Chapter 38
The two of them talked long into71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJKt32zjh4
the night. Vander had let her do most of it since it seemed she had a lot she71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8m0B95Bnv
wanted to tell him. She talked about her childhood growing up as the third71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNXp89W8Pi
eldest daughter of the Bricen royal family. Despite Kiara being a twin, she was71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpaNaA04S8y
the youngest of the two and wouldn’t gain the throne despite many of the nobles71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DPFPaJJS2
wanting her to succeed their father when it became time. Since she had been the71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡooj1xoTZ7H
third child, there was nothing she could do other than becoming a guard or a71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzLjWBaSYx
priestess of Atza.
When she had just become a71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLgpmSeEvR
teenager, she was praying when she was enveloped in a pillar of fire. That was71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvXiKfEqbg
the first time she heard Atza’s voice proclaiming her the chosen, gifting her a71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxaBPxIEv9i
shard. Contrary to what Eluvia does, everyone knows who has the shard and they71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRAkt3KRIH
are treated like royalty. They are also free to choose their own path so once71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXc5Nc8ZId
she discovered she was meant to be partnered with someone from Eluvia, her71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgO783CCjNJ
father had given her permission to go with Eliza to fulfill the peace treaty.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJm0GBKXjE
She had been nervous upon reaching Eluvia because she didn’t know what kind of71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwi7LLn5yJ
person her mate would have been. As she grew closer to the city, the feeling71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYKuX0zwY6
became stronger. She could sense him, the kind of person he was. He was lost,71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsh9beCDThC
unsure of himself, and she knew then that he would need her, for as long as71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyROjv9nEh
possible.
She also talked a lot about her71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0QU2wzfqW1
interests. She enjoyed fighting for sure, but she also had fun just taking71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxevzur3h1
walks through nature. There weren’t many forests in Bricen, but she would love71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoN2aHWhFSd
to go exploring with him if given the opportunity. She also enjoys swimming but71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbL2rNLLmsE
had never been to the ocean. She made him promise to take her once all of this71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9iHNNGluwO
was over, so he agreed. He also needed a break to unwind from everything.
He told her a little bit about71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdI06EQv9jZ
himself as well. He had never known his parents. He was raised by his71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuroUPJVzQ
grandfather who never spoke much about them and likely never would. It was a71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZFtlOg0Ib
wound too painful to open, so Vander never pried. The people who invited them71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7hJdIOJ9e
into her home were Malcolm and his wife. He and Cuvera had grown up like71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTRFVvhHMD
brothers. They did everything together and were inseparable until he had to71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGIuKpw4oQ
learn how to be a King and Vander, a Blade. However, they had vowed to be there71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsXJ4kN4GH
for each other, no matter what.
He had received his shard when he71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyArsDU2mi7
was a Blade trainee. He explained to her the story that he told Kiara; however,71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0tFzOY7osU
he hadn’t mentioned the tooth had taken as a souvenir before, but he didn’t71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfSkDvBtyz
want to keep anything from Eliza. He kept it as a reminder of the life he had71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMHScRjHwd
taken. It had been his first kill and despite doing it to save his comrades, he71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7mRRJHyjF
still felt bad about it. Shea had been too young to remember it, but she71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70NO6USSEF
accepted her friend’s reasoning. Her mother had asked him to take care of her71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqnCS4MH47
child, so he had. So, it was also a reminder of the promise he made.
After all the talking, his eyes71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzppCd1WbA
were growing heavy. He had fallen asleep while she continued. He found himself71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWanySA6xC
slipping off and soon, it all went black.
When he awakened, he found himself71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHl7RvNrmI3
drooling into her shoulder. Her head was lying on top of his. He could hear her71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4aENR9D6pQ
snoring in his ear. He carefully removed his head from under hers, but the71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡik8KD4f5OH
sudden movement caused her to fall over, so her head was resting upon his lap.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjTyxVWGsT
He couldn’t resist the urge to stroke her hair. It must have felt good because71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYbSpq6vwJ
she moaned into his lap then shifted to give him more access. He smiled looking71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCbPfb64Db
down at her. She looked so adorable sleeping that he had to resist the urge to71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtEDvNuEQv
pinch her cheeks.
After a half hour, her eyes71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqy7KzJo2Vj
fluttered open. She looked up at him with a small smile on her face. “Good71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5KBUiRndz
morning.” She whispered.
“Good morning.” He smiled down at71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtevmssFM3
her. She sat up, rubbing her eyes while she yawned.
“Despite the terrible71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbchXj3oWkt
arrangements, I slept quite well.” She beamed. “I hope you slept well too.”
“I’ll sleep even better once I’m71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTqaG91bdw
back in my own room.” He stretched, thankful to be removing the knots from his71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOVC9MqiZz
back.
“Hopefully that will be soon.”
“I wouldn’t count on it.” Vander71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hDojE3y8w
and Eliza jumped to their feet as a voice spoke up from the corner of the cell.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvYQ3qTpMs
A fully cloaked figure stepped out from the shadows holding an unconscious71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtWA9M8WVd
woman over her shoulder. Vander recognized her as Kiara.
“Let her go!” Eliza charged Fang,71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mvQOZvObd
but the assassin sidestepped then brought her hand down on the back of the71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXp7gPSu2Se
woman’s neck. Eliza’s eyes rolled towards the back of her head before falling71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXVevJpdSW
unconscious. Before Vander could attack them, Fang dropped a small ball which71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbUmdJvjIx
exploded black smoke all over the cell.
“Come find me in the village71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeKGf3SSbP
called Woodsedge.” The voice echoed through the small room. “We will settle71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjviWOKuuh
this there, Shard of Unna.” The last thing Vander saw before passing out was71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBI4znFMq1g
Fang scooping up Eliza then disappearing into the shadows.
…
Someone slapped Vander awake. His71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CvHOTr7xx
eyes fluttered open as he jumped to his feet. He was still inside his cell, but71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOT6EPINeAh
he could feel Eliza anywhere. He turned around to see Cuvera standing there71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZMhUX9lCs
with a panicked expression on his face.
“Where is Kiara?” Cuvera shouted.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBqhI6qxda
“What happened?”
“Woodsedge.” Vander gasped out.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGN3nn0dFh
“Fang came in here, stepped out from the shadows, with Kiara on her back. She71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9A990qmpMt
took Eliza as well before knocking me unconscious.”
“How did she get in?” Cuvera71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdh4AJm1dJc
demanded. “How did she get past you?”
“I don’t know, Cuvera.” He71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTzqZQCbwA
explained. “Once minute Eliza and I were talking, then Fang came out from71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKOzJAv9PV
inside that corner. It all happened so fast; I could even react.”
“Well, we know where they are.”71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvv0zx8ySP
Cuvera left the cell leaving the door unlocked. “Let’s go get them back.”
“Cuvera no.” Vander shook his71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqmMCf6k0t
head. “You are too important to risk on the front lines. Let me go.”
“I will send the army.” Cuvera71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtLpeqeef1
growled. “I will burn that damned village to the ground to get them back.”
“Send me.” Vander said. “I can get71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvgqKmEMFX
there and bring them out safely. Let me make this up to you. Let me get them71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqnk49ibZO
back.”
“You just returned to me Vander; I71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEVXFWw1U8
can’t ask you to put yourself at risk again.” But Vander was adamant, he71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqjGU0p4lP
wouldn’t be swayed. Seeing the determination in his friend’s eyes, Cuvera71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEw1aV4Mzf
relented, but he wouldn’t send Vander out alone. He instructed the guards to71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTKlb7vlib
get Vander’s squad back, Alexander included. Since he had done nothing wrong,71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75DBZih9Op
he was safe. He instructed Vander to head to his room and get changed while he71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3FYo1MzoM
made the necessary preparations. If anyone from the council got in his way, he71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5maSQ6ZQ0v
would deal with them. No one would get in Vander’s way to get their women back.
Vander rushed up the steps, past71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlY0uULAWc
the guards, who didn’t even make a move to recapture him. Once he got to his71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4o9SZteOsv
room, he was tackled by Shea. He hadn’t been expecting her, so he fell to the71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbcw0FiRn0u
ground with her teeth a hairsbreadth away from his throat. She was pissed, and71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9JjANM5P9
rightfully so, but she would have her chance to vent her frustrations once71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEFdmtrvf7
Eliza and Kiara were safe and sound.
He quickly got dressed then71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9L8AmAm7h
reached for the sword that had been his partner for almost five years. It felt71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3QI0nWCw6
good having it back within his grasp and he knew that the next time someone71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEIjVOi1bH
took it from him would be over his dead body. He threw on a forest green cloak71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLB5MVPIBrk
over his uniform then headed outside where he knew the others would be waiting.
Alex and the trainees were waiting71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjiFuWzmMF
with grim faces on the front lawn. Cuvera was with them issuing orders when71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvE41Kd3OOH
Vander arrived. It looked as though Cuvera worked fast at giving them horses71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwh18TGzm3j
and supplies, but they would be traveling lightly. The journey would take them71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezFzfCZhQ5
a day at the most, but the longer they took the more danger the two of them71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7oDnehxrUl
would be in. They would have to go quick, but pace themselves so they weren’t71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfZ3Jsm44j
exhausted fighting.
“Tell me again why we aren’t71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwtBn3fidc
sending more soldiers with us?” Forest asked. “We won’t be enough to take on71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuduTCHg3cK
the entire group, no matter how strong Vander and Alexander are.”
“It will take time to mobilize71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MjCajPELg
them.” Vander interrupted. “They will be a day behind us, we just have to hold71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00uNJJS3cZ
out until then.”
“It’s good to see you, Captain.”71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRbPMLxNnZ
Rooster nodded. “I wish it was under better circumstances.”
“We can discuss all that later.”71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrs3v13G0z
Vander said. “Cuvera, I will bring her back, I promise.”
“I know you will.” Cuvera gave him71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTq0VvrLj8d
a strained smile. “If you do, I will make sure you are pardoned for whatever71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxX4H1HNEFz
crimes Peyton claims you did. I know that the assassin couldn’t have gotten in71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghs39cmi72
without help, so I will have people investigate Peyton’s whereabouts while you71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjd0wqx92X
are gone.”
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“Alright, let’s go then.” Vander71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mhPlKMzok
grabbed the reins of his horse then hauled himself onto its back. “We have a71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAeTSnR9QM
queen and princess to save.”
