Chapter 38
The two of them talked long into86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMMIN32cVn
the night. Vander had let her do most of it since it seemed she had a lot she86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh407N1BbYs
wanted to tell him. She talked about her childhood growing up as the third86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYGgBrNJfv
eldest daughter of the Bricen royal family. Despite Kiara being a twin, she was86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXgE9aHWYz
the youngest of the two and wouldn’t gain the throne despite many of the nobles86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkQgqt79l3
wanting her to succeed their father when it became time. Since she had been the86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsjYxdoSqQ
third child, there was nothing she could do other than becoming a guard or a86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4xDnvcCdj
priestess of Atza.
When she had just become a86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRgi7tSTUpX
teenager, she was praying when she was enveloped in a pillar of fire. That was86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7OROtlpxs
the first time she heard Atza’s voice proclaiming her the chosen, gifting her a86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoJuqugQRc
shard. Contrary to what Eluvia does, everyone knows who has the shard and they86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKCAqBh2jY
are treated like royalty. They are also free to choose their own path so once86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlBWhB4Ymi
she discovered she was meant to be partnered with someone from Eluvia, her86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLi0Mg355Sy
father had given her permission to go with Eliza to fulfill the peace treaty.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QkXtMBpmX
She had been nervous upon reaching Eluvia because she didn’t know what kind of86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCD7pBt3fK
person her mate would have been. As she grew closer to the city, the feeling86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWymhlmwHNF
became stronger. She could sense him, the kind of person he was. He was lost,86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGie1pamK5D
unsure of himself, and she knew then that he would need her, for as long as86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJDq7LvAxc
possible.
She also talked a lot about her86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyl4mmqZ5fI
interests. She enjoyed fighting for sure, but she also had fun just taking86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdbQDC7vki
walks through nature. There weren’t many forests in Bricen, but she would love86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BmIC3yErD
to go exploring with him if given the opportunity. She also enjoys swimming but86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mVtcCSAvq
had never been to the ocean. She made him promise to take her once all of this86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAEftInOeG
was over, so he agreed. He also needed a break to unwind from everything.
He told her a little bit about86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlTgT1OIF8
himself as well. He had never known his parents. He was raised by his86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4R51ogZYQ
grandfather who never spoke much about them and likely never would. It was a86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpFmX0cTeu
wound too painful to open, so Vander never pried. The people who invited them86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zijmGhRUS
into her home were Malcolm and his wife. He and Cuvera had grown up like86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXlUb3LgLp
brothers. They did everything together and were inseparable until he had to86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJP1uxwOSvL
learn how to be a King and Vander, a Blade. However, they had vowed to be there86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgGKPniEjO
for each other, no matter what.
He had received his shard when he86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqnXTM3OqO
was a Blade trainee. He explained to her the story that he told Kiara; however,86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQ4ImLMU1G
he hadn’t mentioned the tooth had taken as a souvenir before, but he didn’t86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEnrP5jfkb
want to keep anything from Eliza. He kept it as a reminder of the life he had86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsV14jyO3Ns
taken. It had been his first kill and despite doing it to save his comrades, he86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohvzAN58OR
still felt bad about it. Shea had been too young to remember it, but she86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrkeY69X4T
accepted her friend’s reasoning. Her mother had asked him to take care of her86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdiM3yudk1
child, so he had. So, it was also a reminder of the promise he made.
After all the talking, his eyes86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsXnbYpfGB
were growing heavy. He had fallen asleep while she continued. He found himself86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpQIwmOQIT
slipping off and soon, it all went black.
When he awakened, he found himself86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLcGawiuKk
drooling into her shoulder. Her head was lying on top of his. He could hear her86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OzPHwas1J
snoring in his ear. He carefully removed his head from under hers, but the86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Hiow7QWNo
sudden movement caused her to fall over, so her head was resting upon his lap.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtO3NFa4oTg
He couldn’t resist the urge to stroke her hair. It must have felt good because86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡik58JI3QWz
she moaned into his lap then shifted to give him more access. He smiled looking86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUIUUmaDDF
down at her. She looked so adorable sleeping that he had to resist the urge to86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTmgYFTv3k
pinch her cheeks.
After a half hour, her eyes86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXb2NKZVhg
fluttered open. She looked up at him with a small smile on her face. “Good86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIW6QzidFW7
morning.” She whispered.
“Good morning.” He smiled down at86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0AGyqUnwN
her. She sat up, rubbing her eyes while she yawned.
“Despite the terrible86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT28ibwnHTo
arrangements, I slept quite well.” She beamed. “I hope you slept well too.”
“I’ll sleep even better once I’m86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG45yR1i4Vd
back in my own room.” He stretched, thankful to be removing the knots from his86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAn4Eyan7rF
back.
“Hopefully that will be soon.”
“I wouldn’t count on it.” Vander86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSTc9oTSPr
and Eliza jumped to their feet as a voice spoke up from the corner of the cell.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBhelkAnYv
A fully cloaked figure stepped out from the shadows holding an unconscious86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡen3CxrkSD0
woman over her shoulder. Vander recognized her as Kiara.
“Let her go!” Eliza charged Fang,86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkb8PQlLt4
but the assassin sidestepped then brought her hand down on the back of the86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthlJj5SFAE
woman’s neck. Eliza’s eyes rolled towards the back of her head before falling86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2R4dK05REe
unconscious. Before Vander could attack them, Fang dropped a small ball which86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzuJE9pvdJ
exploded black smoke all over the cell.
“Come find me in the village86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGF7UhPIdTp
called Woodsedge.” The voice echoed through the small room. “We will settle86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8305jREuP
this there, Shard of Unna.” The last thing Vander saw before passing out was86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAMVWIiACK
Fang scooping up Eliza then disappearing into the shadows.
…
Someone slapped Vander awake. His86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOgkCCwZLN
eyes fluttered open as he jumped to his feet. He was still inside his cell, but86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vrWQf1guV
he could feel Eliza anywhere. He turned around to see Cuvera standing there86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfc7XHfLj2w
with a panicked expression on his face.
“Where is Kiara?” Cuvera shouted.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMaB0Znc5G
“What happened?”
“Woodsedge.” Vander gasped out.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Kyt23aWQx
“Fang came in here, stepped out from the shadows, with Kiara on her back. She86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbMptwsvOg
took Eliza as well before knocking me unconscious.”
“How did she get in?” Cuvera86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJAzqm5DUE
demanded. “How did she get past you?”
“I don’t know, Cuvera.” He86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡat7Nzje0Nn
explained. “Once minute Eliza and I were talking, then Fang came out from86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQ3YuN9nsH
inside that corner. It all happened so fast; I could even react.”
“Well, we know where they are.”86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbIeYUL38A
Cuvera left the cell leaving the door unlocked. “Let’s go get them back.”
“Cuvera no.” Vander shook his86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BjwI8M7qx
head. “You are too important to risk on the front lines. Let me go.”
“I will send the army.” Cuvera86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjpcFIH8xZ
growled. “I will burn that damned village to the ground to get them back.”
“Send me.” Vander said. “I can get86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgc8dagnepJ
there and bring them out safely. Let me make this up to you. Let me get them86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg81Csn6tox
back.”
“You just returned to me Vander; I86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0EEX8CyLZ
can’t ask you to put yourself at risk again.” But Vander was adamant, he86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBHn22AYBx
wouldn’t be swayed. Seeing the determination in his friend’s eyes, Cuvera86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBN37NVbCP
relented, but he wouldn’t send Vander out alone. He instructed the guards to86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQguUy4nGd
get Vander’s squad back, Alexander included. Since he had done nothing wrong,86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6tG6pphPl
he was safe. He instructed Vander to head to his room and get changed while he86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bK9XXhJAN
made the necessary preparations. If anyone from the council got in his way, he86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICXVvYP06k
would deal with them. No one would get in Vander’s way to get their women back.
Vander rushed up the steps, past86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTKq5BuSxY
the guards, who didn’t even make a move to recapture him. Once he got to his86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgBaHebsdq
room, he was tackled by Shea. He hadn’t been expecting her, so he fell to the86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tdVBpRuu2
ground with her teeth a hairsbreadth away from his throat. She was pissed, and86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFdVhxlItE
rightfully so, but she would have her chance to vent her frustrations once86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsSKfKkJi3
Eliza and Kiara were safe and sound.
He quickly got dressed then86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3Jb4oJgMG
reached for the sword that had been his partner for almost five years. It felt86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvYVAglmFk
good having it back within his grasp and he knew that the next time someone86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5WmfhQWrx
took it from him would be over his dead body. He threw on a forest green cloak86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9BjSyeACy
over his uniform then headed outside where he knew the others would be waiting.
Alex and the trainees were waiting86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDyzCoTAkn
with grim faces on the front lawn. Cuvera was with them issuing orders when86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOQ1AQHHS7
Vander arrived. It looked as though Cuvera worked fast at giving them horses86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1LQGnWoOXX
and supplies, but they would be traveling lightly. The journey would take them86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqVs0Jw50r
a day at the most, but the longer they took the more danger the two of them86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMJuQRJ2zW
would be in. They would have to go quick, but pace themselves so they weren’t86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47DGRBzZeE
exhausted fighting.
“Tell me again why we aren’t86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYngUjXhfVJ
sending more soldiers with us?” Forest asked. “We won’t be enough to take on86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpr9Cibnb6S
the entire group, no matter how strong Vander and Alexander are.”
“It will take time to mobilize86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzT9nS28dNz
them.” Vander interrupted. “They will be a day behind us, we just have to hold86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCnTmzYwtY
out until then.”
“It’s good to see you, Captain.”86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkn4kdXRAO
Rooster nodded. “I wish it was under better circumstances.”
“We can discuss all that later.”86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡub6lCQLW59
Vander said. “Cuvera, I will bring her back, I promise.”
“I know you will.” Cuvera gave him86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPAAeaW0TI
a strained smile. “If you do, I will make sure you are pardoned for whatever86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9Zp8orGI6
crimes Peyton claims you did. I know that the assassin couldn’t have gotten in86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzgGCWFSPr
without help, so I will have people investigate Peyton’s whereabouts while you86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VDQJp1ch9
are gone.”
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“Alright, let’s go then.” Vander86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5BQnicpiX
grabbed the reins of his horse then hauled himself onto its back. “We have a86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUBgSMYXAp
queen and princess to save.”
