Chapter 38
The two of them talked long into80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BkLUyZDkG
the night. Vander had let her do most of it since it seemed she had a lot she80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3u3Iqd2geK
wanted to tell him. She talked about her childhood growing up as the third80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNE8trud4H
eldest daughter of the Bricen royal family. Despite Kiara being a twin, she was80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzS6OLQHuv
the youngest of the two and wouldn’t gain the throne despite many of the nobles80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOYadtH40t
wanting her to succeed their father when it became time. Since she had been the80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF39X9FVUwC
third child, there was nothing she could do other than becoming a guard or a80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJSs1DVZSW
priestess of Atza.
When she had just become a80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYCS1Y3Bdz
teenager, she was praying when she was enveloped in a pillar of fire. That was80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5I9jZgFpN
the first time she heard Atza’s voice proclaiming her the chosen, gifting her a80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedsn4o783m
shard. Contrary to what Eluvia does, everyone knows who has the shard and they80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUZJAxcDLE
are treated like royalty. They are also free to choose their own path so once80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrWWnExM4u
she discovered she was meant to be partnered with someone from Eluvia, her80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmNPkdGmW9
father had given her permission to go with Eliza to fulfill the peace treaty.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFxWzB2NUS
She had been nervous upon reaching Eluvia because she didn’t know what kind of80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpj4LX1Z56
person her mate would have been. As she grew closer to the city, the feeling80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDeWxv8dgfh
became stronger. She could sense him, the kind of person he was. He was lost,80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Q3eoPHN1p
unsure of himself, and she knew then that he would need her, for as long as80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qP4Swu5FK
possible.
She also talked a lot about her80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQKmQ0AI8Z
interests. She enjoyed fighting for sure, but she also had fun just taking80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqslyYSK0o0
walks through nature. There weren’t many forests in Bricen, but she would love80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kC2IZshIm
to go exploring with him if given the opportunity. She also enjoys swimming but80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTOI4sd49V
had never been to the ocean. She made him promise to take her once all of this80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHfm2JYIAs
was over, so he agreed. He also needed a break to unwind from everything.
He told her a little bit about80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryUeaZdMKW
himself as well. He had never known his parents. He was raised by his80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8jZ7nADdF
grandfather who never spoke much about them and likely never would. It was a80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTwMOzTNt6
wound too painful to open, so Vander never pried. The people who invited them80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXfoRg9yyS
into her home were Malcolm and his wife. He and Cuvera had grown up like80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDHhYHOiHs
brothers. They did everything together and were inseparable until he had to80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJPfr9ypb3
learn how to be a King and Vander, a Blade. However, they had vowed to be there80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5guv8r9K3A
for each other, no matter what.
He had received his shard when he80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JuVVAVwaN
was a Blade trainee. He explained to her the story that he told Kiara; however,80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSHY1rLs7W
he hadn’t mentioned the tooth had taken as a souvenir before, but he didn’t80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2Exr5DoSd
want to keep anything from Eliza. He kept it as a reminder of the life he had80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOJYBgfHge
taken. It had been his first kill and despite doing it to save his comrades, he80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDk4VMyToXN
still felt bad about it. Shea had been too young to remember it, but she80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgxxQ5jgEa
accepted her friend’s reasoning. Her mother had asked him to take care of her80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53PPb040KP
child, so he had. So, it was also a reminder of the promise he made.
After all the talking, his eyes80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8htosNX5zY
were growing heavy. He had fallen asleep while she continued. He found himself80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohR6suwbMl
slipping off and soon, it all went black.
When he awakened, he found himself80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuZbEJyOt5
drooling into her shoulder. Her head was lying on top of his. He could hear her80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMh4wulvCX
snoring in his ear. He carefully removed his head from under hers, but the80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LOYuYFlLS
sudden movement caused her to fall over, so her head was resting upon his lap.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XSchKmZal
He couldn’t resist the urge to stroke her hair. It must have felt good because80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4Pyg3CEa9
she moaned into his lap then shifted to give him more access. He smiled looking80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlLFYc2ZSh
down at her. She looked so adorable sleeping that he had to resist the urge to80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeE19lf1SDR
pinch her cheeks.
After a half hour, her eyes80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2r31zv3Iai
fluttered open. She looked up at him with a small smile on her face. “Good80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxWZbm4nJ5
morning.” She whispered.
“Good morning.” He smiled down at80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxYmBFSWpE
her. She sat up, rubbing her eyes while she yawned.
“Despite the terrible80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJiAbwDESq
arrangements, I slept quite well.” She beamed. “I hope you slept well too.”
“I’ll sleep even better once I’m80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Afg8AsSQH
back in my own room.” He stretched, thankful to be removing the knots from his80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwy7KoLVdV8
back.
“Hopefully that will be soon.”
“I wouldn’t count on it.” Vander80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9QFr4VPHV
and Eliza jumped to their feet as a voice spoke up from the corner of the cell.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7W5Z0ZrFA
A fully cloaked figure stepped out from the shadows holding an unconscious80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLR0XSF6Mv
woman over her shoulder. Vander recognized her as Kiara.
“Let her go!” Eliza charged Fang,80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr11HsDHcXd
but the assassin sidestepped then brought her hand down on the back of the80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNxEcw4AzH
woman’s neck. Eliza’s eyes rolled towards the back of her head before falling80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr74qLxh3Pa
unconscious. Before Vander could attack them, Fang dropped a small ball which80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6lrZujoAy
exploded black smoke all over the cell.
“Come find me in the village80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZJWaVomoY
called Woodsedge.” The voice echoed through the small room. “We will settle80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEIMxXqSYt
this there, Shard of Unna.” The last thing Vander saw before passing out was80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGiI1lJm6aG
Fang scooping up Eliza then disappearing into the shadows.
…
Someone slapped Vander awake. His80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnJ5jP6b0X
eyes fluttered open as he jumped to his feet. He was still inside his cell, but80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCmf1Jfz2C
he could feel Eliza anywhere. He turned around to see Cuvera standing there80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpnVZSy2sP
with a panicked expression on his face.
“Where is Kiara?” Cuvera shouted.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJDATdNY3T
“What happened?”
“Woodsedge.” Vander gasped out.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡON8O2TFc7z
“Fang came in here, stepped out from the shadows, with Kiara on her back. She80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZq8626oNi0
took Eliza as well before knocking me unconscious.”
“How did she get in?” Cuvera80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGk4A6J0OHx
demanded. “How did she get past you?”
“I don’t know, Cuvera.” He80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0l8PFF5iF
explained. “Once minute Eliza and I were talking, then Fang came out from80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavFMuPhL04
inside that corner. It all happened so fast; I could even react.”
“Well, we know where they are.”80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4IPdAjzkZ
Cuvera left the cell leaving the door unlocked. “Let’s go get them back.”
“Cuvera no.” Vander shook his80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZm38IPYdT
head. “You are too important to risk on the front lines. Let me go.”
“I will send the army.” Cuvera80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkflJWFoil
growled. “I will burn that damned village to the ground to get them back.”
“Send me.” Vander said. “I can get80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsS3dRG1DZK
there and bring them out safely. Let me make this up to you. Let me get them80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOeiIIe1d5H
back.”
“You just returned to me Vander; I80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5x5JXYGiJz
can’t ask you to put yourself at risk again.” But Vander was adamant, he80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNZL4cbQii
wouldn’t be swayed. Seeing the determination in his friend’s eyes, Cuvera80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxNookH0KM
relented, but he wouldn’t send Vander out alone. He instructed the guards to80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyx8X5wAQli
get Vander’s squad back, Alexander included. Since he had done nothing wrong,80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7Fyk95ESG
he was safe. He instructed Vander to head to his room and get changed while he80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdq9CWFhg3q
made the necessary preparations. If anyone from the council got in his way, he80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMePUGbtZ6T
would deal with them. No one would get in Vander’s way to get their women back.
Vander rushed up the steps, past80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIBZUHwKqp
the guards, who didn’t even make a move to recapture him. Once he got to his80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyqbA0AfTB
room, he was tackled by Shea. He hadn’t been expecting her, so he fell to the80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2dMUdCuaQ
ground with her teeth a hairsbreadth away from his throat. She was pissed, and80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2z4mAGaXy4
rightfully so, but she would have her chance to vent her frustrations once80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjo5P12KFI
Eliza and Kiara were safe and sound.
He quickly got dressed then80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6LuwrY5sN
reached for the sword that had been his partner for almost five years. It felt80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfbGRrPJOO
good having it back within his grasp and he knew that the next time someone80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQ47jCx4vi
took it from him would be over his dead body. He threw on a forest green cloak80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4abxVYJ87A
over his uniform then headed outside where he knew the others would be waiting.
Alex and the trainees were waiting80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsx3BjWgTS
with grim faces on the front lawn. Cuvera was with them issuing orders when80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtDMjbZfqI
Vander arrived. It looked as though Cuvera worked fast at giving them horses80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQ1rkHS5Yz
and supplies, but they would be traveling lightly. The journey would take them80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZvNbwYNt5
a day at the most, but the longer they took the more danger the two of them80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRlXi58IvF
would be in. They would have to go quick, but pace themselves so they weren’t80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1iAGVsDmIG
exhausted fighting.
“Tell me again why we aren’t80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRd98KIW7C
sending more soldiers with us?” Forest asked. “We won’t be enough to take on80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaK2Y4bVbL8
the entire group, no matter how strong Vander and Alexander are.”
“It will take time to mobilize80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSJIoPp2PC
them.” Vander interrupted. “They will be a day behind us, we just have to hold80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXL2RLJbEq0
out until then.”
“It’s good to see you, Captain.”80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1FtG04E9O
Rooster nodded. “I wish it was under better circumstances.”
“We can discuss all that later.”80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZzHgqSD1J
Vander said. “Cuvera, I will bring her back, I promise.”
“I know you will.” Cuvera gave him80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAztUJmSoWK
a strained smile. “If you do, I will make sure you are pardoned for whatever80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBvmbWz6KR
crimes Peyton claims you did. I know that the assassin couldn’t have gotten in80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeC7KJj8zU
without help, so I will have people investigate Peyton’s whereabouts while you80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DBYF0ndtc
are gone.”
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“Alright, let’s go then.” Vander80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8ZxnLXr65
grabbed the reins of his horse then hauled himself onto its back. “We have a80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwnTCpc6IG
queen and princess to save.”
