Chapter 38
The two of them talked long into23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHqn96ayFJ
the night. Vander had let her do most of it since it seemed she had a lot she23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWvu3BoXfK
wanted to tell him. She talked about her childhood growing up as the third23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtfWbTV6ke
eldest daughter of the Bricen royal family. Despite Kiara being a twin, she was23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgBlVD9KIM
the youngest of the two and wouldn’t gain the throne despite many of the nobles23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpiRk8w13u
wanting her to succeed their father when it became time. Since she had been the23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLOsMur3KN
third child, there was nothing she could do other than becoming a guard or a23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXi5cWaUK65
priestess of Atza.
When she had just become a23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEU8kSrHsM0
teenager, she was praying when she was enveloped in a pillar of fire. That was23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWrDwJMfUK
the first time she heard Atza’s voice proclaiming her the chosen, gifting her a23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbWFWxI3Ew
shard. Contrary to what Eluvia does, everyone knows who has the shard and they23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6jdRcl7XT
are treated like royalty. They are also free to choose their own path so once23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRxiDRixU4
she discovered she was meant to be partnered with someone from Eluvia, her23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKA3H6hYuH5
father had given her permission to go with Eliza to fulfill the peace treaty.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRwuW97Gvn
She had been nervous upon reaching Eluvia because she didn’t know what kind of23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCuNaoDGe4
person her mate would have been. As she grew closer to the city, the feeling23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhdZYD3uAE
became stronger. She could sense him, the kind of person he was. He was lost,23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTq80rGI8oy
unsure of himself, and she knew then that he would need her, for as long as23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIK4mZDNDe
possible.
She also talked a lot about her23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8XlUWb1ER
interests. She enjoyed fighting for sure, but she also had fun just taking23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkHKoKzVt7
walks through nature. There weren’t many forests in Bricen, but she would love23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcY3FyomFK
to go exploring with him if given the opportunity. She also enjoys swimming but23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQeAEzcr7tE
had never been to the ocean. She made him promise to take her once all of this23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIhGR5dp6B
was over, so he agreed. He also needed a break to unwind from everything.
He told her a little bit about23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFcTUDQk0d
himself as well. He had never known his parents. He was raised by his23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvigYC9JSQy
grandfather who never spoke much about them and likely never would. It was a23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhLF1jBcyc
wound too painful to open, so Vander never pried. The people who invited them23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZOVgK8dpD
into her home were Malcolm and his wife. He and Cuvera had grown up like23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjXLbS7OhW
brothers. They did everything together and were inseparable until he had to23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKwm4bNqbg
learn how to be a King and Vander, a Blade. However, they had vowed to be there23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzFMocntid
for each other, no matter what.
He had received his shard when he23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvBevpDNJD
was a Blade trainee. He explained to her the story that he told Kiara; however,23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLellD1ey97
he hadn’t mentioned the tooth had taken as a souvenir before, but he didn’t23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xYwpjDtB6
want to keep anything from Eliza. He kept it as a reminder of the life he had23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFX10v14Zz
taken. It had been his first kill and despite doing it to save his comrades, he23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5mN7iLeNy
still felt bad about it. Shea had been too young to remember it, but she23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ95NNu0jeL
accepted her friend’s reasoning. Her mother had asked him to take care of her23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlr3kauLQD
child, so he had. So, it was also a reminder of the promise he made.
After all the talking, his eyes23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyaA74XwwA
were growing heavy. He had fallen asleep while she continued. He found himself23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTINbAg7Gn
slipping off and soon, it all went black.
When he awakened, he found himself23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xcLCdjLyL
drooling into her shoulder. Her head was lying on top of his. He could hear her23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUJ2Uzz3oN
snoring in his ear. He carefully removed his head from under hers, but the23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnbMY3t9qU
sudden movement caused her to fall over, so her head was resting upon his lap.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLq049QB6HQ
He couldn’t resist the urge to stroke her hair. It must have felt good because23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuDOPWdu59
she moaned into his lap then shifted to give him more access. He smiled looking23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQujIzcXEG8
down at her. She looked so adorable sleeping that he had to resist the urge to23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiwMB4lQqm
pinch her cheeks.
After a half hour, her eyes23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDmlWw1LSK
fluttered open. She looked up at him with a small smile on her face. “Good23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNQwyc7o3V
morning.” She whispered.
“Good morning.” He smiled down at23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnpwp56AZy
her. She sat up, rubbing her eyes while she yawned.
“Despite the terrible23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvIPGT9L7S
arrangements, I slept quite well.” She beamed. “I hope you slept well too.”
“I’ll sleep even better once I’m23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JLmxtcrrB
back in my own room.” He stretched, thankful to be removing the knots from his23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNS8JtIa9QI
back.
“Hopefully that will be soon.”
“I wouldn’t count on it.” Vander23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHR5omwNDD8
and Eliza jumped to their feet as a voice spoke up from the corner of the cell.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTU0TGXjNgT
A fully cloaked figure stepped out from the shadows holding an unconscious23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQca7NPkBCE
woman over her shoulder. Vander recognized her as Kiara.
“Let her go!” Eliza charged Fang,23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPKlj9heTm
but the assassin sidestepped then brought her hand down on the back of the23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9MXjuQoYG
woman’s neck. Eliza’s eyes rolled towards the back of her head before falling23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Wp8Z1RqdU
unconscious. Before Vander could attack them, Fang dropped a small ball which23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdR7743bgAC
exploded black smoke all over the cell.
“Come find me in the village23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1eQiXRcip
called Woodsedge.” The voice echoed through the small room. “We will settle23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHbYsGfngW
this there, Shard of Unna.” The last thing Vander saw before passing out was23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbbwiGBRU6
Fang scooping up Eliza then disappearing into the shadows.
…
Someone slapped Vander awake. His23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBi0qe6JpnB
eyes fluttered open as he jumped to his feet. He was still inside his cell, but23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLM3I0VlYw
he could feel Eliza anywhere. He turned around to see Cuvera standing there23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpCoWTFQ5r
with a panicked expression on his face.
“Where is Kiara?” Cuvera shouted.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNemcBaXkR
“What happened?”
“Woodsedge.” Vander gasped out.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIs4M3p0wC
“Fang came in here, stepped out from the shadows, with Kiara on her back. She23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhZWH8FT9Q
took Eliza as well before knocking me unconscious.”
“How did she get in?” Cuvera23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigodtn8cek
demanded. “How did she get past you?”
“I don’t know, Cuvera.” He23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxd1wYo6Dt
explained. “Once minute Eliza and I were talking, then Fang came out from23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrsoZ5ghNJ
inside that corner. It all happened so fast; I could even react.”
“Well, we know where they are.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWCNCSnC32
Cuvera left the cell leaving the door unlocked. “Let’s go get them back.”
“Cuvera no.” Vander shook his23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTj0Lhgm0r
head. “You are too important to risk on the front lines. Let me go.”
“I will send the army.” Cuvera23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrgK6wCPru
growled. “I will burn that damned village to the ground to get them back.”
“Send me.” Vander said. “I can get23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttxVvSUZOS
there and bring them out safely. Let me make this up to you. Let me get them23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpYSdrvN6Q
back.”
“You just returned to me Vander; I23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTytQaCnv2v
can’t ask you to put yourself at risk again.” But Vander was adamant, he23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwNQ1lDzgh
wouldn’t be swayed. Seeing the determination in his friend’s eyes, Cuvera23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnm6it0jZdF
relented, but he wouldn’t send Vander out alone. He instructed the guards to23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NVdF8t2Qt
get Vander’s squad back, Alexander included. Since he had done nothing wrong,23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnzMgjbo4n
he was safe. He instructed Vander to head to his room and get changed while he23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7L61naomkc
made the necessary preparations. If anyone from the council got in his way, he23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtL8zYXCOUR
would deal with them. No one would get in Vander’s way to get their women back.
Vander rushed up the steps, past23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPvYWIZnuJ
the guards, who didn’t even make a move to recapture him. Once he got to his23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyv5dfT8lk
room, he was tackled by Shea. He hadn’t been expecting her, so he fell to the23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeA9SLgqtI
ground with her teeth a hairsbreadth away from his throat. She was pissed, and23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEy6zRETfoc
rightfully so, but she would have her chance to vent her frustrations once23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfUdsjYu6O
Eliza and Kiara were safe and sound.
He quickly got dressed then23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhDpNYMpzd
reached for the sword that had been his partner for almost five years. It felt23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvj2DEWeAbk
good having it back within his grasp and he knew that the next time someone23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXEsCss7oB
took it from him would be over his dead body. He threw on a forest green cloak23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMFe0xDU4J
over his uniform then headed outside where he knew the others would be waiting.
Alex and the trainees were waiting23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKg0wyli8e
with grim faces on the front lawn. Cuvera was with them issuing orders when23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIngs1XE6oK
Vander arrived. It looked as though Cuvera worked fast at giving them horses23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5ZwOvPBO0
and supplies, but they would be traveling lightly. The journey would take them23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQrVryOlBO
a day at the most, but the longer they took the more danger the two of them23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUGsCMykRm
would be in. They would have to go quick, but pace themselves so they weren’t23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPsHiRpae8
exhausted fighting.
“Tell me again why we aren’t23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7keoH7QB0
sending more soldiers with us?” Forest asked. “We won’t be enough to take on23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNfUbtt8v8
the entire group, no matter how strong Vander and Alexander are.”
“It will take time to mobilize23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntZ6yaE9g8
them.” Vander interrupted. “They will be a day behind us, we just have to hold23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVlDFKrskB
out until then.”
“It’s good to see you, Captain.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNskWGgD3n
Rooster nodded. “I wish it was under better circumstances.”
“We can discuss all that later.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtIIaJRRx7
Vander said. “Cuvera, I will bring her back, I promise.”
“I know you will.” Cuvera gave him23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Tq5UPXDAx
a strained smile. “If you do, I will make sure you are pardoned for whatever23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKg0dM8Acw
crimes Peyton claims you did. I know that the assassin couldn’t have gotten in23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOAqBN4ZeX
without help, so I will have people investigate Peyton’s whereabouts while you23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uFcThNNUm
are gone.”
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“Alright, let’s go then.” Vander23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHCSX8l1W5
grabbed the reins of his horse then hauled himself onto its back. “We have a23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VXlse8OwI
queen and princess to save.”
