Chapter Ten
CHAPTER
TEN
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I T’S DUSK BY THE TIME WE MAKE IT TO THE TEMPLE RUINS , but bandaging my soldiers and bathing in a freezing river to get the grimy pond water off me took longer than expected. Jarek, the only Aestilian guard still with us, volunteered to ride with Finnian, which I’m sure he’ll be thrilled about. He’s still unconscious, and I’m not strong enough to keep him upright on a moving horse. Ailliard knows the mountains as well as I do, so he led the ride while Cayden and Ryder flanked me. Jarek will return home tomorrow morning when we begin the journey to Vareveth.
The ruins are just as I remember them. Pillars stretch high into the orange sky, but the roof caved in years ago, long before I was born. Some of it remains, creating an uneven border around the top of the temple. I slide off my horse and stretch my sore muscles. Cayden strides over to Jarek to help him get Finnian up the steps.
“He’s quite light,” Jarek says as he hooks Finnian’s arm over his shoulder, and his tone makes me believe he’s poking fun at Cayden and Ryder for sharing the load earlier.
Cayden slowly drags his eyes over Jarek, looking entirely unimpressed. “Agreed.” He steps forward and hoists Finnian over his shoulder like he weighs little more than air. I raise a glove-covered hand to my mouth to stifle a giggle, but Ryder catches me and makes no effort to hide his, making Jarek turn red.
I grab Finnian’s bedroll from the trunk strapped to the back of his horse and hurry after them with Jarek on my heels. Cayden strides through the temple, past a fire where several soldiers gather. I smile at anyone I pass, but my main concern is getting Finnian situated and signing the agreement papers.
“Here,” Cayden says, halting in place. I lay out the bedroll and let him gently place Finnian on top of it. I lean down and dust some dirt off his cheeks. He’s breathing evenly. The knot loosens in my chest at the proof of his body recovering. I’ll change the bandages in a few hours in case any remaining venom leaks from the wound.
“Thank you, Jarek. You’re dismissed,” I state.
“Your Majesty.” He bows before turning to find Ailliard.
I stand again and ask, “Are you surprised I kept my word?”
His scowl melts and his shoulders relax. “I would’ve hunted you down if you didn’t.”
“I won’t deny that the thought of you appearing in Aestilian to beg isn’t unwelcome.” I tap my finger against my lips, and his eyes follow the movement. “Perhaps I shouldn’t have come.”
Mischief dances in his eyes as he takes a step closer, causing me to tilt my chin up. “My sweet affliction, I regret to inform you I don’t beg.”
Tension pumps into the air and tingles my palms, but I don’t turn away. I refuse to be one of the many intimidated by him. “We’ll see about that, soldier.”
He arches a full, dark brow. “Will we, princess?”
Someone clears their throat beside us. “My apologies for the intrusion. Ailliard is reading over the agreement now, so if you’d like to follow me there or . . .” Ryder’s voice trails off.
The heat between us cools as we follow Ryder to the other side of the temple. Ailliard stands behind a chunk of white stone that most likely belonged to the ceiling, and he looks up from the contract as I approach, confirming its acceptability with a subtle nod.
Cayden and I take his place, and I glance over the wording quickly, surprised it’s the exact vows we stated in the forest without any alterations or embellished phrasing. He moves first, twirling the quill in his fingers before signing his name at the bottom of the page. My fingers tingle when they brush his, but I blame that on the venom burns beneath my gloves.
“I suppose it’s time to find out how honorable your intentions are.” I sign my name beneath his, and everyone around us claps as I place the quill back on the stone slab.
“Believe me, Elowen,” he begins, drawing my attention away from the crowd, “my intentions are never honorable.”
His strides away from me, and Ailliard steps forward with pride-laced eyes. “You should eat something.”
“I didn’t bring any food from home,” I confess. I gave whatever I had to Nyrinn and the orphanage before I left.
“They’re cooking deer. General Neredras informed me other patrols were successful this morning.” I’ve been so preoccupied with everything else that my brain didn’t register the scent of roasting meat. It makes my mouth water. “Come along.”
I sit between Ailliard and Jarek on a log while one of Cayden’s soldiers comes over to hand me some food, which I gratefully take. It’s a tough piece of meat, but it’s edible. The man seems kind; he tells me he’ll set some aside for Finnian whenever he wakes up.
Jarek’s thigh brushes against mine, making me jump slightly. The hair on the back of my neck stands up when I feel a set of eyes on me again. My gaze dances over the soldiers surrounding me, but everyone seems preoccupied with their dinner or talking to one another. A few people glance my way, but it’s nothing noteworthy. I expect curious glances. It’s not every day a princess essentially rises from the dead.
“I’m going to check on Finnian,” I say.
“Would you like me to accompany you, my lady?” Jarek asks.
The last place I want to be is in a dark corner with him. “I’m fine, thank you.”
Crouching beside Finnian again, I unravel the bandage around his leg and toss it to the side. The tonic is helping, but he’ll need another round before I rewrap the wound. I get to my feet, sticking to the perimeter of the temple. The pieces of fallen ceiling make it easy to walk unnoticed. Technically I don’t have to hide anymore, but I’m not in the mood to talk to anyone.
I don’t even descend one step before hearing him. “Sneaking off again, little shadow?”
“Oh gods.” I raise my hand to lightly smack my forehead while turning in place. “My apologies for not informing you of my plans to run away.”
Cayden steps out of the darkness and cuts the distance between us. “Run if you wish, it’ll provide me with some entertainment.”
I roll my eyes. “Do I need traveling papers to retrieve my healing supplies?”
“The two of you are going to be an absolute pleasure to work with. I’ll get it,” Ryder grumbles before bounding down the steps.
The silence is heavy in his wake. Usually, I enjoy silence. I hate forcing conversations, but this unsettling energy between us makes me jumpy. Every second that ticks by feels like a minute. It feels like an hour has passed by the time Ryder gets back.
“Thank you.” I take the satchel from him and sling the strap over my shoulder. He gives me a curt nod in response and sticks his hand out for the handshake I promised him. A searing pain shoots through me when his fingers close over mine. I yelp and jerk back. His obsidian eyes widen, and his brows draw together. Cayden spins me toward him, ripping one of my gloves off to reveal my red, blistering skin.
“You’re injured,” he growls through gritted teeth, emerald eyes blazing.
“It’s just a few burns.” I try to step away, but his hand stays firm on my elbow. “There’s no need to worry.”
“You’re a healer and didn’t think to bandage yourself? Is that why you’ve been wearing gloves this entire time?” He keeps his tone low. Nobody aside from Ryder can hear us, but his frustration is evident. Using his other hand, he removes my second glove to reveal equally mangled skin.
Make better decisions, Elowen. Ailliard’s voice echoes in my mind, increasing my frustration. “I had my reasons.”
“I’m sure,” he scoffs.
“My injuries aren’t fatal, and the gloves will keep the wounds clean.” I yank myself out of his hold and take a step back. Truthfully, I don’t want to waste medicine when I know my wounds will heal in time. The scowl still mars his face as his gaze travels over me. “Stop looking at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like you’re trying to figure me out.”
I expect him to smirk or give a snide comment, but he doesn’t. He stares at me a beat longer before turning toward Ryder and asks, “Can you bring me the medical bag?”
“I can use my medicine if the burns worsen,” I say, hating how he can see right through me.
“No.” Cayden shakes his head. “I shouldn’t have spoken to you in that way. Besides, it’s hard to heal your own hands.”
I wonder if he’s speaking from experience. Given his position, he most likely is. The pinch of sadness in my chest propels me forward, and I sit at the edge of the temple, dangling my feet over the side.
Cayden takes a seat beside me after Ryder gives him the supplies. He sits close, one leg over the edge and the other behind me. Reaching forward, he gently takes my wrists and places my hands on his thigh. Water burns my skin a few seconds later, and I intake a sharp breath while squeezing my eyes shut.
“I suppose I don’t measure up to your healing skills,” he lightly teases.
I huff out a strained laugh. “It’s raw skin. Everything is going to hurt.”
His frown deepens while he uncaps a tin of salve, dipping his fingers and coating them in a generous amount. My wrist tingles when he wraps his hand around it, rubbing soothing circles while gently spreading the salve. It burns initially, but the longer he rubs it in, the nicer it feels. He seems pleased when my shoulders loosen, his eyes tracking my reaction.
“What’s our first step for the heist?” I ask, needing something to fill the silence.
“Kallistar.”
“The Imirath prison surrounded by the sea?” I shake my head. “It’s impregnable. It’s said only one person has managed to pull it off ever. ”
“Improbability is a crutch used by those without the skills to navigate a challenge.” He smirks. “Exactly how much information have you acquired through spying?”
“Not enough to tell me what we need from Kallistar.”
“The key to the dragon chamber.” My heart skips a beat, and I’m grateful he’s done so much research before finding me. My response dies in my throat as he ties off the bandage, and his hard eyes glare down at the small pink scars on my wrists from where the shackles split my skin all those years ago. I hardly remember them anymore, but I force myself to look away as he begins working on my other hand. “We’ll leave shortly after arriving in Vareveth.”
I nod. I’ll do anything for my dragons, including going back to the kingdom that haunts me. Each step I take is terrifying, but I won’t relent. I try to pull my wrist out of his grasp when my hand starts shaking, but he tightens his hold.
“Can you do me a favor?” he asks.
“What?” I ask, feeling uneasy.
“Don’t lock me in a cell in Kallistar.”
I blink in surprise, then toss my head back and laugh. He looks up and stares at my smile like it perplexes him, but eventually a small one slides onto his lips and deepens two dimples in his cheeks. “I make no promises.”
He sighs. “Why do I have a feeling you’re going to be the bane of my existence?”
“Because it’s a title I’ll happily take.”
He rolls his eyes while reaching for another roll of bandages, but it’s halfhearted. “You looked uncomfortable earlier.”
I scrunch my brows. “What do you mean?”
“By the fire.” He looks up after tying it off, but absentmindedly continues rubbing circles on my wrist with his calloused fingers, warming my skin under his touch. I’m thankful the sky is dark because he would see my heated cheeks if it weren’t. “You jumped.”
So it was his eyes I felt on me. I wonder how long he was watching me. I mean, he is guarding me, so I suppose it’s important he keeps an eye out. But I was surrounded by his soldiers. He should have known I was safe.
“It’s just nerves,” I mutter. It’s not hard to believe, and it’s not a total lie. There are no regrets about leaving Aestilian, but that doesn’t mean I’ll embrace the world with open arms.
“Right,” he says, not sounding entirely convinced. His jaw clenches, and his eyes get that assessing gleam that they had before he started bandaging me. Each stroke of his thumb winds me so tight, to the point I feel like I’m going to combust. He clears his throat, dropping my hand. “I should get back to my post.”
“Right,” I say in a rush, practically jumping away from him and getting to my feet. “I should check on Finnian—thank you again for helping me with him today and for the bandages.”
“No problem.” He looks utterly unaffected.
I turn away but only take a few steps before spinning on my heels as he gets to his feet. “Do you want me to take a watch shift at some point?”
“No, go rest and watch Finnian.” He strides toward me, and my hands tighten on my satchel. “Good night, angel,” he says before bounding down the steps.
“Good night, demon,” I whisper into the darkness after he’s long gone.