Chapter 38
The two of them talked long into100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUq7wTrsty
the night. Vander had let her do most of it since it seemed she had a lot she100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTy9C5eIqU
wanted to tell him. She talked about her childhood growing up as the third100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJssuXZuYGl
eldest daughter of the Bricen royal family. Despite Kiara being a twin, she was100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8vitVtL0F
the youngest of the two and wouldn’t gain the throne despite many of the nobles100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsZXTJpJuq
wanting her to succeed their father when it became time. Since she had been the100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQeHz998Bcw
third child, there was nothing she could do other than becoming a guard or a100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjFtitO6nW
priestess of Atza.
When she had just become a100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ006wQcV1gp
teenager, she was praying when she was enveloped in a pillar of fire. That was100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAlq1qLfc2
the first time she heard Atza’s voice proclaiming her the chosen, gifting her a100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgkXno2W2P
shard. Contrary to what Eluvia does, everyone knows who has the shard and they100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BucDugGxX
are treated like royalty. They are also free to choose their own path so once100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpJWzlyROS
she discovered she was meant to be partnered with someone from Eluvia, her100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFYyxYLdpL
father had given her permission to go with Eliza to fulfill the peace treaty.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3zydP6OY8
She had been nervous upon reaching Eluvia because she didn’t know what kind of100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dO0IPvvhW
person her mate would have been. As she grew closer to the city, the feeling100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PbU09UHR8
became stronger. She could sense him, the kind of person he was. He was lost,100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9ZYMsVbTY
unsure of himself, and she knew then that he would need her, for as long as100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgYzh5DJVc
possible.
She also talked a lot about her100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVaFCZB0R6
interests. She enjoyed fighting for sure, but she also had fun just taking100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2BCN8hozv
walks through nature. There weren’t many forests in Bricen, but she would love100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpbLr6Gf4v
to go exploring with him if given the opportunity. She also enjoys swimming but100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCIS2sMMOC
had never been to the ocean. She made him promise to take her once all of this100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Ujuey0UF9
was over, so he agreed. He also needed a break to unwind from everything.
He told her a little bit about100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBa4x5i3LV
himself as well. He had never known his parents. He was raised by his100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnn6xjKYkM
grandfather who never spoke much about them and likely never would. It was a100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ50W99zf5C
wound too painful to open, so Vander never pried. The people who invited them100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOejVf3A0UC
into her home were Malcolm and his wife. He and Cuvera had grown up like100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLrUxaERCt
brothers. They did everything together and were inseparable until he had to100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSujBdaVix
learn how to be a King and Vander, a Blade. However, they had vowed to be there100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxIV53vaFS
for each other, no matter what.
He had received his shard when he100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzZslIJ6sJ
was a Blade trainee. He explained to her the story that he told Kiara; however,100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHpDOjewcW
he hadn’t mentioned the tooth had taken as a souvenir before, but he didn’t100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6lHK5Dotz
want to keep anything from Eliza. He kept it as a reminder of the life he had100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYqI4INktJ
taken. It had been his first kill and despite doing it to save his comrades, he100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDJd9yiXMF
still felt bad about it. Shea had been too young to remember it, but she100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZP1sGIchW
accepted her friend’s reasoning. Her mother had asked him to take care of her100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2kJNo9kOL
child, so he had. So, it was also a reminder of the promise he made.
After all the talking, his eyes100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6h5uMiCoob
were growing heavy. He had fallen asleep while she continued. He found himself100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOMqvUowTo
slipping off and soon, it all went black.
When he awakened, he found himself100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mGVvq6nCU
drooling into her shoulder. Her head was lying on top of his. He could hear her100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgq4RFVmwpR
snoring in his ear. He carefully removed his head from under hers, but the100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK27O8ZbEvP
sudden movement caused her to fall over, so her head was resting upon his lap.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqFlVR4y4y
He couldn’t resist the urge to stroke her hair. It must have felt good because100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPt0lOZPW65
she moaned into his lap then shifted to give him more access. He smiled looking100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFmzPnIDUw
down at her. She looked so adorable sleeping that he had to resist the urge to100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0SALybzys
pinch her cheeks.
After a half hour, her eyes100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZK2XNcPpny
fluttered open. She looked up at him with a small smile on her face. “Good100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNI7faeWCPC
morning.” She whispered.
“Good morning.” He smiled down at100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBCOZ79Jtq
her. She sat up, rubbing her eyes while she yawned.
“Despite the terrible100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuT7uwtsVVV
arrangements, I slept quite well.” She beamed. “I hope you slept well too.”
“I’ll sleep even better once I’m100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFrEf4biYy
back in my own room.” He stretched, thankful to be removing the knots from his100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDwAAa17Tqb
back.
“Hopefully that will be soon.”
“I wouldn’t count on it.” Vander100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0GSO4IRI8
and Eliza jumped to their feet as a voice spoke up from the corner of the cell.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcW3pS1JdH
A fully cloaked figure stepped out from the shadows holding an unconscious100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pKXT2CVkQ
woman over her shoulder. Vander recognized her as Kiara.
“Let her go!” Eliza charged Fang,100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeqcEzh03c
but the assassin sidestepped then brought her hand down on the back of the100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjiUvDbGNZ8
woman’s neck. Eliza’s eyes rolled towards the back of her head before falling100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWdLPqfkb9
unconscious. Before Vander could attack them, Fang dropped a small ball which100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlr6vGi8pZ
exploded black smoke all over the cell.
“Come find me in the village100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3anqHULOJ3
called Woodsedge.” The voice echoed through the small room. “We will settle100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGq1SPGC5m
this there, Shard of Unna.” The last thing Vander saw before passing out was100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWH8YJ7k0A
Fang scooping up Eliza then disappearing into the shadows.
…
Someone slapped Vander awake. His100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nABLRdBb3
eyes fluttered open as he jumped to his feet. He was still inside his cell, but100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHoXaHxq2W
he could feel Eliza anywhere. He turned around to see Cuvera standing there100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxjXLX6W0H
with a panicked expression on his face.
“Where is Kiara?” Cuvera shouted.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NA6z6nMwP
“What happened?”
“Woodsedge.” Vander gasped out.100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqmlIFgyB1
“Fang came in here, stepped out from the shadows, with Kiara on her back. She100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wDozSNRAG
took Eliza as well before knocking me unconscious.”
“How did she get in?” Cuvera100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQu1pkZMuR
demanded. “How did she get past you?”
“I don’t know, Cuvera.” He100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjo2GBDI6p
explained. “Once minute Eliza and I were talking, then Fang came out from100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5N0DvWq0L
inside that corner. It all happened so fast; I could even react.”
“Well, we know where they are.”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJB5OHpxLZM
Cuvera left the cell leaving the door unlocked. “Let’s go get them back.”
“Cuvera no.” Vander shook his100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOow03rZYzV
head. “You are too important to risk on the front lines. Let me go.”
“I will send the army.” Cuvera100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBv0rPn70q
growled. “I will burn that damned village to the ground to get them back.”
“Send me.” Vander said. “I can get100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTXIJjgji2
there and bring them out safely. Let me make this up to you. Let me get them100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3Xjb8aH9b
back.”
“You just returned to me Vander; I100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQao0TB8Hf
can’t ask you to put yourself at risk again.” But Vander was adamant, he100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbRZXMG1FX
wouldn’t be swayed. Seeing the determination in his friend’s eyes, Cuvera100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLD3ssgWyl
relented, but he wouldn’t send Vander out alone. He instructed the guards to100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJj0BVhNAjQ
get Vander’s squad back, Alexander included. Since he had done nothing wrong,100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIoalDsSdFC
he was safe. He instructed Vander to head to his room and get changed while he100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSxXY01bMh
made the necessary preparations. If anyone from the council got in his way, he100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvxNUF4mOx
would deal with them. No one would get in Vander’s way to get their women back.
Vander rushed up the steps, past100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKYFAlNcr7
the guards, who didn’t even make a move to recapture him. Once he got to his100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuP7n63OTam
room, he was tackled by Shea. He hadn’t been expecting her, so he fell to the100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2CnVafLLTk
ground with her teeth a hairsbreadth away from his throat. She was pissed, and100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCDUwHRecJ
rightfully so, but she would have her chance to vent her frustrations once100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlAWgTaedUr
Eliza and Kiara were safe and sound.
He quickly got dressed then100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjmF2bhW9J
reached for the sword that had been his partner for almost five years. It felt100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDbgrE3Ute
good having it back within his grasp and he knew that the next time someone100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3QJ7MrN0I
took it from him would be over his dead body. He threw on a forest green cloak100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSoQ22As87C
over his uniform then headed outside where he knew the others would be waiting.
Alex and the trainees were waiting100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29TkwnfrEA
with grim faces on the front lawn. Cuvera was with them issuing orders when100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkLhvh4LgI
Vander arrived. It looked as though Cuvera worked fast at giving them horses100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzNfRfUBn2
and supplies, but they would be traveling lightly. The journey would take them100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUaM4lzERMB
a day at the most, but the longer they took the more danger the two of them100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXplf97GE1E
would be in. They would have to go quick, but pace themselves so they weren’t100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uuHiaqjXx
exhausted fighting.
“Tell me again why we aren’t100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsuu7Ik87zD
sending more soldiers with us?” Forest asked. “We won’t be enough to take on100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rEtgnD4QE
the entire group, no matter how strong Vander and Alexander are.”
“It will take time to mobilize100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsQUZOOGTA
them.” Vander interrupted. “They will be a day behind us, we just have to hold100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpgiy1phT0
out until then.”
“It’s good to see you, Captain.”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOtTVLN1EJ
Rooster nodded. “I wish it was under better circumstances.”
“We can discuss all that later.”100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8F9CM18T1Z
Vander said. “Cuvera, I will bring her back, I promise.”
“I know you will.” Cuvera gave him100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BH4iGpNOM
a strained smile. “If you do, I will make sure you are pardoned for whatever100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThzSZXFkNK
crimes Peyton claims you did. I know that the assassin couldn’t have gotten in100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJ8bl31BtQ
without help, so I will have people investigate Peyton’s whereabouts while you100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhMMccwmmW
are gone.”
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“Alright, let’s go then.” Vander100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8eDSpISXZG
grabbed the reins of his horse then hauled himself onto its back. “We have a100Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JBu7ZNUCt
queen and princess to save.”
