Chapter 38
KADE
M y shadows whipped around us as we rode at breakneck pace across the Kingdom of Brookmere, closer to safety.
Lana’s body remained limp against my own and I tightened my arms around her, to keep her from jostling too much.
I worried about the bruises covering her body when she awoke, but I knew in the end, a few bruises paled in comparison to the death and torture had we stayed.
She is strong. She will survive, physically .
Emotionally, I couldn’t be so sure.
Killing her father in her arms felt like the worst kind of pain. I’d been used for years by my own father, his shadow-wielding weapon. Death wasn’t new.
But knowing what I did would cause her pain punched me in the gut. The hatred in her eyes as we left broke me in ways I hadn’t been prepared for. Losing her father so close to Elisabeth would likely take her to the edge of her sanity.
Hopefully when she woke, I could explain what actually happened compared to what she believed she saw. I had to trust she would listen enough to know it wasn’t my choice.
I did it at his request. I tried to say no.
I would do everything I could to help make her whole, while completing our plan. A small voice inside of me, tucked so far in my shadows, told me I may do everything I could to make her whole, even at the risk of not fulfilling my mission. Fates be damned.
I reached into my horse's satchel, putting my hands on the letter her father insisted I give to her, reassuring myself it hadn’t fallen out. Hopefully, it would provide some answers for her.
The horses in the stables had been running wild during the chaos of the palace attack. Storm and I were lucky to have found the two we had to make this journey, but it meant Lana was stuck with me. If she woke and wanted to be with Storm instead, I’d oblige.
I think .
You will not , my shadows seemed to say as they flared at the thought of her riding alongside anyone but me. Even if it was Storm.
I brought the reins up to rub my face. Fates, this was not supposed to happen. When had my focus shifted from my mission to this beautifully infuriating Fae princess?
Storm kept by my side, riding silently beside me for two hours. I knew he was just as upset over what happened. He didn’t like many people in this world, but he liked Ian. He respected Ian. Hell, I respected Ian, too.
This had all gone to shit.
Knocking him out in the palace after he witnessed the king's shadowy death, would only add to the seeming betrayal of whatever friendship we had formed over the last few weeks. With him and her other friends.
Leaving him unconscious by the king’s dead body was not at all what either of us wanted. Especially when we had no idea of knowing how much longer the battle would rage inside the palace, and out. But we had to get out of there.
I had to get Lana out, and to safety.
But Ian had to survive in order to protect the current queen. To help Brookmere survive so there would be something for Lana to return to when she did ascend the throne.
It would be safer for all of them if the queen survived and stayed in power, but with the magic Andras had been collecting, it seemed unlikely she’d remain on the throne. And losing her mate? It would be a miracle if she could take over with a sound state of mind.
Her mate. I still hadn’t worked out how it was possible the king thought he’d been with his mate.
The horses were tiring, as was I.
Storm finally spoke, “Brookmere will be in ruins.”
“It wasn’t the plan,” I grunted. “None of this was part of the plan.”
“You don’t say. I didn’t think killing the king was even an option,” Storm grumbled.
“I told you what happened. I told you why?—”
Storm’s fire lit, a sign of his distress and anger, which rarely presented itself. “I know. I know. But we need her. We planned this for three years, Kade. Three. Years.”
“You think I don’t know that? You think I wanted to change our plan?”
Storm finally looked at me, his fire died down around him, but his eyes were ablaze as if the fire magic now burned within him. “ Our plan? You mean the prophecy,” he spat. “Fuck, Kade. It’s a prophecy, not some random idea we made up underneath the stars one night.”
“Ugh,” Lana groaned as her head rolled to the side. She had started to wake.
I wrapped my arms around her, preparing myself for her anger.
She lifted her head, her body going rigid until she realized where she was. Or at least that she wasn’t inside the palace anymore.
As expected, she immediately went into fight mode. She beat at my arm, scratching at my side, anything she could do to release my grip.
“Get off of me, you monster,” she said. “Where are you taking me?”
“I will tell you everything when we stop for the night,” I said, trying my best to keep my voice calm and reassuring, despite her panic.
“And what the hell do you know about the prophecy?” she asked.
I stilled on the saddle, although the horse pressed on. I frowned, trying to catch a glimpse at the woman in my arms. “What do you know about the prophecy?” I retorted.
Wiggling herself forward, she tried to break my grip as the space between us grew, but I stiffened my arms and brought her back to me so she wouldn’t fall. We were still galloping across open fields. I wasn’t willing to slow down. Not until we had more distance between us and the siege happening in Ellevail.
“Why have you kidnapped me?”
“We aren’t kidnapping you,” I grumbled.
“Technically, we did knock her out and are taking her against her will, so…” Storm chimed in.
“Not helping,” I gritted out through clenched teeth.
“You killed my father! You hurt Ian! Why would I go anywhere with you willingly ?” Her voice rose in panic.
I sent a tendril of a shadow down her back, attempting to calm her as they’d always been able to do in the past. “Please. You don't understand, there's more than what you saw.”
“I know what I saw. There is nothing you could say to explain killing the king.” Lana seethed.
“Stop fighting me or you will fall,” I said, trying to regain control.
She gripped the saddle tightly, hissing, “I don't want to touch you.”
Finally, we were able to slow as we approached a small village close to Demarva. It was on the outskirts and not frequented by many. They didn’t even have their own town name. But it was perfect for us, especially since we wished to come and go unseen.
Slowing the horses to a walk, allowed the animals to catch their breath as we approached a small inn.
The centuries-old inn, The Knotted Willow, stood before us, and despite its tattered windows and thatching, the flowers surrounding the knotted wooden door were beautiful. Pinks and purples wove in and out of an ivy vine. This inn had been home too many times to count over the last few years, and the loyalty of the innkeeper had been bought with coin time and time again. This time would be no different.
“Go secure the rooms, Storm,” I instructed. “We’re right behind you.”
Lana, who had refused to look at me until now, turned and glared. “They will know who I am. I am a princess after all. I will scream the entire time we’re here.”
“Please don’t make me knock you out again.” I was exhausted.
Her eyes narrowed even further. “You really are a monster.”
“You have no idea, Little Rebel.”
Storm returned quicker than expected. “Last one on the second floor. The one on the left.”
“One room?” Lana snarled. “I am not sharing a room with you two heathens. Let alone the man who snapped my father’s neck like it was nothing,” Lana proclaimed.
“Nervous to have both of us so close? The ideas are exciting.” I knew it was the wrong thing to say, but I couldn't help myself, trying to relieve the tension.
I could practically see the smoke coming from her ears. “ Never. Again. ”
I dismounted from the stallion and left him with the stable boy to be fed and watered, while Storm did the same. I offered Lana my hand to help her down, but she jumped off by herself. She appeared wary as she surveyed her surroundings. Ian had taught her well.
Storm entered the rundown inn first, and we followed, my shadows leading Lana, since I knew if I touched her, she’d just struggle further. William, the old innkeeper, sat watch from his normal spot behind the bar, empty, save for one lone traveler passed out on a table.
We were halfway across the room, when she turned toward William and started yelling, “Please, help me! My name is Princess Illiana Dresden. I’ve been kidnapped by these men! They killed the King of Brookmere!”
The old Fae was unfazed, his lips drawn in a tight line, and he bowed his head once as we passed him.
“Food in our rooms, William. When you can.”
A grunt was all I got in reply.
I had to force Lana up the stairs, but eventually, we made it to the top.
She whirled on me. “This is treason, and I’ll never forgive you for this.”
“Yes, you keep reminding me, Little Rebel,” I grumbled before pressing a hand to her back and shoving her up the last few stairs and into our room.