count on it.” Vander84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHgWiQK5dA
and Eliza jumped to their feet as a voice spoke up from the corner of the cell.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkU1iBoHAPV
A fully cloaked figure stepped out from the shadows holding an unconscious84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODPRuDizIq
woman over her shoulder. Vander recognized her as Kiara.
“Let her go!” Eliza charged Fang,84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHPyAZ34F4
but the assassin sidestepped then brought her hand down on the back of the84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhX3Vt2DHA
woman’s neck. Eliza’s eyes rolled towards the back of her head before falling84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLpq1mM1w4
unconscious. Before Vander could attack them, Fang dropped a small ball which84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCF6FTlqkT1
exploded black smoke all over the cell.
“Come find me in the village84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdJ9ZevyxR
called Woodsedge.” The voice echoed through the small room. “We will settle84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvmefd11BV
this there, Shard of Unna.” The last thing Vander saw before passing out was84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfwSZE8rUm
Fang scooping up Eliza then disappearing into the shadows.
…
Someone slapped Vander awake. His84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDOVe9aV5X
eyes fluttered open as he jumped to his feet. He was still inside his cell, but84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCto0hBEw5U
he could feel Eliza anywhere. He turned around to see Cuvera standing there84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RJyoSFl6j
with a panicked expression on his face.
“Where is Kiara?” Cuvera shouted.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXRDHWh99l
“What happened?”
“Woodsedge.” Vander gasped out.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfvNhJWgXX
“Fang came in here, stepped out from the shadows, with Kiara on her back. She84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5P9QhjtT7
took Eliza as well before knocking me unconscious.”
“How did she get in?” Cuvera84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoLVIsSEhJ
demanded. “How did she get past you?”
“I don’t know, Cuvera.” He84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpguIne2ayU
explained. “Once minute Eliza and I were talking, then Fang came out from84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡID3Erzwhu3
inside that corner. It all happened so fast; I could even react.”
“Well, we know where they are.”84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLcGzyDknh
Cuvera left the cell leaving the door unlocked. “Let’s go get them back.”
“Cuvera no.” Vander shook his84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLNCTs20WW
head. “You are too important to risk on the front lines. Let me go.”
“I will send the army.” Cuvera84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnLoRLf1jW
growled. “I will burn that damned village to the ground to get them back.”
“Send me.” Vander said. “I can get84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVACPqDOzj
there and bring them out safely. Let me make this up to you. Let me get them84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tn5r2y1ym
back.”
“You just returned to me Vander; I84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyLXarH9V8
can’t ask you to put yourself at risk again.” But Vander was adamant, he84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzLxIXUUUR
wouldn’t be swayed. Seeing the determination in his friend’s eyes, Cuvera84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRChF9SpcB
relented, but he wouldn’t send Vander out alone. He instructed the guards to84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLkGYeje4I
get Vander’s squad back, Alexander included. Since he had done nothing wrong,84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kr21AU46S
he was safe. He instructed Vander to head to his room and get changed while he84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpgpHKQDWs
made the necessary preparations. If anyone from the council got in his way, he84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejACUCPbvg
would deal with them. No one would get in Vander’s way to get their women back.
Vander rushed up the steps, past84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWN3m0CKrSd
the guards, who didn’t even make a move to recapture him. Once he got to his84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKSDfVO3Gh
room, he was tackled by Shea. He hadn’t been expecting her, so he fell to the84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOxQz7l5R3
ground with her teeth a hairsbreadth away from his throat. She was pissed, and84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGm1ONmKvgW
rightfully so, but she would have her chance to vent her frustrations once84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FA06ewBYj
Eliza and Kiara were safe and sound.
He quickly got dressed then84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUA6YBLQDO
reached for the sword that had been his partner for almost five years. It felt84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0rAUn76NT
good having it back within his grasp and he knew that the next time someone84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpQ8uXZ7wi
took it from him would be over his dead body. He threw on a forest green cloak84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJM5Qtn70L
over his uniform then headed outside where he knew the others would be waiting.
Alex and the trainees were waiting84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUrW3C4heE
with grim faces on the front lawn. Cuvera was with them issuing orders when84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJPYJH57cm
Vander arrived. It looked as though Cuvera worked fast at giving them horses84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogUmJvv2el
and supplies, but they would be traveling lightly. The journey would take them84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGofXkQMEFf
a day at the most, but the longer they took the more danger the two of them84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3nzJ4Rxcxb
would be in. They would have to go quick, but pace themselves so they weren’t84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23FCGBYBu4
exhausted fighting.
“Tell me again why we aren’t84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkMOCOxh2F
sending more soldiers with us?” Forest asked. “We won’t be enough to take on84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnvLRxZQ9i
the entire group, no matter how strong Vander and Alexander are.”
“It will take time to mobilize84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOOOY7slDO
them.” Vander interrupted. “They will be a day behind us, we just have to hold84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PRozTUKKv
out until then.”
“It’s good to see you, Captain.”84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡak7YeadKXy
Rooster nodded. “I wish it was under better circumstances.”
“We can discuss all that later.”84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUF3EUvSSm5
Vander said. “Cuvera, I will bring her back, I promise.”
“I know you will.” Cuvera gave him84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2LznDU4zS
a strained smile. “If you do, I will make sure you are pardoned for whatever84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bw3soKZV2
crimes Peyton claims you did. I know that the assassin couldn’t have gotten in84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXw6OllSfW
without help, so I will have people investigate Peyton’s whereabouts while you84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7eD9H1EjUY
are gone.”
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“Alright, let’s go then.” Vander84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6q3H0icn9B
grabbed the reins of his horse then hauled himself onto its back. “We have a84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wENPhdYHF
queen and princess to save.”
