Chapter Fourteen
Emilie
“Are you sad to be leaving your brother behind?”
Jade turned to me with a questioning look, as if annoyed that I was trying to engage in conversation with her. I wouldn’t call her intimidating per se, but she did give off a combative aura.
Still, I didn’t have many friends, and she looked to be about my age. We shared a mutual loathing of Reyna—surely we could be friends if she would be staying in Renoa.
After a few moments of silence, she responded, “Not really. I’m looking forward to his absence. I won’t have to listen to his barking out orders every morning and afternoon.”
I thought I caught a glimpse of a smile, but she quickly hid it, returning to her cool, detached demeanor.
“The two of you seemed to get along fairly well. I have a brother too, you know. I wish I got to see him more often. He was—”
“Does it look like I care?” she asked rudely, interrupting my feeble attempt at bonding. “I am here for one purpose—to make sure Ladon stays true to his word. And if Cyrus resurrects to reclaim his title, then I will make sure he upholds our bargain, too.”
I didn’t ask how she intended to do that. First, because I was certain she would snap at me again; and second, because I figured her means of persuasion were of the deadly variety. Instead, I made a mental note to ensure both Ladon and Cyrus had extra security once we got back.
Jade sped up to walk behind Bianca and Aven, leaving me behind to bask in my failure.
“Don’t worry about her,” Ladon said, coming up beside me. “I think she hates everyone.”
“Were you eavesdropping?”
He shrugged. “You weren’t exactly quiet.”
“I suppose not,” I grumbled.
“Don’t look so upset. You did just kill Vessina and saved Cyrus in the process. Who taught you to be so deadly?”
I turned to see him grinning in a way that made my heart stutter. Heat rose to my cheeks, and I faced forward again, hoping he wouldn’t notice.
But of course he did.
He spoke quietly so that only I could hear. “Gods, Emilie. I can’t even begin to explain how much I love seeing you flush for me. It makes me want to kiss every inch of you just so I can feel your warmth against my lips.”
I had to resist the urge to clench my thighs together. Somehow he still noticed my unease, because he chuckled in a deep, throaty way that brought the flush right back to my cheeks.
“Ladon,” I admonished. “You can’t speak to me like that. At least not while we can’t act on it.”
“Hmm, soon, we will be able to act on it. Very soon, princess.”
The thought cheered me up. Yes—soon, Cyrus would be awake, and I could break off our engagement. It wasn’t a conversation I was looking forward to, but the sooner I got it over with, the sooner I could move on with my life. Then I could show my affection toward Ladon out in the open.
I couldn’t wait for the day that our love was no longer a secret.
When I could lie next to him without feeling guilty.
It seemed like a dream—freedom from my parents’ expectations and freedom to love Ladon unapologetically.
Once Cyrus was awake, nothing could stop us from living happily ever after like the stories in children’s books.
A knot formed in my stomach, and it only took a second to recognize the discomfort.
Reyna.
Her hounds and her snake were long gone, but her ghost still haunted me every night. She interrupted every moment of peace I’d found since leaving her prison. How could I move on with my life while she still breathed?
My eyes were drawn to the two hostages we’d been given in exchange for helping Jesse.
They staggered behind Mira while Bianca and Aven ushered them forward.
Their wrists were bound behind their backs, and chains circled their ankles with just enough space for them to shuffle, which made for a slow journey home.
It was uncomfortable to see people being treated this way, but then I recalled how they’d treated Ladon and me, and my sympathy for them faded.
At least they hadn’t been given permanent scars around their wrists and ankles like we had.
They didn’t speak at all even when offered food or drink. It was a miracle they walked without being forced. Either they were hopeful we’d be merciful to them, or they were quietly plotting their own escape and praying we’d let our guards down if they behaved.
They were foolish if they believed that to be the case.
“What do you intend to do with them?” I asked Ladon.
He followed my gaze. “They’ll get what they deserve.”
“What exactly does that mean, Ladon?”
He swallowed, taking his time while he considered whether I could handle the truth. I knew it would be sinister, but I hoped he knew I’d prefer his honesty over blissful ignorance.
He settled somewhere in between, rubbing the back of his neck. “You don’t have to be involved in this. We’ll get answers from them one way or another, but it won’t be civil.”
“Answers about Reyna’s whereabouts?”
He nodded.
“Then I want to be involved.”