Chapter 48
Forty-Eight
Anna
“How ya doing?” I asked, poking my head in through the door to Milly’s room. “Got energy for a visitor?”
Milly had fallen asleep the second she was in bed and had only this morning awoken. I’d hurried to get dressed and rush down from the “penthouse” suite to see her when Ella had come knocking.
She was sitting propped up by a bunch of pillows, still frail and weak, but at least she was in clean clothes now, courtesy of Ella, who was sitting on the other side.
Milly’s eyes were alert and focused on me with ease as I came to the bedside of my oldest friend, finding her hand and giving it the gentlest squeeze I could.
“I’m not going to crumble to pieces from a strong gust of wind, Anna,” she ordered. “Don’t treat me like I’m some desiccated old book. A few good meals and sleep in beds like this, and I’ll be right as rain in a few days.”
“Caz said it could take you a week or more to really start getting back up to speed,” I replied.
“You’re a lot weaker than you think. But I promise, if the wind picks up in here, I won’t stop it from knocking your stubborn ass to the floor.
But I will be shouting ‘I told you so’ at the top of my lungs when I pick you back up. ”
“You’d only pick me back up to drop me again.”
“What’s the use? You’ll never learn.”
We stared at one another.
I cracked first. A moment later, all three of us were howling with laughter. Several sore abs and a swipe of tears later, I leaned in to gently hug my friend. “It’s good to see you.”
“You too. Both of you,” Milly said quietly, glancing at Ella and me before staring off into the distance. “I didn’t think I was going to see anyone again. Let alone both of you.”
Ella gently rubbed Milly’s arm. “We’re here now, Mil. That’s what matters. None of us had a good time.”
“Some worse than others,” I said. “I’m not going to pretend like I’ve had it bad.”
“You were nearly murdered by Caz’s uncle and cousin!” Ella protested. “I’d say that counts.”
“But I could count on Caz to come save me,” I said. “I had backup.”
“So did we,” Milly pointed out. “You came and got both of us.”
“Caz did that.”
Milly laughed. “He follows you around like a lovesick puppy dog. You brought him along, even if he carried you.”
“He does not!” I protested.
The girls glanced at one another and rolled their eyes.
“He’s so in love with you a blind dragon could sense it,” Milly said. “And you love him too.”
“So?” I said, trying to fight down a smile. “He’s good to me.”
“A bit better than good if last night’s any indication,” Milly cackled, rubbing her hands together.
“Excuse me?”
Ella bit her lip, her cheeks red, but she wouldn’t say anything.
“The window was open,” Milly said. “Noise carries up here.”
“Oh. Oh,” I moaned, burying my face in my hands. “Tell me you didn’t hear that!”
“All six bits of it.” Milly frowned. “Or was it seven?”
“You’ll never know,” I said, sticking out my tongue to cover my embarrassment. “But don’t worry, you won’t have to listen to it again tonight.”
“You’re leaving.” Ella didn’t make it a question.
“We have to. Bryna needs to be formally arrested and put on trial, and Caz has already been gone from the citadel for a long time, among other things. Milly, you’re in no shape to fly or put up with that place, so you guys are staying.
Kolar and Durion will be here soon. You can trust both of them. I promise.”
Ella’s eyes narrowed. “Why do you have to go with him, Anna? What aren’t you telling us?”
“Uh.”
She crossed her arms, looking at Milly. “We’re your best friends.”
“I know. This is … a month ago, it was the three of us against the world. Now …”
“Now what?” Ella pushed.
“Just spit it out, Na,” Milly said bluntly. “It’s not like it can do any more damage.”
“It’s not that. Caz intends to, um, well you see, now that he’s bitten me, and our mate bond is complete, he intends to announce me to everyone as his mate.” I scrunched up my face at the awkwardness of it. “And to proclaim me Ice Tyrantess.”
The other women were silent. I cracked open an eye, waiting for their outburst, but both of them were just looking at me like I was crazy.
“Why is that surprising?” Milly said. “You’re his mate. He’s yours. Of course he wants to do that.”
“But I’m a grounded!” I protested. “It’s never been done before.”
“Nothing you’re doing has been done before,” Ella said. “You can do this, Anna. I promise.”
“Are you sure? I don’t know. Being with Caz is easy. I can do that. But ruling the kingdom at his side? My word being as much law as his? That’s a lot of power. How do I know I’m worthy of it?”
“Because you ask questions like that,” Ella said quietly.
I looked at her for a moment before glancing at Milly.
“What the smart one said,” she replied, tilting her head slightly in Ella’s direction. “You’re going to be fine. The two of you are going to do great things.”
I smiled tightly. “We’re going to come back as soon as we can. Once Bryna’s imprisoned and her trial set and my proclamation is done. A few days, hopefully no more than that, and we can come back for a bit.”
“We’re going to be fine,” Ella said. “I know we just reunited, but we’re all safe now. It’s going to be fine going forward. Besides, who’s complaining about having to live in a place like this for a while?”
“Not me,” Milly said. “My last place was the dumps compared to this. Except maybe the bedside manner. That hasn’t changed.”
Ella glared comically at Milly, but her mouth was curved upward at the sides.
I smiled, watching my friends. It felt so good to be with them again. I’d gained a part of me I’d never known I needed with Caz, but these girls? They were a part of me just as much. I couldn’t do it without them.
But now I had them. They were safe. What’s more, I had the opportunity to change things. To improve things for the Millys and Ellas of the world. For the ones like Holly and the other grounded still holed up in the citadel’s dungeons.
I owed it to all of them to try to change things. So our children could grow up without fear of living the life I’d had until now.
“Okay,” I whispered, still terrified. “I’ll do it.”
“Good,” Ella said. “We’re fine here. You go be the champion of people like us. No one else can.”
That was the truth. I was the only one who could speak for them.
And I would.