Chapter 38
The two of them talked long into29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwm3qCbnBKp
the night. Vander had let her do most of it since it seemed she had a lot she29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5V2wG09IG
wanted to tell him. She talked about her childhood growing up as the third29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpyqXsWscS
eldest daughter of the Bricen royal family. Despite Kiara being a twin, she was29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvwTi5ocgI
the youngest of the two and wouldn’t gain the throne despite many of the nobles29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXeoayslMb3
wanting her to succeed their father when it became time. Since she had been the29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmp6HvluTU
third child, there was nothing she could do other than becoming a guard or a29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCaWEKVUoEA
priestess of Atza.
When she had just become a29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQRL7q8vyt
teenager, she was praying when she was enveloped in a pillar of fire. That was29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTh6CeLxsl
the first time she heard Atza’s voice proclaiming her the chosen, gifting her a29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWEbFMomMt
shard. Contrary to what Eluvia does, everyone knows who has the shard and they29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdcZoiOuwM
are treated like royalty. They are also free to choose their own path so once29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiT5RIJ8L5W
she discovered she was meant to be partnered with someone from Eluvia, her29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXdNmQX1go
father had given her permission to go with Eliza to fulfill the peace treaty.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfHb7wIkuO
She had been nervous upon reaching Eluvia because she didn’t know what kind of29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdwX7fesFL
person her mate would have been. As she grew closer to the city, the feeling29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZLWzsVtUo
became stronger. She could sense him, the kind of person he was. He was lost,29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfVFwvvULU
unsure of himself, and she knew then that he would need her, for as long as29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhSNWuOo0Dw
possible.
She also talked a lot about her29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3nAiSaJQ5d
interests. She enjoyed fighting for sure, but she also had fun just taking29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaF5DW6Uifq
walks through nature. There weren’t many forests in Bricen, but she would love29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpIMMThD6l
to go exploring with him if given the opportunity. She also enjoys swimming but29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWluBptlfE
had never been to the ocean. She made him promise to take her once all of this29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FvML2TLs0
was over, so he agreed. He also needed a break to unwind from everything.
He told her a little bit about29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPBE385uI4
himself as well. He had never known his parents. He was raised by his29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sSGBQ8r5k
grandfather who never spoke much about them and likely never would. It was a29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5PMsjbsaE
wound too painful to open, so Vander never pried. The people who invited them29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfDzSO5pfm
into her home were Malcolm and his wife. He and Cuvera had grown up like29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkaJoBbFgp2
brothers. They did everything together and were inseparable until he had to29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQ6gKidnu9
learn how to be a King and Vander, a Blade. However, they had vowed to be there29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6iAEu0Uhn
for each other, no matter what.
He had received his shard when he29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEHJosUh9E
was a Blade trainee. He explained to her the story that he told Kiara; however,29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGX6qWuFJtY
he hadn’t mentioned the tooth had taken as a souvenir before, but he didn’t29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvuwa7IwLU
want to keep anything from Eliza. He kept it as a reminder of the life he had29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6STwfH5bWL
taken. It had been his first kill and despite doing it to save his comrades, he29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOqx5rR05i
still felt bad about it. Shea had been too young to remember it, but she29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgZ0XKPApu
accepted her friend’s reasoning. Her mother had asked him to take care of her29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RZiDENwTc
child, so he had. So, it was also a reminder of the promise he made.
After all the talking, his eyes29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFtP5K94Ai
were growing heavy. He had fallen asleep while she continued. He found himself29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCbskkaQy7
slipping off and soon, it all went black.
When he awakened, he found himself29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4kypnp0rA
drooling into her shoulder. Her head was lying on top of his. He could hear her29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmplIDXKsj
snoring in his ear. He carefully removed his head from under hers, but the29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjN2sx0v0b
sudden movement caused her to fall over, so her head was resting upon his lap.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsogJsjcw4A
He couldn’t resist the urge to stroke her hair. It must have felt good because29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWNfllVRot
she moaned into his lap then shifted to give him more access. He smiled looking29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZNKRMEwrA
down at her. She looked so adorable sleeping that he had to resist the urge to29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQHHpRShuu
pinch her cheeks.
After a half hour, her eyes29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWy7zGD1tc
fluttered open. She looked up at him with a small smile on her face. “Good29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOYNmnFgjR
morning.” She whispered.
“Good morning.” He smiled down at29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbad9Vi0Ksg
her. She sat up, rubbing her eyes while she yawned.
“Despite the terrible29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAC3aO8G3B2
arrangements, I slept quite well.” She beamed. “I hope you slept well too.”
“I’ll sleep even better once I’m29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88tLVMcemL
back in my own room.” He stretched, thankful to be removing the knots from his29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0qe1ZlZqK
back.
“Hopefully that will be soon.”
“I wouldn’t count on it.” Vander29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4OdmK4rz6
and Eliza jumped to their feet as a voice spoke up from the corner of the cell.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUjntosM2Z
A fully cloaked figure stepped out from the shadows holding an unconscious29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7SCVDODGF8
woman over her shoulder. Vander recognized her as Kiara.
“Let her go!” Eliza charged Fang,29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffeM61aJHW
but the assassin sidestepped then brought her hand down on the back of the29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PBAgB9sQS
woman’s neck. Eliza’s eyes rolled towards the back of her head before falling29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZsxGmYBNo
unconscious. Before Vander could attack them, Fang dropped a small ball which29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvS2RFTbwX
exploded black smoke all over the cell.
“Come find me in the village29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXIM1PUGtj
called Woodsedge.” The voice echoed through the small room. “We will settle29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCI0Pwh3SZ
this there, Shard of Unna.” The last thing Vander saw before passing out was29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTmXLt5dYB
Fang scooping up Eliza then disappearing into the shadows.
…
Someone slapped Vander awake. His29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeGdSOw9Av
eyes fluttered open as he jumped to his feet. He was still inside his cell, but29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMGoIRIoHX
he could feel Eliza anywhere. He turned around to see Cuvera standing there29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSu3mPwMTb
with a panicked expression on his face.
“Where is Kiara?” Cuvera shouted.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIivBgz7T0
“What happened?”
“Woodsedge.” Vander gasped out.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6QGTUswdg
“Fang came in here, stepped out from the shadows, with Kiara on her back. She29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW14ctWFBfB
took Eliza as well before knocking me unconscious.”
“How did she get in?” Cuvera29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pBhilVJ5c
demanded. “How did she get past you?”
“I don’t know, Cuvera.” He29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9OB6Iz22Ek
explained. “Once minute Eliza and I were talking, then Fang came out from29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiK48HlQrPI
inside that corner. It all happened so fast; I could even react.”
“Well, we know where they are.”29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qoyXytbi8
Cuvera left the cell leaving the door unlocked. “Let’s go get them back.”
“Cuvera no.” Vander shook his29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9SqPFBcmN
head. “You are too important to risk on the front lines. Let me go.”
“I will send the army.” Cuvera29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyyJGsr9ot
growled. “I will burn that damned village to the ground to get them back.”
“Send me.” Vander said. “I can get29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSo8sI8QRfG
there and bring them out safely. Let me make this up to you. Let me get them29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0EOXEnUb8g
back.”
“You just returned to me Vander; I29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKMXsyItEj
can’t ask you to put yourself at risk again.” But Vander was adamant, he29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgCdeyXVRd
wouldn’t be swayed. Seeing the determination in his friend’s eyes, Cuvera29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdJsxWlYuZ
relented, but he wouldn’t send Vander out alone. He instructed the guards to29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznszqfOR5g
get Vander’s squad back, Alexander included. Since he had done nothing wrong,29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNquLviA2x3
he was safe. He instructed Vander to head to his room and get changed while he29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0exQLFaWeS
made the necessary preparations. If anyone from the council got in his way, he29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSm5RxnlTPy
would deal with them. No one would get in Vander’s way to get their women back.
Vander rushed up the steps, past29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMgrhtLPlc
the guards, who didn’t even make a move to recapture him. Once he got to his29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJZWlJzvEo
room, he was tackled by Shea. He hadn’t been expecting her, so he fell to the29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySLZzrHWmh
ground with her teeth a hairsbreadth away from his throat. She was pissed, and29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJKLzscIBN
rightfully so, but she would have her chance to vent her frustrations once29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSKPuCdS26
Eliza and Kiara were safe and sound.
He quickly got dressed then29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkE0oPqb3ch
reached for the sword that had been his partner for almost five years. It felt29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfBXsXlHJA
good having it back within his grasp and he knew that the next time someone29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ395xusV4A3
took it from him would be over his dead body. He threw on a forest green cloak29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNA4YmJYs1
over his uniform then headed outside where he knew the others would be waiting.
Alex and the trainees were waiting29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxA15etP2CY
with grim faces on the front lawn. Cuvera was with them issuing orders when29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwIJLOigw7W
Vander arrived. It looked as though Cuvera worked fast at giving them horses29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBp1kd8vIc
and supplies, but they would be traveling lightly. The journey would take them29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd669TLuMs4
a day at the most, but the longer they took the more danger the two of them29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEOq5s6SoU
would be in. They would have to go quick, but pace themselves so they weren’t29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7K9at4FEDL
exhausted fighting.
“Tell me again why we aren’t29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMJlf8yT0u
sending more soldiers with us?” Forest asked. “We won’t be enough to take on29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFH5K3JY8Ln
the entire group, no matter how strong Vander and Alexander are.”
“It will take time to mobilize29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lHlL8dTZd
them.” Vander interrupted. “They will be a day behind us, we just have to hold29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQf5Z8WYOY
out until then.”
“It’s good to see you, Captain.”29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1nUlsdPxy
Rooster nodded. “I wish it was under better circumstances.”
“We can discuss all that later.”29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4y15MlqeYN
Vander said. “Cuvera, I will bring her back, I promise.”
“I know you will.” Cuvera gave him29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7TBjl8WNs
a strained smile. “If you do, I will make sure you are pardoned for whatever29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHAvkX7fHr
crimes Peyton claims you did. I know that the assassin couldn’t have gotten in29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhis8xmSq9V
without help, so I will have people investigate Peyton’s whereabouts while you29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxUqKLPazZ
are gone.”
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“Alright, let’s go then.” Vander29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qdXO5DoFX
grabbed the reins of his horse then hauled himself onto its back. “We have a29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhcqb91HC7
queen and princess to save.”
