Chapter 38
The two of them talked long into15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpNN1KOA2I
the night. Vander had let her do most of it since it seemed she had a lot she15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxGzN1f3WK
wanted to tell him. She talked about her childhood growing up as the third15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRcgjdjjC3
eldest daughter of the Bricen royal family. Despite Kiara being a twin, she was15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgeIgsFhdh
the youngest of the two and wouldn’t gain the throne despite many of the nobles15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpBfU3FPOv
wanting her to succeed their father when it became time. Since she had been the15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DbesAqAqF
third child, there was nothing she could do other than becoming a guard or a15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxZ3RlV6GP
priestess of Atza.
When she had just become a15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXEQVnaLM4
teenager, she was praying when she was enveloped in a pillar of fire. That was15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCngQt3O102
the first time she heard Atza’s voice proclaiming her the chosen, gifting her a15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmp7U30Pivc
shard. Contrary to what Eluvia does, everyone knows who has the shard and they15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrc9tHH3EFf
are treated like royalty. They are also free to choose their own path so once15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYR0chSFvd
she discovered she was meant to be partnered with someone from Eluvia, her15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMf3mXNXjuL
father had given her permission to go with Eliza to fulfill the peace treaty.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MGBf55XXn
She had been nervous upon reaching Eluvia because she didn’t know what kind of15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8ZQqWh3Gt
person her mate would have been. As she grew closer to the city, the feeling15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwCC4JtUwq
became stronger. She could sense him, the kind of person he was. He was lost,15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHH1KsAO4Q5
unsure of himself, and she knew then that he would need her, for as long as15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5PJCdlsAJ
possible.
She also talked a lot about her15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qjv0i5gJr
interests. She enjoyed fighting for sure, but she also had fun just taking15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1j1kSrKZP
walks through nature. There weren’t many forests in Bricen, but she would love15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2AGlMsSlGw
to go exploring with him if given the opportunity. She also enjoys swimming but15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjufHbBuY09
had never been to the ocean. She made him promise to take her once all of this15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSVQRngf29
was over, so he agreed. He also needed a break to unwind from everything.
He told her a little bit about15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiU6xDG3Rov
himself as well. He had never known his parents. He was raised by his15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjb1rMmoqCk
grandfather who never spoke much about them and likely never would. It was a15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJagJow0Asa
wound too painful to open, so Vander never pried. The people who invited them15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmSFRKr569
into her home were Malcolm and his wife. He and Cuvera had grown up like15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwITW4lYjC
brothers. They did everything together and were inseparable until he had to15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTj3APUTRwV
learn how to be a King and Vander, a Blade. However, they had vowed to be there15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSl0M5ho48
for each other, no matter what.
He had received his shard when he15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJRAsTgBvK
was a Blade trainee. He explained to her the story that he told Kiara; however,15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4p5PcLEgNG
he hadn’t mentioned the tooth had taken as a souvenir before, but he didn’t15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMyqBLTVx9s
want to keep anything from Eliza. He kept it as a reminder of the life he had15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHqyDrnC5F
taken. It had been his first kill and despite doing it to save his comrades, he15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIhGTqdxTY
still felt bad about it. Shea had been too young to remember it, but she15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSe4LDDzT92
accepted her friend’s reasoning. Her mother had asked him to take care of her15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05niyvnh0j
child, so he had. So, it was also a reminder of the promise he made.
After all the talking, his eyes15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3tjgmyN03
were growing heavy. He had fallen asleep while she continued. He found himself15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7q8PzDXdI
slipping off and soon, it all went black.
When he awakened, he found himself15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3hYNxh7XN
drooling into her shoulder. Her head was lying on top of his. He could hear her15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjciFvp2I1G
snoring in his ear. He carefully removed his head from under hers, but the15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0BawM2zwu
sudden movement caused her to fall over, so her head was resting upon his lap.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3HD76FhHm
He couldn’t resist the urge to stroke her hair. It must have felt good because15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM86NHSlg4o
she moaned into his lap then shifted to give him more access. He smiled looking15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALu5UjUJzJ
down at her. She looked so adorable sleeping that he had to resist the urge to15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljYWEkzt5v
pinch her cheeks.
After a half hour, her eyes15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemPCDDtxvM
fluttered open. She looked up at him with a small smile on her face. “Good15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaY4zXIoAG
morning.” She whispered.
“Good morning.” He smiled down at15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNt1c28CNa
her. She sat up, rubbing her eyes while she yawned.
“Despite the terrible15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJHiYuQLKp
arrangements, I slept quite well.” She beamed. “I hope you slept well too.”
“I’ll sleep even better once I’m15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuso3CBDVhU
back in my own room.” He stretched, thankful to be removing the knots from his15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dHHkO3CQh
back.
“Hopefully that will be soon.”
“I wouldn’t count on it.” Vander15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqUfIE4yo7
and Eliza jumped to their feet as a voice spoke up from the corner of the cell.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSj4NO2oUv
A fully cloaked figure stepped out from the shadows holding an unconscious15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGF0Sja90iQ
woman over her shoulder. Vander recognized her as Kiara.
“Let her go!” Eliza charged Fang,15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRjcDyutfd
but the assassin sidestepped then brought her hand down on the back of the15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4R8L6UoYj
woman’s neck. Eliza’s eyes rolled towards the back of her head before falling15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMKC036Q7w
unconscious. Before Vander could attack them, Fang dropped a small ball which15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJsMdpfIRq
exploded black smoke all over the cell.
“Come find me in the village15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lIQ2kXMzW
called Woodsedge.” The voice echoed through the small room. “We will settle15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupsc88dUjZ
this there, Shard of Unna.” The last thing Vander saw before passing out was15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhaKt2ZxHiU
Fang scooping up Eliza then disappearing into the shadows.
…
Someone slapped Vander awake. His15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUtzdnnD98
eyes fluttered open as he jumped to his feet. He was still inside his cell, but15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsMr4FsRXX
he could feel Eliza anywhere. He turned around to see Cuvera standing there15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyvnlGIiAZ
with a panicked expression on his face.
“Where is Kiara?” Cuvera shouted.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirQ9KAdEZl
“What happened?”
“Woodsedge.” Vander gasped out.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMCzIT9BZ1
“Fang came in here, stepped out from the shadows, with Kiara on her back. She15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIWGqj0nKE
took Eliza as well before knocking me unconscious.”
“How did she get in?” Cuvera15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLoPW3Vb3U
demanded. “How did she get past you?”
“I don’t know, Cuvera.” He15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8f5jyBNss
explained. “Once minute Eliza and I were talking, then Fang came out from15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0XylWcOLe
inside that corner. It all happened so fast; I could even react.”
“Well, we know where they are.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUcEuNO1bC
Cuvera left the cell leaving the door unlocked. “Let’s go get them back.”
“Cuvera no.” Vander shook his15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nHRrRDuBE
head. “You are too important to risk on the front lines. Let me go.”
“I will send the army.” Cuvera15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KwbgO1Oba
growled. “I will burn that damned village to the ground to get them back.”
“Send me.” Vander said. “I can get15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAimph8It5
there and bring them out safely. Let me make this up to you. Let me get them15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAri9NG8g25
back.”
“You just returned to me Vander; I15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3iKYa0dIkS
can’t ask you to put yourself at risk again.” But Vander was adamant, he15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBqH58sCq2
wouldn’t be swayed. Seeing the determination in his friend’s eyes, Cuvera15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSHgkd2C3x
relented, but he wouldn’t send Vander out alone. He instructed the guards to15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAYvuZ6mVQ
get Vander’s squad back, Alexander included. Since he had done nothing wrong,15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgOGBEb4jY
he was safe. He instructed Vander to head to his room and get changed while he15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lqwBZmzbW
made the necessary preparations. If anyone from the council got in his way, he15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DpJizQmAw
would deal with them. No one would get in Vander’s way to get their women back.
Vander rushed up the steps, past15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCzBAghe4B
the guards, who didn’t even make a move to recapture him. Once he got to his15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERnRbJzpV4
room, he was tackled by Shea. He hadn’t been expecting her, so he fell to the15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRDedb8pqg
ground with her teeth a hairsbreadth away from his throat. She was pissed, and15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8xaSN5amZ
rightfully so, but she would have her chance to vent her frustrations once15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWO5Fik0SMV
Eliza and Kiara were safe and sound.
He quickly got dressed then15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcQmWWcLzu
reached for the sword that had been his partner for almost five years. It felt15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6s0eTd0Wpx
good having it back within his grasp and he knew that the next time someone15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRNpe8d074
took it from him would be over his dead body. He threw on a forest green cloak15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjZYjgUrAs
over his uniform then headed outside where he knew the others would be waiting.
Alex and the trainees were waiting15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynRpZpMuKp
with grim faces on the front lawn. Cuvera was with them issuing orders when15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDd3lRRtZ5J
Vander arrived. It looked as though Cuvera worked fast at giving them horses15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWNXCdhc8S
and supplies, but they would be traveling lightly. The journey would take them15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq136nvNqMO
a day at the most, but the longer they took the more danger the two of them15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVSECDeFQx
would be in. They would have to go quick, but pace themselves so they weren’t15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Aq8lekUS6
exhausted fighting.
“Tell me again why we aren’t15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzOsrOCPbM
sending more soldiers with us?” Forest asked. “We won’t be enough to take on15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQ5TaX1d4f
the entire group, no matter how strong Vander and Alexander are.”
“It will take time to mobilize15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQfHsBI4cp
them.” Vander interrupted. “They will be a day behind us, we just have to hold15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNiVhvBO9fQ
out until then.”
“It’s good to see you, Captain.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoP2uGTOAR
Rooster nodded. “I wish it was under better circumstances.”
“We can discuss all that later.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUm8KFywAX
Vander said. “Cuvera, I will bring her back, I promise.”
“I know you will.” Cuvera gave him15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ffKAEALnL
a strained smile. “If you do, I will make sure you are pardoned for whatever15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmqABnp7Tx
crimes Peyton claims you did. I know that the assassin couldn’t have gotten in15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhI9lzyHbF
without help, so I will have people investigate Peyton’s whereabouts while you15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4henyTv1F
are gone.”
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“Alright, let’s go then.” Vander15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAeff1nPlka
grabbed the reins of his horse then hauled himself onto its back. “We have a15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JAm4iwshK
queen and princess to save.”
