Chapter 38
The two of them talked long into14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHxyYu6O70
the night. Vander had let her do most of it since it seemed she had a lot she14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeg0PAkrPnF
wanted to tell him. She talked about her childhood growing up as the third14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZekq46mWY
eldest daughter of the Bricen royal family. Despite Kiara being a twin, she was14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUtbfUC1Df
the youngest of the two and wouldn’t gain the throne despite many of the nobles14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNlC9xXuta
wanting her to succeed their father when it became time. Since she had been the14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1C6U1FLndU
third child, there was nothing she could do other than becoming a guard or a14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Su1KURm4r
priestess of Atza.
When she had just become a14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE85dPRZPWw
teenager, she was praying when she was enveloped in a pillar of fire. That was14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpHToTsVgQ
the first time she heard Atza’s voice proclaiming her the chosen, gifting her a14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYLhTPW5ai
shard. Contrary to what Eluvia does, everyone knows who has the shard and they14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTGHfH9DRA
are treated like royalty. They are also free to choose their own path so once14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPNKIUjijr
she discovered she was meant to be partnered with someone from Eluvia, her14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyC7XvZsV9
father had given her permission to go with Eliza to fulfill the peace treaty.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3aEhyyk75K
She had been nervous upon reaching Eluvia because she didn’t know what kind of14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTjU4G03HP
person her mate would have been. As she grew closer to the city, the feeling14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIiXawIGvlY
became stronger. She could sense him, the kind of person he was. He was lost,14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6joKK64C0r
unsure of himself, and she knew then that he would need her, for as long as14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsD1XuG2Ea
possible.
She also talked a lot about her14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRW9bAzYhQ2
interests. She enjoyed fighting for sure, but she also had fun just taking14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraTXlRJl26
walks through nature. There weren’t many forests in Bricen, but she would love14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaubYS5QhRZ
to go exploring with him if given the opportunity. She also enjoys swimming but14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBquqoqGgh
had never been to the ocean. She made him promise to take her once all of this14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNWkcTOmQd
was over, so he agreed. He also needed a break to unwind from everything.
He told her a little bit about14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8Be65UMmB
himself as well. He had never known his parents. He was raised by his14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAJ7TG5Lsy
grandfather who never spoke much about them and likely never would. It was a14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeI7YRnWmSn
wound too painful to open, so Vander never pried. The people who invited them14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOoUgwW1F6
into her home were Malcolm and his wife. He and Cuvera had grown up like14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KNfh3vgc8
brothers. They did everything together and were inseparable until he had to14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp489c23wKc
learn how to be a King and Vander, a Blade. However, they had vowed to be there14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJU7lZ9yCTA
for each other, no matter what.
He had received his shard when he14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufXRUqoshg
was a Blade trainee. He explained to her the story that he told Kiara; however,14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfTmAR27Aj
he hadn’t mentioned the tooth had taken as a souvenir before, but he didn’t14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexMzRGPFa9
want to keep anything from Eliza. He kept it as a reminder of the life he had14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvr33C7YVJq
taken. It had been his first kill and despite doing it to save his comrades, he14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXol6O6vp4
still felt bad about it. Shea had been too young to remember it, but she14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8J4aCC9tO
accepted her friend’s reasoning. Her mother had asked him to take care of her14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJ4a4i9A8b
child, so he had. So, it was also a reminder of the promise he made.
After all the talking, his eyes14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKzwTlktAX
were growing heavy. He had fallen asleep while she continued. He found himself14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5Jr08EqEr
slipping off and soon, it all went black.
When he awakened, he found himself14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFj34rWlrq
drooling into her shoulder. Her head was lying on top of his. He could hear her14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVg7uvpBvV
snoring in his ear. He carefully removed his head from under hers, but the14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsh22XB9STr
sudden movement caused her to fall over, so her head was resting upon his lap.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmGi1n34GX
He couldn’t resist the urge to stroke her hair. It must have felt good because14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡra3YAtbdJv
she moaned into his lap then shifted to give him more access. He smiled looking14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKKsCpEnwV
down at her. She looked so adorable sleeping that he had to resist the urge to14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkliJVvUdyT
pinch her cheeks.
After a half hour, her eyes14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Nn84Nf2my
fluttered open. She looked up at him with a small smile on her face. “Good14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzryaOdBRB3
morning.” She whispered.
“Good morning.” He smiled down at14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvGnmnhzLs
her. She sat up, rubbing her eyes while she yawned.
“Despite the terrible14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP08cqbsSyq
arrangements, I slept quite well.” She beamed. “I hope you slept well too.”
“I’ll sleep even better once I’m14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcoJCPTAfOT
back in my own room.” He stretched, thankful to be removing the knots from his14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0VP75fIOE
back.
“Hopefully that will be soon.”
“I wouldn’t count on it.” Vander14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXe9v2VLGl5
and Eliza jumped to their feet as a voice spoke up from the corner of the cell.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhaoOrVBbP
A fully cloaked figure stepped out from the shadows holding an unconscious14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRiNGQb4jV
woman over her shoulder. Vander recognized her as Kiara.
“Let her go!” Eliza charged Fang,14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpngdRwusMc
but the assassin sidestepped then brought her hand down on the back of the14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqvQhS9Qmy
woman’s neck. Eliza’s eyes rolled towards the back of her head before falling14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13S3E12OBE
unconscious. Before Vander could attack them, Fang dropped a small ball which14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jmgWz9Oad
exploded black smoke all over the cell.
“Come find me in the village14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJITeyvU9U
called Woodsedge.” The voice echoed through the small room. “We will settle14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDhX1xzpKs
this there, Shard of Unna.” The last thing Vander saw before passing out was14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnE2rswfiuV
Fang scooping up Eliza then disappearing into the shadows.
…
Someone slapped Vander awake. His14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8tMlaQIjN
eyes fluttered open as he jumped to his feet. He was still inside his cell, but14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHZpr8Lqe8
he could feel Eliza anywhere. He turned around to see Cuvera standing there14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ylGIjJc2x
with a panicked expression on his face.
“Where is Kiara?” Cuvera shouted.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjfcLzy8PG
“What happened?”
“Woodsedge.” Vander gasped out.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOd4p3ph1y
“Fang came in here, stepped out from the shadows, with Kiara on her back. She14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDzco4trxg
took Eliza as well before knocking me unconscious.”
“How did she get in?” Cuvera14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5uOnQTFV8
demanded. “How did she get past you?”
“I don’t know, Cuvera.” He14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcuq3S7IgO
explained. “Once minute Eliza and I were talking, then Fang came out from14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHYRdIGdaY
inside that corner. It all happened so fast; I could even react.”
“Well, we know where they are.”14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1aatO3ELtD
Cuvera left the cell leaving the door unlocked. “Let’s go get them back.”
“Cuvera no.” Vander shook his14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutD54Feuiz
head. “You are too important to risk on the front lines. Let me go.”
“I will send the army.” Cuvera14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfSEh9UV8q
growled. “I will burn that damned village to the ground to get them back.”
“Send me.” Vander said. “I can get14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YCIybccAS
there and bring them out safely. Let me make this up to you. Let me get them14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLeNxNizBXy
back.”
“You just returned to me Vander; I14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57gf2NsP0O
can’t ask you to put yourself at risk again.” But Vander was adamant, he14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyW4QjGxZcb
wouldn’t be swayed. Seeing the determination in his friend’s eyes, Cuvera14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqWFA4JRoX
relented, but he wouldn’t send Vander out alone. He instructed the guards to14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1L079GvF3
get Vander’s squad back, Alexander included. Since he had done nothing wrong,14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnoz2ps6Cv
he was safe. He instructed Vander to head to his room and get changed while he14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6cWO8Z5jU
made the necessary preparations. If anyone from the council got in his way, he14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKdFNWpwcT
would deal with them. No one would get in Vander’s way to get their women back.
Vander rushed up the steps, past14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYRWLQdVWd
the guards, who didn’t even make a move to recapture him. Once he got to his14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrYpWCbBSr
room, he was tackled by Shea. He hadn’t been expecting her, so he fell to the14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBQ4uNm52h
ground with her teeth a hairsbreadth away from his throat. She was pissed, and14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbey4NooO8Y
rightfully so, but she would have her chance to vent her frustrations once14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklfkovHxCx
Eliza and Kiara were safe and sound.
He quickly got dressed then14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPz5uEYiT0
reached for the sword that had been his partner for almost five years. It felt14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26QxtV4GWz
good having it back within his grasp and he knew that the next time someone14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUhIccsLfl
took it from him would be over his dead body. He threw on a forest green cloak14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcb8jWoIf7
over his uniform then headed outside where he knew the others would be waiting.
Alex and the trainees were waiting14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoXBXaV7e2
with grim faces on the front lawn. Cuvera was with them issuing orders when14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMlEtqCeaF
Vander arrived. It looked as though Cuvera worked fast at giving them horses14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagy6WvDwwh
and supplies, but they would be traveling lightly. The journey would take them14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6L0d80ptBw
a day at the most, but the longer they took the more danger the two of them14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGfaj9HN7M
would be in. They would have to go quick, but pace themselves so they weren’t14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPVxyaBNFw
exhausted fighting.
“Tell me again why we aren’t14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6X2Hh2SaI
sending more soldiers with us?” Forest asked. “We won’t be enough to take on14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00ZPL23nwD
the entire group, no matter how strong Vander and Alexander are.”
“It will take time to mobilize14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhq5U3dw21
them.” Vander interrupted. “They will be a day behind us, we just have to hold14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoym3xql7kO
out until then.”
“It’s good to see you, Captain.”14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyGSVX7pvy
Rooster nodded. “I wish it was under better circumstances.”
“We can discuss all that later.”14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjAykqDPdD
Vander said. “Cuvera, I will bring her back, I promise.”
“I know you will.” Cuvera gave him14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7vtZpzhkf
a strained smile. “If you do, I will make sure you are pardoned for whatever14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxFEM4OP0e
crimes Peyton claims you did. I know that the assassin couldn’t have gotten in14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcp3rz3sWn
without help, so I will have people investigate Peyton’s whereabouts while you14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJ9CVEINKm
are gone.”
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“Alright, let’s go then.” Vander14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuVUnbDKmf
grabbed the reins of his horse then hauled himself onto its back. “We have a14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwTXqsmlWN
queen and princess to save.”
