Chapter 38
The two of them talked long into85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR51VIsvxK7
the night. Vander had let her do most of it since it seemed she had a lot she85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjE070iWfE
wanted to tell him. She talked about her childhood growing up as the third85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHIx11HDM4
eldest daughter of the Bricen royal family. Despite Kiara being a twin, she was85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXMvhk00TM
the youngest of the two and wouldn’t gain the throne despite many of the nobles85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyeN9uVuUo
wanting her to succeed their father when it became time. Since she had been the85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqehtG3sDX
third child, there was nothing she could do other than becoming a guard or a85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVbFhGi2g9
priestess of Atza.
When she had just become a85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIooAmS2CJ
teenager, she was praying when she was enveloped in a pillar of fire. That was85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsT36jXfAB
the first time she heard Atza’s voice proclaiming her the chosen, gifting her a85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QCOR8pLLh
shard. Contrary to what Eluvia does, everyone knows who has the shard and they85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvHRPzAMoO
are treated like royalty. They are also free to choose their own path so once85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOaERj8zbe9
she discovered she was meant to be partnered with someone from Eluvia, her85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOBK735QKH
father had given her permission to go with Eliza to fulfill the peace treaty.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLBw1JlxaL
She had been nervous upon reaching Eluvia because she didn’t know what kind of85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGbZxee5f2
person her mate would have been. As she grew closer to the city, the feeling85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbQripcncm
became stronger. She could sense him, the kind of person he was. He was lost,85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68CF5obOwL
unsure of himself, and she knew then that he would need her, for as long as85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMovYzUT0j7
possible.
She also talked a lot about her85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOktBAGv369
interests. She enjoyed fighting for sure, but she also had fun just taking85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkuuLuE8yv
walks through nature. There weren’t many forests in Bricen, but she would love85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYZj3qg34n
to go exploring with him if given the opportunity. She also enjoys swimming but85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpswzTTR4B
had never been to the ocean. She made him promise to take her once all of this85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcs1jcO9GP
was over, so he agreed. He also needed a break to unwind from everything.
He told her a little bit about85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcr94dDDKI
himself as well. He had never known his parents. He was raised by his85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigBVkK4P59
grandfather who never spoke much about them and likely never would. It was a85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECE00pbXLd
wound too painful to open, so Vander never pried. The people who invited them85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqnujRZ5nO
into her home were Malcolm and his wife. He and Cuvera had grown up like85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuTXbE2Jek
brothers. They did everything together and were inseparable until he had to85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlD8oD5ftb
learn how to be a King and Vander, a Blade. However, they had vowed to be there85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zJqygkxst
for each other, no matter what.
He had received his shard when he85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV77K67k1tT
was a Blade trainee. He explained to her the story that he told Kiara; however,85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnY83DhusK
he hadn’t mentioned the tooth had taken as a souvenir before, but he didn’t85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAbU5Zwd5N
want to keep anything from Eliza. He kept it as a reminder of the life he had85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JhrGoDgY9
taken. It had been his first kill and despite doing it to save his comrades, he85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYSW6EYxaK
still felt bad about it. Shea had been too young to remember it, but she85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqVn94B84h
accepted her friend’s reasoning. Her mother had asked him to take care of her85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHB8Dhd3lBO
child, so he had. So, it was also a reminder of the promise he made.
After all the talking, his eyes85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaozcaTyGka
were growing heavy. He had fallen asleep while she continued. He found himself85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyiHemcWR8
slipping off and soon, it all went black.
When he awakened, he found himself85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLdkL208ZA
drooling into her shoulder. Her head was lying on top of his. He could hear her85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuiBbYsHlR
snoring in his ear. He carefully removed his head from under hers, but the85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKTpp3Yixi
sudden movement caused her to fall over, so her head was resting upon his lap.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdRFrPlh9b
He couldn’t resist the urge to stroke her hair. It must have felt good because85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEmg5CxDtp
she moaned into his lap then shifted to give him more access. He smiled looking85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7sim056tJ
down at her. She looked so adorable sleeping that he had to resist the urge to85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CXAOwos7f
pinch her cheeks.
After a half hour, her eyes85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTnYWyrT21
fluttered open. She looked up at him with a small smile on her face. “Good85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm2ewzBIyLH
morning.” She whispered.
“Good morning.” He smiled down at85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8s2VYkmIU
her. She sat up, rubbing her eyes while she yawned.
“Despite the terrible85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KVpwEKJDx
arrangements, I slept quite well.” She beamed. “I hope you slept well too.”
“I’ll sleep even better once I’m85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3hcQkMO3N
back in my own room.” He stretched, thankful to be removing the knots from his85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHU03osihg5
back.
“Hopefully that will be soon.”
“I wouldn’t count on it.” Vander85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbxm8Q2RG6
and Eliza jumped to their feet as a voice spoke up from the corner of the cell.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmzx7BjBtk
A fully cloaked figure stepped out from the shadows holding an unconscious85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5kivjtFm9
woman over her shoulder. Vander recognized her as Kiara.
“Let her go!” Eliza charged Fang,85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDSw2sdTse
but the assassin sidestepped then brought her hand down on the back of the85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMu1T1poYS
woman’s neck. Eliza’s eyes rolled towards the back of her head before falling85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8dUrAv3EP
unconscious. Before Vander could attack them, Fang dropped a small ball which85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKJ3EwKXbr
exploded black smoke all over the cell.
“Come find me in the village85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPvIBNa1NN
called Woodsedge.” The voice echoed through the small room. “We will settle85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVVsmGnvJB
this there, Shard of Unna.” The last thing Vander saw before passing out was85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdAHvevtom
Fang scooping up Eliza then disappearing into the shadows.
…
Someone slapped Vander awake. His85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwX7tqufllS
eyes fluttered open as he jumped to his feet. He was still inside his cell, but85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRgAJu8o7g
he could feel Eliza anywhere. He turned around to see Cuvera standing there85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71Uaq4vEYO
with a panicked expression on his face.
“Where is Kiara?” Cuvera shouted.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKRMb1UTg4
“What happened?”
“Woodsedge.” Vander gasped out.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdNfuSgnz3
“Fang came in here, stepped out from the shadows, with Kiara on her back. She85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtfrwGicpL
took Eliza as well before knocking me unconscious.”
“How did she get in?” Cuvera85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAqj23sU0b
demanded. “How did she get past you?”
“I don’t know, Cuvera.” He85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MYsR6gtPj
explained. “Once minute Eliza and I were talking, then Fang came out from85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybCA4gKqO0
inside that corner. It all happened so fast; I could even react.”
“Well, we know where they are.”85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvUzHEjUua
Cuvera left the cell leaving the door unlocked. “Let’s go get them back.”
“Cuvera no.” Vander shook his85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWgcoukApA
head. “You are too important to risk on the front lines. Let me go.”
“I will send the army.” Cuvera85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfhVKjD8Yc
growled. “I will burn that damned village to the ground to get them back.”
“Send me.” Vander said. “I can get85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetV8mLjyXI
there and bring them out safely. Let me make this up to you. Let me get them85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NGhQNr71x
back.”
“You just returned to me Vander; I85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGAgeZOCGx
can’t ask you to put yourself at risk again.” But Vander was adamant, he85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJGxISbENB
wouldn’t be swayed. Seeing the determination in his friend’s eyes, Cuvera85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt80uZAHb0v
relented, but he wouldn’t send Vander out alone. He instructed the guards to85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVekDnGAd5
get Vander’s squad back, Alexander included. Since he had done nothing wrong,85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevOVKjfMZm
he was safe. He instructed Vander to head to his room and get changed while he85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjumfFWGeUz
made the necessary preparations. If anyone from the council got in his way, he85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZVhU6k85R
would deal with them. No one would get in Vander’s way to get their women back.
Vander rushed up the steps, past85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVx0IcAWYcD
the guards, who didn’t even make a move to recapture him. Once he got to his85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvBCvXtE29
room, he was tackled by Shea. He hadn’t been expecting her, so he fell to the85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMn6Clawvk
ground with her teeth a hairsbreadth away from his throat. She was pissed, and85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Q6aklSEa2
rightfully so, but she would have her chance to vent her frustrations once85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡku3zbn0gWh
Eliza and Kiara were safe and sound.
He quickly got dressed then85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGGpe5DBZQ
reached for the sword that had been his partner for almost five years. It felt85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20BmAxwDxm
good having it back within his grasp and he knew that the next time someone85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5aYl8By06i
took it from him would be over his dead body. He threw on a forest green cloak85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgw90QsAaXh
over his uniform then headed outside where he knew the others would be waiting.
Alex and the trainees were waiting85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRlsqN1N4H
with grim faces on the front lawn. Cuvera was with them issuing orders when85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiY4MMoFdva
Vander arrived. It looked as though Cuvera worked fast at giving them horses85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrfpFVUVAc
and supplies, but they would be traveling lightly. The journey would take them85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LD4ELN8QL
a day at the most, but the longer they took the more danger the two of them85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPRD7ryfqX
would be in. They would have to go quick, but pace themselves so they weren’t85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQP5Io3tS9b
exhausted fighting.
“Tell me again why we aren’t85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLFfOGQLhM
sending more soldiers with us?” Forest asked. “We won’t be enough to take on85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9siS9CrZrT
the entire group, no matter how strong Vander and Alexander are.”
“It will take time to mobilize85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCSJPiGczj
them.” Vander interrupted. “They will be a day behind us, we just have to hold85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6osgr0yMuk
out until then.”
“It’s good to see you, Captain.”85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfj60aHymr
Rooster nodded. “I wish it was under better circumstances.”
“We can discuss all that later.”85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLbUfTk9Bt
Vander said. “Cuvera, I will bring her back, I promise.”
“I know you will.” Cuvera gave him85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85KlHnvVRQ
a strained smile. “If you do, I will make sure you are pardoned for whatever85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EwXLodIF0
crimes Peyton claims you did. I know that the assassin couldn’t have gotten in85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡku84FZUJwW
without help, so I will have people investigate Peyton’s whereabouts while you85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5aB5RhSRab
are gone.”
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“Alright, let’s go then.” Vander85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiYOaMko9j
grabbed the reins of his horse then hauled himself onto its back. “We have a85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4P4fJ2QvlY
queen and princess to save.”
