Chapter 13 #2
“Possibly,” Azora said. “But mental shields strong enough to keep Edric out would likely sever other connections too.”
Kaelan understood immediately, and something unfamiliar flitted across his face—maybe grief, visited prematurely. “The bonds with Thorne and Hanna.”
“Yes,” Azora confirmed.
The mental link Kaelan and I shared had lain between us like an open hallway since we were not quite men. Tied to blood, to family, to years of trust. It let us communicate without words. Let me ground him when his father’s influence pressed too close. Let us fight as one.
Losing it would hurt.
“It’s all right,” I lied. “You never listen to us anyway.”
Kaelan’s mouth twitched. “Fair.”
“So we find Alys,” Hanna said. “Where is she?”
When Jaia and Azora exchanged glances, something cold settled in my chest.
“Jaia.” Kaelan’s gaze had sharpened. “Where is Alys?”
“Edric took her.” Jaia’s voice was careful. Controlled. “Two days ago. Along with—”
From the way she hesitated, I already knew.
“My mother,” I said. Not a question.
“No.” Jaia raised her chin sharply, delivering the words like a cut, as if there was no other way. “Coril.”
My youngest sister.
Prisoner.
In Edric’s hands.
I felt something crack inside my chest. Felt the careful control I’d maintained since we’d landed start to fracture.
“How?” My voice came out rougher than I intended.
“Our soldiers were recalled from the Front to prepare for your return. They captured those they could identify as connected to us.” Jaia’s gaze was troubled. “They’ve been hunting for Vizia, I think. Even though I’ve tried to hide her existence since her birth.”
“Why didn’t you—” I stopped. Because what could they have done? Jaia and Azora couldn’t have mounted a rescue.
No one could have.
“We’re going to get them back.” Kaelan’ gaze was steely with determination.
That was a fine thought. My ten-year-old sister was still terrified and alone. And Alys—brilliant, stubborn Alys who’d never asked to be caught in this war—was she with Coril, able to comfort her? Or were they separated? It was too easy to imagine Alys held down by Edric’s guards—or even Coril…
I stood before anyone could speak again. I walked toward the back of the safe house, away from the firelight and the careful concern in everyone’s eyes.
There was a small courtyard. Walled, warded, barely big enough to pace. I stood in the center of it and tried to breathe.
Coril with her wild curls and endless questions. She’d been so brave, running to help Hanna and me.
Alys, sharp-tongued and brilliant, who’d looked at me with exasperation and affection in equal measure. The way she’d looked the last time I’d seen her. She’d been angry at me, but I could always see through her. I hadn’t been bothered then. Now our argument troubled me.
In Edric’s hands.
Because of me.
There were soft footsteps behind me, and I knew who it was even before she wrapped her arms around me.
Hanna didn’t speak. Just stood with me in the cold darkness, pressing her body against mine as if she could warm me.
“I’m fine,” I said.
“No. You’re not.”
I closed my eyes. “I need to be fine. We have a war to fight. We have—”
“Thorne. You don’t have to be fine right now.”
Something in my chest gave way.
I turned and pulled her into my arms, holding tighter than I should have. She didn’t complain. Just wrapped her arms around me and let me bury my face in her hair as the weight of everything I’d been carrying finally became too much.
My family was in danger because I’d chosen this war. Because I’d stood with Kaelan instead of staying home where I could have protected them.
But what else would I ever have done? Could I turn my back on my kingdom, on Kaelan?
At the moment, I could, to see Coril and Alys, safe and dry-eyed at my side.
“I should have been there,” I said against her shoulder. “ You know Coril, you know Alys—”
“I know.” Hanna’s hands pressed against my back, grounding. “I know. And we’re going to get them back.”
“You don’t know that.”
“We will.”
“It’s a trap,” I said flatly.
“I know.” Hanna pulled back just enough to look at me. “But we can figure out the right way to enter it. We’ll get them back, Thorne.”
I wanted to believe her.
But I’d been fighting too long to believe in clean victories.
Still, having her here helped. Her warmth against the cold. Her solid presence when everything else felt like it was falling apart.
“Thank you,” I said quietly.
“For what?”
“For following me. For not—” I stopped. Started again. “For being here.”
Hanna’s hand came up to my face, gentle. “Where else would I be?”
I pulled her close again, letting myself take comfort in her presence. In the simple fact that I didn’t have to carry this alone.
Behind us, I heard the door open.
Dare said quietly, “Kaelan wants to move on the capital within three days. Force Edric to respond before he can consolidate further.”
“That’s fast,” I said.
“We can’t give him time to fortify. He pulled all our troops back from the front.”
“Then we have to get Alys out first.” I said.
Hanna’s arms tightened around me. Dare’s hand found my shoulder.
And for a minute, I let myself be weak. Let myself feel the fear and grief and helpless fury.
Soon, we’d plan. We’d strategize. We’d figure out how to rescue my family and defeat a king and raise a broken kingdom.
But right now, in this small courtyard with these people who loved me, I let myself break.
And they caught me.