Chapter 27 - Jael
Jael
XXVII
I slept better that day than I had in years. The feel of Kalla’s warmth pressed against me and the memory of our bodies rocking together in the cramped space of the blind had wrapped my mind in soft cotton and protected me from the monsters that chased me every time I closed my eyes.
All too soon, the sun was down and the moon was up, letting us know it was time to finish the final leg of our journey.
This was it. Our last night. Before dawn, I would be murdering a princess on behalf of the Coynfare and destroying the well-laid plans of a cruel king.
Kalla would return to her mountain and her familiar routine.
Our paths, which for over a week had run together, would diverge, never to cross again. Fae and vampire once more divided.
Despair sang through me like a discordant note, an out-of-tune echo that sent my heartstrings jangling, but there was nothing for it. Kalla might live in darkness, but she carried too much brightness to be tainted by my shadows.
She crawled out of the blind first and slipped on her breeches and shirt before standing by to watch me do the same.
I loved the way her eyes devoured my nakedness before I covered myself, as though she were memorizing the shape of me.
I both hoped it was true and that it wasn’t.
I loved the idea that our night had meant something to her but didn’t want her to hold on to me too tightly. I wanted her to be happy.
As soon as we were dressed, I held my hand out to her, and she accepted it as we began our walk back to the others.
A thin layer of cloud drifted over the moon and obscured the path in deep shadow, so I trusted Kalla to lead me. Even without the blindfold, I was content to let her be my guide for as long as she could.
We found Cliff and the others standing outside the cave when we arrived and accrued a good number of looks from everyone except Corban, who made a pointed effort not to look at us at all.
“We can’t be far now, can we?” he asked, blocking any sly comments that appeared to be brewing on Hethyr’s tongue.
She settled for exchanging a knowing glance with Ria, and I appraised them with interest. At what point had the fae and the vampire become such friends as to share silent conversations between them?
How much could change in the span of a week.
“It’s not,” Cliff confirmed. “I bet we’ll be bidding you fair folk farewell by midnight. Maybe sooner if we get a move on and keep a good pace.” He shot Corban a dark look. “It can’t come soon enough for my taste.”
Kalla’s grip tightened on mine, and I squeezed back. Cliff was right. The sooner I let her go, the better for everyone.
As much as it pained me, as hard as my fingers fought me, I released her hand and strode forward to walk beside Cliff, needing to put space between us now in case I didn’t have the strength to do it later.
We walked in silence, on alert for more guards to jump out of the woods and surprise us.
That we saw no sign of them did nothing to put us at ease.
On the contrary, it raised my suspicions that we might be walking into a trap.
When the guards who’d attacked us had failed to report in, the rest would have known something was wrong.
Either the royal contingent hadn’t had enough soldiers left to send anyone else, or they would come in force.
Our only choice was to move quickly and stay alert.
The trail came into view, and Corban lengthened his stride. “About fucking time,” he grumbled. “All these wasted days, and now we’ll finally have our chance to strike. First the royal bitch, then we ride home and lead the charge against the throne. It’s been a long time coming.”
“You must want this badly,” Ria said, her eyes narrowed.
“More than you can believe. It’s time for a regime change, and I’ll be the one to take over.
” A wide, cruel smile stretched across his face.
“I can’t wait to put the bastards down. All those nobles who smeared shit across my face are going to eat it.
” He barked a laugh, already enjoying his victory.
Cliff frowned. “Sounds like you’re aiming for a power grab more than to save your country.”
“One and the same, aren’t they? I want the king gone, but someone needs to take his place. Otherwise, some other shit will step in and nothing will change. The Coynfare will prevent that.”
“You will, you mean,” Kalla said, and the look Corban sent her might have frozen water.
“What does that matter? I can bring change. You doubt me?”
“I doubt anyone looking to put themselves above their people. You’ll be just as bad as Leonine.”
Corban moved so quickly I had no time to grab him before he drew his dagger and pressed the tip of it to Kalla’s throat.
“You have no fucking idea, so I suggest you keep your lips shut. You brought us this far, and now we have no need of you. Why don’t you run back to your little cave and keep hiding like the coward you are? ”
I snatched his wrist and twisted it until he dropped his blade. “Threaten her again, and I’ll snap your neck.”
He sneered. “Showing your weakness again, are you? Zath named you his second because he said you had a good head on your shoulders, but you lack vision. You won’t be the one to see this mission through, and we all know it.”
Hethyr stepped between us, resting her hand on my arm. “We might not like him, but if you’re serious about wanting to finish this, Jael, we need him.”
Kalla hadn’t moved. Her blue eyes were pinned on Corban’s face, hints of red snaking through the irises as her bloodlust rose. Either I de-escalated the situation, or she would drain him dry, and as much as I hated it, Hethyr was right.
I released Corban and stepped back. “Our first goal is to deal with Brynna. Whatever comes after that… Well, that might not be up to any of us.”
Corban snorted and grabbed his dagger from the ground. “Whatever you want to think, ledsha.”
He stormed away, and Kalla raised an eyebrow at me. “Ledsha?”
“It means cushion.” I shrugged. “He thinks I’m soft.”
She grinned. “You are rather comfortable.”
My arms ached with a longing to bundle her against me and make sure she was all right after that bastard’s idiocy, but I forced myself to turn my back on her and go after Corban.
Hethyr and Pimmin ignored his tantrum, staying close to Ria and giving her cooking tips to help liven up the vampires’ diet. From what I overheard, Kalla and I had missed quite the feast last night.
We hit a rise in the trail and followed it to the top of a hill, where the trees fell away and the path beyond was laid out before us. We kept to the side of the ruts in the earth and dropped into a crouch, not wanting to become easy targets for anyone waiting for us to come into view.
“There they are,” Corban said, his voice thick with glee. “See those lights?”
I followed his pointing finger, and a rock formed in my gut. He was right. Even if we slowed our pace to increase our stealth, Cliff’s estimate of midnight had been spot on. Not long now.
I should have been thrilled. We had caught up to our quarry. By the time the sun rose, we would have fulfilled our task, win or lose.
Instead, I felt... I didn’t even know. Fear was part of it, but so much ran alongside it. Disappointment, regret. The fire of revenge I’d followed into these woods and the heat that had replaced it had both gone out, leaving an icy block in their wake.
“All righty then.” Cliff’s casual tone cut through my shadowed thoughts, and I turned to find him gesturing for the other vampires to join him. “Good luck with everything.”
“You’re leaving?” Pimmin asked, surprised. My gaze flew to Kalla, who rose beside Hethyr with her eyes downcast.
Ria shrugged and followed Cliff’s silent command. “You’re on the edge of our territory, and your target is right there. We’ve taken you as far as we can.”
My heartbeat thundered in my ears as I stared at Kalla, desperate for her to look at me. I needed—I didn’t know what I needed, but I couldn’t watch her walk away without... something.
“I hope you make it back to Soldara,” she said to Hethyr and Pimmin, and then she was walking away.
Wait, Kalia. Lutrena me.
The words caught in my throat.
Her leaving was what I wanted. We both knew it was for the best. A clean break. Nothing tying us together except for a few memories that would warm me in my final moments. She was protecting herself, just as she should.
I lost sight of her when Cliff stepped in front of me.
His brown eyes were colder than I’d seen them, and although I had a bit of height on him, he loomed over me.
“Everything that happens now is on you, fae, you understand me? Once that princess is dead, you run back to Soldara as fast as you can and you keep your mouth shut.”
I swallowed and nodded, less cowed by his order than by the idea of Kalla’s pain if anything happened to her family because of my carelessness. “I will.”
Cliff hesitated. “You’re lucky I believe you. Otherwise, I’d end you right here as we should have done back home. Do you have any idea how lucky you are? Kalla’s given up so much of her life to save you. She risked the rest of it to sneak you out.”
I clenched my fists to ground myself. The memory of those vampires slumped on the ground—Thorn’s sharp stare as she watched us leave.
The full weight of what Kalla had done hadn’t hit me until now.
After tonight, she would have to go back to her fury and face her leader.
She would have to justify every crime she’d committed. For me.
I’d love to bring some light back into your life. If you’ll let me.
“Will Thorn kill her?” By the scorn in Cliff’s eyes, I knew I should have asked that question before we left.
“She might. Or she’ll add another fifty years to her sentence. Kalla will be lucky to see the moon before her two-hundredth birthday.”
For me.
The knowledge was like sharp talons stabbing through my rib cage into my heart. She’d put herself on the line so I could leave her. Because she’d wanted me to make my own decision. I wasn’t worth it. I wasn’t worth any of this.
My hand brushed over where hers had rested on my chest.
Cliff scowled and left without another word, leaving me to sit with this revelation. This burden. By the time I looked up, the vampires were gone.
Hethyr and Pimmin turned their attention to me, and I pulled my shoulders back. We were four against however many guards remained in Brynna’s entourage, but we had a purpose. A goal. After everything Kalla had sacrificed to get me here, I couldn’t pay her back by not giving it my all.
I drew in a deep breath, held it, released it, then turned my back on the last light of my life. “Let’s move.”