Chapter 38
The two of them talked long into97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnNG8XPhVM
the night. Vander had let her do most of it since it seemed she had a lot she97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdBtRAmfW5
wanted to tell him. She talked about her childhood growing up as the third97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3GfuxZGm9
eldest daughter of the Bricen royal family. Despite Kiara being a twin, she was97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYq5FytYrPn
the youngest of the two and wouldn’t gain the throne despite many of the nobles97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYf4KnGI0S
wanting her to succeed their father when it became time. Since she had been the97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOlNniuXTf
third child, there was nothing she could do other than becoming a guard or a97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ471dw6z5pz
priestess of Atza.
When she had just become a97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhq5Br2CHVf
teenager, she was praying when she was enveloped in a pillar of fire. That was97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QJ3K8cKkt
the first time she heard Atza’s voice proclaiming her the chosen, gifting her a97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGe0u5w6CRt
shard. Contrary to what Eluvia does, everyone knows who has the shard and they97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dd5EI15Y3
are treated like royalty. They are also free to choose their own path so once97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuUXmqsp2E
she discovered she was meant to be partnered with someone from Eluvia, her97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJj27xOxrG
father had given her permission to go with Eliza to fulfill the peace treaty.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1lYJCZ3qHm
She had been nervous upon reaching Eluvia because she didn’t know what kind of97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Q9yV56xNP
person her mate would have been. As she grew closer to the city, the feeling97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNu2IsxHNZM
became stronger. She could sense him, the kind of person he was. He was lost,97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hpQb1jF8s
unsure of himself, and she knew then that he would need her, for as long as97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsdPQYikqZ
possible.
She also talked a lot about her97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38c1KW3J7D
interests. She enjoyed fighting for sure, but she also had fun just taking97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysywiwQjjN
walks through nature. There weren’t many forests in Bricen, but she would love97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yVLSNFCI8
to go exploring with him if given the opportunity. She also enjoys swimming but97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhUfwJIL3b
had never been to the ocean. She made him promise to take her once all of this97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewb9EeX9K8
was over, so he agreed. He also needed a break to unwind from everything.
He told her a little bit about97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEm45vg8RA5
himself as well. He had never known his parents. He was raised by his97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0QcJZ9NIs
grandfather who never spoke much about them and likely never would. It was a97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNAJBo0lTf
wound too painful to open, so Vander never pried. The people who invited them97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQcFI60Tpt
into her home were Malcolm and his wife. He and Cuvera had grown up like97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6FS4s2JtkH
brothers. They did everything together and were inseparable until he had to97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzsFqNbX6uN
learn how to be a King and Vander, a Blade. However, they had vowed to be there97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrmRSROAgc
for each other, no matter what.
He had received his shard when he97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocHKGelVoI
was a Blade trainee. He explained to her the story that he told Kiara; however,97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1spj9etko
he hadn’t mentioned the tooth had taken as a souvenir before, but he didn’t97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5BXbQeHm6
want to keep anything from Eliza. He kept it as a reminder of the life he had97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1B2n2QOjWU
taken. It had been his first kill and despite doing it to save his comrades, he97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIcPJXvRVYm
still felt bad about it. Shea had been too young to remember it, but she97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk83kaFb1zE
accepted her friend’s reasoning. Her mother had asked him to take care of her97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIyr33pRWT
child, so he had. So, it was also a reminder of the promise he made.
After all the talking, his eyes97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKYBTT4iaY
were growing heavy. He had fallen asleep while she continued. He found himself97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5oR9BaR5F
slipping off and soon, it all went black.
When he awakened, he found himself97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCio4p6l6c
drooling into her shoulder. Her head was lying on top of his. He could hear her97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPDhhCflcL
snoring in his ear. He carefully removed his head from under hers, but the97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAJoUkCObn
sudden movement caused her to fall over, so her head was resting upon his lap.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2CnNus0cPm
He couldn’t resist the urge to stroke her hair. It must have felt good because97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfPLL3ZAwc
she moaned into his lap then shifted to give him more access. He smiled looking97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoREMn446t4
down at her. She looked so adorable sleeping that he had to resist the urge to97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdloGQMBfMp
pinch her cheeks.
After a half hour, her eyes97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhk1Cfpb6R
fluttered open. She looked up at him with a small smile on her face. “Good97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRIL0jkzhp
morning.” She whispered.
“Good morning.” He smiled down at97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vZg3DW7vR
her. She sat up, rubbing her eyes while she yawned.
“Despite the terrible97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGGGXspjea
arrangements, I slept quite well.” She beamed. “I hope you slept well too.”
“I’ll sleep even better once I’m97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYN5Wdd5iif
back in my own room.” He stretched, thankful to be removing the knots from his97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfGguOcLzD
back.
“Hopefully that will be soon.”
“I wouldn’t count on it.” Vander97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1sxonh64sS
and Eliza jumped to their feet as a voice spoke up from the corner of the cell.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PuHrlQugM
A fully cloaked figure stepped out from the shadows holding an unconscious97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjcnyrN9ar
woman over her shoulder. Vander recognized her as Kiara.
“Let her go!” Eliza charged Fang,97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyMFMNVSoJ
but the assassin sidestepped then brought her hand down on the back of the97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNiHoCM2Zs
woman’s neck. Eliza’s eyes rolled towards the back of her head before falling97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAlRJ2pGq9
unconscious. Before Vander could attack them, Fang dropped a small ball which97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGqzTT701E
exploded black smoke all over the cell.
“Come find me in the village97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhE4539IeAa
called Woodsedge.” The voice echoed through the small room. “We will settle97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡib4DFSp5f4
this there, Shard of Unna.” The last thing Vander saw before passing out was97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJm366Ne4uI
Fang scooping up Eliza then disappearing into the shadows.
…
Someone slapped Vander awake. His97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dsWruZowj
eyes fluttered open as he jumped to his feet. He was still inside his cell, but97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JuEOXjpKy
he could feel Eliza anywhere. He turned around to see Cuvera standing there97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzpmob51Zx
with a panicked expression on his face.
“Where is Kiara?” Cuvera shouted.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetv9ky2QaW
“What happened?”
“Woodsedge.” Vander gasped out.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0V2fE5vXSq
“Fang came in here, stepped out from the shadows, with Kiara on her back. She97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83C4dwfxtn
took Eliza as well before knocking me unconscious.”
“How did she get in?” Cuvera97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHis6HIsY1
demanded. “How did she get past you?”
“I don’t know, Cuvera.” He97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgH10hNEmDV
explained. “Once minute Eliza and I were talking, then Fang came out from97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7e5ADDEB0W
inside that corner. It all happened so fast; I could even react.”
“Well, we know where they are.”97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNkn4kMsr9
Cuvera left the cell leaving the door unlocked. “Let’s go get them back.”
“Cuvera no.” Vander shook his97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRr5GZJcQU
head. “You are too important to risk on the front lines. Let me go.”
“I will send the army.” Cuvera97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKrXFRTNLm
growled. “I will burn that damned village to the ground to get them back.”
“Send me.” Vander said. “I can get97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTfo87UcC6
there and bring them out safely. Let me make this up to you. Let me get them97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcrK1ZnfTU
back.”
“You just returned to me Vander; I97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqG3LaAQKy
can’t ask you to put yourself at risk again.” But Vander was adamant, he97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbf0Z6ifiL
wouldn’t be swayed. Seeing the determination in his friend’s eyes, Cuvera97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgv2uXAuXu
relented, but he wouldn’t send Vander out alone. He instructed the guards to97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rbgwGG0Pk
get Vander’s squad back, Alexander included. Since he had done nothing wrong,97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxEivRt9cl
he was safe. He instructed Vander to head to his room and get changed while he97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQl4uf5MAx
made the necessary preparations. If anyone from the council got in his way, he97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DjZfuszfu
would deal with them. No one would get in Vander’s way to get their women back.
Vander rushed up the steps, past97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6D57lAMh9J
the guards, who didn’t even make a move to recapture him. Once he got to his97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGyfNFjEmg
room, he was tackled by Shea. He hadn’t been expecting her, so he fell to the97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDQoUIfXSU
ground with her teeth a hairsbreadth away from his throat. She was pissed, and97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡig1Otl3nrP
rightfully so, but she would have her chance to vent her frustrations once97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmrXv21Njz
Eliza and Kiara were safe and sound.
He quickly got dressed then97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxu8sfr8xBW
reached for the sword that had been his partner for almost five years. It felt97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrgsXtybaA
good having it back within his grasp and he knew that the next time someone97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcTQhUJiLw
took it from him would be over his dead body. He threw on a forest green cloak97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYpvSDaIQW
over his uniform then headed outside where he knew the others would be waiting.
Alex and the trainees were waiting97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5C6SWCkuB
with grim faces on the front lawn. Cuvera was with them issuing orders when97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MRRpzzEK3
Vander arrived. It looked as though Cuvera worked fast at giving them horses97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCRSYU9F6D
and supplies, but they would be traveling lightly. The journey would take them97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHBLOVvvMI
a day at the most, but the longer they took the more danger the two of them97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbmqHPdRTu
would be in. They would have to go quick, but pace themselves so they weren’t97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaO8LmRDFRw
exhausted fighting.
“Tell me again why we aren’t97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCoEQv427q
sending more soldiers with us?” Forest asked. “We won’t be enough to take on97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6d8Zk5q8X
the entire group, no matter how strong Vander and Alexander are.”
“It will take time to mobilize97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qUHXMmmPr
them.” Vander interrupted. “They will be a day behind us, we just have to hold97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90ZrdR5XgE
out until then.”
“It’s good to see you, Captain.”97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SSUMdikP5
Rooster nodded. “I wish it was under better circumstances.”
“We can discuss all that later.”97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrEeYVCOCE
Vander said. “Cuvera, I will bring her back, I promise.”
“I know you will.” Cuvera gave him97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04hgeZFhCa
a strained smile. “If you do, I will make sure you are pardoned for whatever97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikgdsudjnp
crimes Peyton claims you did. I know that the assassin couldn’t have gotten in97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23Tw5JKQu6
without help, so I will have people investigate Peyton’s whereabouts while you97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy679qRyTTt
are gone.”
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“Alright, let’s go then.” Vander97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwACACqMRf
grabbed the reins of his horse then hauled himself onto its back. “We have a97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EXMN4VOuA
queen and princess to save.”
