Chapter 14
“I see, so that’s what133Please respect copyright.PENANAIOE73kII2E
happened.” Vander was sitting in Cuvera’s room on a blue couch while his friend133Please respect copyright.PENANAV0PWMU7EPG
reclined on the other smoking on his pipe. Cuvera had excused himself from the133Please respect copyright.PENANAs8FkP8pzTK
party early under the guise of being tired, but he made sure to slip Vander a133Please respect copyright.PENANABJ3SNDUBbr
note on his way out telling him to meet him in his apartment ten minutes later133Please respect copyright.PENANADXmtI4YHcc
to not arouse suspicion. He half expected Kiara to be there when he arrived,133Please respect copyright.PENANA1JoFYWFtDR
but he had been told that they wouldn’t share a room until they were married133Please respect copyright.PENANAXFYhOLLrU3
per her customs.
“Are you angry?” Vander asked,133Please respect copyright.PENANAtwqTHXhnyL
rubbed his hands together. He didn’t look up at his friend the entire time he133Please respect copyright.PENANAPkW2zHmthF
explained what happened during the prince’s absence as he was too afraid as to133Please respect copyright.PENANAJidbJPTQte
what he might say.
“Why would I be angry?” Cuvera133Please respect copyright.PENANAEDkO1DV6jP
asked. Vander looked up to see confusion etched on his face. “You saved my133Please respect copyright.PENANASGkzhQPso9
father’s life; I’m surprised he hadn’t given you a parade to celebrate. Did he133Please respect copyright.PENANAAaE8XoVtlX
offer you anything at all?”
“No,” Vander shook his head. “He133Please respect copyright.PENANAWSwhvwqAhx
wanted to keep everything quiet because it wouldn’t be wise to let the people133Please respect copyright.PENANAgunm0GXiGS
know how close he was t death. He didn’t want to start a riot or anything.”
“Sounds like him.” Cuvera snorted133Please respect copyright.PENANAAI15VIHTMx
taking another hit on his pipe. Smoke billowed out as he continued to speak. “Have133Please respect copyright.PENANAFXvR0Kb0Mx
you had a chance to interrogate the prisoner yet? I bet he has some details133Please respect copyright.PENANAjeuZHQXW5z
that he should share with the class.”
“Not yet.” Vander hesitated. “I’ve133Please respect copyright.PENANAY6o3zfg3Xb
been busy.”
“Well, there is no time like the133Please respect copyright.PENANAuaMjvVuXvL
present.” Cuvera got up from the couch then disappeared into his room. He133Please respect copyright.PENANAH11iLYXF2U
reappeared moments later wearing a Blade uniform with a hood to obscure his133Please respect copyright.PENANAsDcn2uMAom
features. He strapped a fake sword to his belt. It would pass as a real one133Please respect copyright.PENANASwVA4UiO11
sheathed, but the blade itself was made from rubber. It would fail if anyone133Please respect copyright.PENANAxb8ABbhNsk
asked him about it.
“You should rest.” Vander shook133Please respect copyright.PENANAKg6DpnNSXD
his head. “You only just arrived home. Surely this could wait for another day.”
“And miss the chance to see who133Please respect copyright.PENANAyDPRU5YgVQ
tried to kill my father?” Cuvera scoffed. “Nonsense. Plus, based on how you’re133Please respect copyright.PENANAeLir5elE8q
past year has gone, I think you could use the chance to unleash your pent-up133Please respect copyright.PENANAIW0Lc1J3eW
anger. Come on, this will be fun.”
Never one to say no to his oldest133Please respect copyright.PENANAfw5CLpBqPs
friend, Vander relented then followed his friend out the door and deeper into133Please respect copyright.PENANAsmuORbkOr8
the castle.
The dungeons were in the bowels of133Please respect copyright.PENANAkH6m5rGFvL
the ground underneath the castle walls. It was on the same plane as the Pitts,133Please respect copyright.PENANAxmIYTD2r6I
but very few people knew that. As far as people knew, dungeons didn’t exist.133Please respect copyright.PENANAxBsSwhC7hR
They believed that all prisoners of the crown were sent to Jewelthorne’s mines133Please respect copyright.PENANAGzboevEcGS
to live out their days mining precious resources until the day they died, and133Please respect copyright.PENANAstgakR1zJo
that was true for most prisoners. However, those who tried to take out nobility133Please respect copyright.PENANAzTTbW9Z0t4
or members of the crown, a fresh hell waited for them.
The dungeons were on the other133Please respect copyright.PENANA2tSeuk1S2j
side of a secret panel that opened by pulling a torch handle located within the133Please respect copyright.PENANAxenlr9debP
cellars. Vander grabbed the torch so they could see, but Cuvera walked down133Please respect copyright.PENANA2wXEmcE9u9
without hesitation. The cellars were cold and damp with a winding staircase133Please respect copyright.PENANADyU5rlgOU6
that led several stories down. It was a pain to clean, so many of the servants133Please respect copyright.PENANAF6dkqEKElz
didn’t bother leaving cobwebs and dust everywhere. Only those being punished133Please respect copyright.PENANAvuKZjZSSoI
were every told to come down here, so many were on their best behavior.
When they stepped off onto the133Please respect copyright.PENANAAvFs71qsbX
ground, they spotted two Blades guarding the door that would lead into the133Please respect copyright.PENANApqKXLNNyle
actual prison. They were tough, tougher than most Blades, who took their job133Please respect copyright.PENANAHxqyDgzjhN
seriously. No one would be allowed through without prior authorization, unless133Please respect copyright.PENANAJSVJxfCqR9
you were the King or Prince.
“Stop where you are.” One of the133Please respect copyright.PENANALds864H5CD
voices boomed. They lowered their pikes, so the tips were pointed at Cuvera and133Please respect copyright.PENANAAU70XIh6c2
Vander. “No one is allowed through here, even if you are Blades.”
“Oh sorry.” Cuvera removed his133Please respect copyright.PENANAWbDRIjafB1
hood revealing a glimmering smile. “I didn’t want to be seen by any other. Is133Please respect copyright.PENANADAkDzlnYyW
it alright if we go in? I’d hate to use my status, but…” He let that threat133Please respect copyright.PENANA5Q17NQHPlX
hang in that air allowing the guards to figure the rest out.
“We are under direct orders from133Please respect copyright.PENANAT1x9se67TB
Lord Cranton,” they hesitated. However, they knew the Prince out ranked him.
“I’ll deal with the133Please respect copyright.PENANAWBsEZ4ziCS
repercussions.” Vander nodded. “Let us through.”
“As you wish.” One of the guards133Please respect copyright.PENANAqdJ3AxSuqL
removed a set of keys from his belt then unlocked the steel door that opened133Please respect copyright.PENANAeBkZSPUFeP
into the prison. “If you want to open the door you’ll need this key.” He133Please respect copyright.PENANAL4J4WSOWa8
unclipped one of them then handed it to Vander. “Leave him in one piece. I133Please respect copyright.PENANA4rhC8cRijc
think the King wanted him interrogated tomorrow.”
“Might not be needed if we can get133Please respect copyright.PENANAJXy9NWCvBN
the information out of him tonight.” Cuvera frowned. “Thank you.” He opened the133Please respect copyright.PENANAGfa5SJhcN3
door then stepped inside. Thanking the two Blades, Vander then followed his133Please respect copyright.PENANAljVQ1IJKlS
friend.
Thankfully the royal dungeons133Please respect copyright.PENANA6HjG87ikWj
weren’t used too often so there was only one person, and he was locked in the133Please respect copyright.PENANAPPow7qXRw8
cell farthest from the door without any windows or ventilation. The space stank133Please respect copyright.PENANAKFnEnXOSow
of unwashed body odor and festering wound and that was something no amount of133Please respect copyright.PENANAhGWeUCENpQ
cleaner could remove. At least there were no rats or cockroaches waiting to133Please respect copyright.PENANAKfNGbSm0lq
feast on you, but it made it painfully boring being here on your own. Vander133Please respect copyright.PENANALKj9Vfj7Ms
was surprised the assassin hadn’t gone crazy in the days he hadn’t been here.133Please respect copyright.PENANA9AykY5Tv4S
Most went insane after the first.
The assassin looked worse than133Please respect copyright.PENANAerIVhFR0wE
Vander remembered. He must have gotten roughed up when he was brought down133Please respect copyright.PENANAcipa5eAjd6
here. His eyes were swollen and there were bloodied bandages wrapped around his133Please respect copyright.PENANAu67W9TOEOb
stomach. All he had was his tattered cloak to protect him from the chill. Moldy133Please respect copyright.PENANAxz3d50i3Vy
bread and hard stew sat in bowls inside of the cell, untouched.
“So, this is the man who jumped133Please respect copyright.PENANAqILeoUu9bJ
you in the alley.” Cuvera frowned. “He looks likes any of the bums I’d trip133Please respect copyright.PENANAn8FBBKv5On
over in the slums, not a scary assassin.”
“Give me a knife and we shall see133Please respect copyright.PENANA7yqTQyOv8F
how scary I am.” The man growled. He looked up from under his cloak and while133Please respect copyright.PENANA2bRAJ1ZvhM
Vander could see the determination in his eyes, he knew the assassin could133Please respect copyright.PENANAiL2751g8y9
barely stand let alone hold a knife.
“Someone with balls I like that.”133Please respect copyright.PENANAAlJSIcyOdn
Cuvera took the key from Vander’s hand then used it to unlock the cell. The133Please respect copyright.PENANA7jiasVQBQW
door swung open, but before Vander could stop him, Cuvera walked inside, kicked133Please respect copyright.PENANAWo4mtqDKk4
over some of the bowls, then punched the assassin in the face. Blood splattered133Please respect copyright.PENANAid07o3Ck0e
the ground, but he didn’t stop at one. He punched the man several times until133Please respect copyright.PENANAF2D3MpiamJ
he heard teeth hit the stone floor. The man groaned as Cuvera kicked him in the133Please respect copyright.PENANA460Ixxhuuv
side. He would have continued if Vander hadn’t grabbed him around the waist and133Please respect copyright.PENANAE6q2PcrZ8E
throw him to the side.
“Stop.” Vander blocked the prince133Please respect copyright.PENANAEsq1RJ6tgF
from going near the assassin causing his friend to squint his eyes in anger.
“He tried to kill you Vander and133Please respect copyright.PENANAIaDzJke17c
you’re just going to stand there and not punish him?” he asked. “Where are your133Please respect copyright.PENANA70yIbTdv3p
balls?”
“It’s not my place to torture him,133Please respect copyright.PENANA6c5m8F3hSX
Cuvera.” Vander scoffed. He looked down at the man who curled back up into a133Please respect copyright.PENANAiwTgNFlQdp
ball instead of standing up. He didn’t even wipe the blood from his mouth. “There133Please respect copyright.PENANAeUbhUX8I1X
is information he has that we need, but it’s up to my grandfather and your133Please respect copyright.PENANAfQpKfVtkdW
father to decide who gets to do it.”
“Why are we waiting around?”133Please respect copyright.PENANAlRS0bKoUZV
Cuvera asked. “He knows where those bastards went who ordered my father133Please respect copyright.PENANA3xXkOG7ue3
poisoned.” He violently kicked one of the bowls, so it shattered against the133Please respect copyright.PENANAdIlxfCcb5a
wall. “This is so annoying.”
“Someone tried to poison the133Please respect copyright.PENANA3gCUikdvcW
King?” The assassin laughed. “I know nothing about that. My orders were to kill133Please respect copyright.PENANAutGYAtyr5X
a Blade. My friends and I were given the time and place. We didn’t know it was133Please respect copyright.PENANAXEwtXLjGfd
going to be you.”
“Do you know who ordered the hit?”133Please respect copyright.PENANA45BT9SqgEo
Vander asked.
“It’s not my place to know.” The133Please respect copyright.PENANAcn4LuGaRO9
man shrugged. “I just follow orders. That’s all.” Vander strained to tell if he133Please respect copyright.PENANAQMDw3yjm7h
was lying, but based on the steady beat of his heart, he was telling the truth.
“Tell me more about the poisoning133Please respect copyright.PENANACX2TfsDWyj
of my father.” Cuvera squats down in front of the assassin. “And I want to know133Please respect copyright.PENANAJsVlc1gqVA
everything.”
“I told you princeling,” he said133Please respect copyright.PENANATJpqa7NFSO
with a sneer. “I know nothing about that.”
“Which group do you belong too?”133Please respect copyright.PENANAfxDQxnRwfl
Vander asked. The assassin fell silent, but his eyes smoldered with rage.133Please respect copyright.PENANAQuXTfGeyIH
“There are ways I can use to find out.” The assassin stuck his chin out133Please respect copyright.PENANArD7pc7vGr0
indignantly.
“Hold him.” Cuvera demanded. “This133Please respect copyright.PENANA1QiCBO6GVu
is an order as your prince, not a request from a friend.” Nodding his head,133Please respect copyright.PENANASKQGWwQji3
Vander grabbed the assassin then held him against the wall, so his feet were133Please respect copyright.PENANA3tmpTYo5o9
dangling. Even though he struggled, he wasn’t strong enough to do anything133Please respect copyright.PENANAKMeeagKuS0
after days of not eating. So, after a few seconds he hung there like a limp133Please respect copyright.PENANAzjNPDeIkLE
noodle. “Knife.” Vander removed a knife from his belt then placed it in his133Please respect copyright.PENANAQfMZ2RMnbe
friend’s outstretched hand.
Cuvera placed the knife against133Please respect copyright.PENANADZGDUiZtAQ
the man’s arm then cut open the sleeve. He wasn’t gentle doing it drawing a133Please respect copyright.PENANAkXB0ZIqMpL
little bit of blood in the process. He pulled the rest down to reveal a heavily133Please respect copyright.PENANA0koBKXgwkY
muscled, but bare arm. Frowning, he moved onto the next arm with the same133Please respect copyright.PENANArupts5wYYK
result. He clicked his tongue annoyed as he walked around the assassin who133Please respect copyright.PENANARS2lnxPY3x
likely knew what he wanted but wasn’t in the mood to help.
“Make him kneel.” Vander pulled133Please respect copyright.PENANAoNvcBxwxvI
the man off the wall placing him on the ground. Then he kicked out both knees133Please respect copyright.PENANA4WKBu03FBB
making him cry out in pain, but he fell to the ground placing his hands out in133Please respect copyright.PENANAoa3Dapcp0M
front of him to catch himself. Vander gripped the back of his neck then133Please respect copyright.PENANAVoxLoS0LTo
squeezed causing a small cry of pain to squeak out of the assassin, but he133Please respect copyright.PENANAaA3oMAPrAu
didn’t move.
“You won’t get your answers by133Please respect copyright.PENANA0wfAD97J9S
torturing me.” He rasped. “I’ve been through far more than you have.” Without133Please respect copyright.PENANAqDw4m8sYwO
warning, Cuvera slammed the knife into the man’s shirt then ripped downward.133Please respect copyright.PENANA5iA2Tl9JRg
The man stifled his screams as the knife tip bit into his flesh.
Vander wasn’t133Please respect copyright.PENANADUQK6mckjJ
sure what the prince was after, but it became clear once he parted the bleeding133Please respect copyright.PENANA60uWzeLGsG
shirt from the back to reveal an emblem that sent chills down his spine. It was133Please respect copyright.PENANA5uOEj8C2Oo
an entwined green snake tattoo with a sword shoved through the mouth and133Please respect copyright.PENANA5fdf76JsUi
through the back. Even though he hadn’t seen it before, he knew that this was133Please respect copyright.PENANAFaYmaxly0C
the emblem of the Green Serpents.
“Well, we have133Please respect copyright.PENANA0PITH81hHY
one answer.” Cuvera smiled. “We know you are a Serpent and that lines up nicely133Please respect copyright.PENANAuC0XiaZZkq
with the intelligence that we already have.”
“I already told133Please respect copyright.PENANAF7E8QOQXl4
you,” the assassin shivered. “We had nothing to do with the King’s illness. It133Please respect copyright.PENANAevfNKap61x
wasn’t us.”
“Vander.” Cuvera133Please respect copyright.PENANAqiH0rc4xyk
stepped back but tilted his head towards the assassin. Sighing, Vander hauled133Please respect copyright.PENANAQVPjsSqmFp
the guy up to his feet then punched him in the stomach. The man doubled over133Please respect copyright.PENANA5hHHISLSSW
but Vander brought his knee up right into his jaw. The assassin stumbled133Please respect copyright.PENANAniN4zZu9G5
backwards, but he quickly righted himself. He spat out a wad of blood at133Please respect copyright.PENANAWTIjtnJh1s
Vander, hitting him in the face. As he struggled to wipe the blood away, the133Please respect copyright.PENANAcJFUYf535U
assassin tackled Vander pushing him into the bars. He let out a cry of pain but133Please respect copyright.PENANAptLI1Y9NLd
recovered quickly. He brought both fists down onto the assassin’s back slamming133Please respect copyright.PENANAP4d3Udf9cQ
him into the ground. The assassin tried to crawl away, but Vander grabbed his133Please respect copyright.PENANA08VM2J2jsl
leg pulling him back in.
The two of them133Please respect copyright.PENANAt9jRVeUtxn
fought while Cuvera sat there with a small grin on his face. The fight ended133Please respect copyright.PENANA9Dny4q7HO6
when Vander drove his elbow into the man’s already damaged jaw. That final blow133Please respect copyright.PENANAiMgAB6EAL7
was enough to dislocate it then to keep him from crying out, a blow to the133Please respect copyright.PENANAxKDbigPL60
temple rendered him unconscious. Vander got up, staggered for a second, before133Please respect copyright.PENANAFB3sF3cq0Z
fixing himself.
“Why did you make133Please respect copyright.PENANA3VEe94icaT
me do that?” he asked the prince.
“I didn’t make133Please respect copyright.PENANAwCUH9buTnL
you do anything.” The prince shrugged. “It looked like you need to release some133Please respect copyright.PENANAs6bj58kxgC
rage, so I merely gave you the opportunity, plus we learned something in the133Please respect copyright.PENANA56jiKAjiun
process. Come on let’s go.”
Vander looked133Please respect copyright.PENANADCvXMGAJbz
down at the assassin before following his friend out of the cell and back133Please respect copyright.PENANApqxVV6NsD3
towards the door. Cuvera didn’t say anything as they left, but Vander whispered133Please respect copyright.PENANALOxbBWrdVa
to send a healer for the man inside. The guards nodded their head but didn’t133Please respect copyright.PENANAbClI7g8RyN
move. They would wait a few minutes before ‘discovering’ that the man had tried133Please respect copyright.PENANAUaVrS03leh
to harm himself. It wasn’t the first time they did something like this.133Please respect copyright.PENANAXKnnLgISK4
However, the King would find out then there would be hell to pay.
“Man, that was133Please respect copyright.PENANACPHlzNy3W4
awesome.” Cuvera cheered. “You were so badass when you were beating him. You133Please respect copyright.PENANANFsIRaDa8Q
got to teach me how to fight.”
“If I remember133Please respect copyright.PENANAqBLuybV1Z0
correctly that didn’t go so well the last time.” Vander mused. He held his hand133Please respect copyright.PENANA7f4e2qT1ea
out for the knife then promptly sheathed it as to not arouse suspicion. Last133Please respect copyright.PENANABWjYjWJD5l
time Vander had tried to teach the prince how to fight, they were ten years133Please respect copyright.PENANAaMHvUDovpp
old, and one punch was enough to send him crying to his mother. The King133Please respect copyright.PENANAJkG3gjJMPO
shortly put a stop to that.
“This time be133Please respect copyright.PENANA1FjltyBd85
different.” He rolled his eyes. “I’m in peak physical condition.” He threw a133Please respect copyright.PENANAgRIQBC8Ij8
couple of jabs into the air. Normally Vander would have laughed, but he had133Please respect copyright.PENANAR1zsbfeFVw
just been ordered to beat a broken man and it didn’t sit right with him. Cuvera133Please respect copyright.PENANADIxkG8kr4G
had his moments, but he wasn’t cruel. This was out of character for him,133Please respect copyright.PENANAGDFboePG6C
hearing about his father almost dying must have spooked him enough to act.
They made their133Please respect copyright.PENANAjigERB326y
way through the castle heading back towards Cuvera’s apartment. They saw a133Please respect copyright.PENANAKBs04QOYAL
couple of noblemen with their escorts, but they all bowed their heads once they133Please respect copyright.PENANAR2XFHC7LfK
realized it was the prince which allowed Vander to go unnoticed. He still133Please respect copyright.PENANA5kv0yUXqQ9
hadn’t covered from his other injuries and now he could add fresh ones to the133Please respect copyright.PENANAEcsxvzPqBo
list. Despite being weakened, that assassin wasn’t a push over. He got in a few133Please respect copyright.PENANAdvAUH6b8IW
strikes causing some pain in the process. Despite the quicker healing he had,133Please respect copyright.PENANAOjpOmA8E5y
these injuries would still take a bit.
Vander noticed it133Please respect copyright.PENANAR885j1jtXz
before Cuvera, but there were two people waiting for them inside of his room.133Please respect copyright.PENANATtdiN0iVEL
He relaxed once he recognized their scents as Eliza and Kiara. Shea must like133Please respect copyright.PENANA3EP1tAgUyO
them because he didn’t sense any distress from their bond. If anything, she133Please respect copyright.PENANA0jM5CLpJBx
felt joy and excitement. Vander decided to keep his mouth shut about the133Please respect copyright.PENANApXBMHovlQ8
visitors, his little dose of payback.
“Let’s get133Please respect copyright.PENANAtOgPYmQrPX
something to drink.” Cuvera gripped the door handle. But when he pushed it open133Please respect copyright.PENANAEH2jIpWXJ3
his face fell. “Shit.” He whispered.
Kiara was sitting133Please respect copyright.PENANA6j70zg2fE4
on the couch running her hands through Shea’s fur. Shea was standing on top of133Please respect copyright.PENANAetTc31et0P
her knees licking her face as she laughed. Eliza was standing behind her sister133Please respect copyright.PENANAwNjhSVld34
with a bemused expression on her face. Upon hearing the door open, the two women133Please respect copyright.PENANAR37Yhx7NwE
turned to look at them. Eliza nodded her head respectfully, but anger flooded133Please respect copyright.PENANAFzFPxNZkEF
Eliza’s .
Both had changed133Please respect copyright.PENANAf9Si1N2sux
their outfits to match the cooler climate of Eluvia. Eliza had been given a133Please respect copyright.PENANAXVIinxk6tz
long blue dress, but was wearing an orange shawl over her arms, an ode to her133Please respect copyright.PENANASIT6R9kocO
home country. Eliza was given slacks, a blue shirt and a jacket that looked a133Please respect copyright.PENANAnlsK4of7FF
lot like a Blades. Her hair had been pulled back into a tight ponytail. She133Please respect copyright.PENANACeaPmme6Eu
gave Vander a small smile then she turned back to look at her sister.
“You were133Please respect copyright.PENANAxksEbAlsfz
supposed to escort me around the castle.” She growled. She got up from the133Please respect copyright.PENANAIb7Yd7SQHL
couch and stormed over towards them. “Where have you been?” Vander quickly133Please respect copyright.PENANAvyYjoD8Oi1
tried to slink back into the shadows, but she caught him. “You’re not going133Please respect copyright.PENANAK9SPUOIQ96
anywhere.” She snapped. Her face softened once she saw the blood on his face.133Please respect copyright.PENANAxCD0MEy7Gu
“Are you injured?” she asked.
“It’s nothing.”133Please respect copyright.PENANAAbnIy9GY9s
Vander tried to hide it, but Kiara grabbed him. Vander hissed in pain, so she133Please respect copyright.PENANAARW4WzQ19b
removed her hand.
“Eliza, can you133Please respect copyright.PENANACm0Koqsldl
tend to his wounds so I can have a chat with my fiancé?” she asked. “Please133Please respect copyright.PENANAKhx4PCRpFC
don’t fight me on this Vander, I’d hate for our friendship to start on a bad133Please respect copyright.PENANAxTHIy5eBnd
foot.” He looked towards Cuvera, but he averted his eyes.
“As you wish.”133Please respect copyright.PENANAWYMp4A0xpU
Vander bowed his head.
“This way.” Eliza133Please respect copyright.PENANAASUCV1JFvL
escorted him to the bathroom then she shut the door. Moments later he could133Please respect copyright.PENANAXs7WURribr
hear Kiara yelling at him, but he couldn’t hear what was being said. “Undress.”133Please respect copyright.PENANAghPDOLOT0R
Eliza said.
“Excuse me?” he133Please respect copyright.PENANATjaMgidSAW
asked.
“You’re not the133Please respect copyright.PENANAyQAQlwo4Tc
first man I’ve seen naked.” She scoffed. “And I doubt you’ll be the last.133Please respect copyright.PENANAHPe1632AzQ
Undress so I can see what I’m working with.” He hesitated, but due to her133Please respect copyright.PENANAxPKGIuTZVm
incessant staring he did as she asked. Moments later his clothes were in the133Please respect copyright.PENANAmPUmyJEXO5
corner of the floor as he stood there not even bothering to cover himself. If133Please respect copyright.PENANAFFMSPswQiG
she wasn’t embarrassed, neither would he.
She looked at him133Please respect copyright.PENANAKOJ1hQQFqZ
over tracing the scars on his body lightly with her fingertips. The gentle133Please respect copyright.PENANAz7rcQXhTVN
touch caused him to shiver which placed a delicate smile on her face. Looking133Please respect copyright.PENANAzQ9T0yqLYc
down at himself, he noticed more bruises than he thought spreading across his133Please respect copyright.PENANAwJkzPl82NI
body. However, nothing compared to the giant bruise along his back. When she133Please respect copyright.PENANAhdGTqtvujV
touched it, he was filled with such immense pain he almost turned around to133Please respect copyright.PENANALvp0qErNGP
punch her in the face.
“You’ve been133Please respect copyright.PENANAYpXOhcbrFg
involved in multiple fights recently.” She muttered. “But this one seems133Please respect copyright.PENANAOAnjQTHECm
recent. I heard the person who tired to kill you is locked in the dungeons. Is133Please respect copyright.PENANACEa0kTHCsD
that where you were?”
“Yes.” Vander133Please respect copyright.PENANA8VvofN7rS9
said. He wasn’t sure how she knew about the assassination attempt on him or133Please respect copyright.PENANAOYNtLZ7e1E
where he was located. He suspected Bricen’s spies told her, but there was no133Please respect copyright.PENANAH7E7WZDyY4
way of knowing for sure.
“You shouldn’t133Please respect copyright.PENANA529SUcfbn8
beat those who can’t fight back.” She said. “It’s not a good look, especially133Please respect copyright.PENANAff4ZXWgyK6
for a Blade.”
“Even if the133Please respect copyright.PENANAVU1JAjjTDt
prince ordered you too?” she didn’t say anything else after that. She applied133Please respect copyright.PENANATTFqp5MdXv
some salve onto his wounds and the numbing cold allowed him to finally relax.133Please respect copyright.PENANAP1U6Hl4FzG
Once she was done she told him to put his clothes on while she went out to talk133Please respect copyright.PENANAQglDnv4IR5
to Kiara. When he got outside he saw that Cuvera was nowhere to be found.
“I told him to133Please respect copyright.PENANA8w2HXn9bAS
tell his father what happened as well as what you discovered.” Kiara said. “He133Please respect copyright.PENANAv8zsAh5kpI
didn’t want to leave me, but I said you were here to protect me if I needed it.133Please respect copyright.PENANAtkM0ljBsRe
Now, I’m asking you to escort me around the castle. Are you up for it?”
“Yes.” Vander133Please respect copyright.PENANArxSfKOcHBH
bowed his head. She turned to look up at Eliza who nodded her head in133Please respect copyright.PENANApwnKBq8DNq
agreement.
“Good thing your133Please respect copyright.PENANAtmUBkDOKhq
fight with the assassin didn’t go worse or I’d have gone without an escort.”133Please respect copyright.PENANAEhBd7LJ2as
She grinned.
“Someone would133Please respect copyright.PENANABX72VxIMXX
have taken you around when I couldn’t.” Vander explained. “We tend not to let133Please respect copyright.PENANA8Yfr3KJ027
those of the royal family go without one, even within the castle.”
“You Eluvians are133Please respect copyright.PENANAy5bPQLCyuM
so protective.” She sighed. “You should really let your noblemen learn to fight133Please respect copyright.PENANANlm4llrQb7
for themselves.”
“Do you know how133Please respect copyright.PENANANJx7prCegF
to fight?”
“It’s rude to ask133Please respect copyright.PENANADA5KSJAxS5
a lady,” she grinned. “But perhaps if you’re nice I’ll give you a133Please respect copyright.PENANAa2Pg3vW1hH
demonstration.” Eliza coughed into her hand. “Alright, escort. Let’s go.” She133Please respect copyright.PENANA6lL3YTfb5U
got up off the couch and headed towards the door. Vander hesitated for a moment133Please respect copyright.PENANAwRw9itQxfk
then followed. Shea stayed where she was in front of the couch.
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“Let’s go.” He133Please respect copyright.PENANArix5iA74Gn
said to her. She quickly got up and raced out the door nearly knocking Kiara133Please respect copyright.PENANAOHfovYXuVp
over in the process.