Chapter 11
11
“ I ’m sorry I told Master Henry you weren’t in your room last night. I was worried about you,” Rory said, pouring tea into the blue-and-white cup on the table before me.
“It’s okay,” I assured her, setting down the biscuit I was eating and wiping my hands.
I didn’t blame her for alerting the Lord about my absence. If anything, I should be thanking her for telling him. I hated to admit it, but he’d come to my rescue last night. I wasn’t sure I would have been able to fight the Ravager off. Shuddering at the thought, I pulled the long sleeve of my dress down to make sure my bandaged forearm was covered. I didn’t want Rory to notice it and ask questions. I watched the girl while she worked, cleaning up the kitchen we were in. Was it right that she didn’t know the truth about her parents’ death? Would it matter if she did? I didn’t have the answers, so I decided not to tell her anything for the time being.
“Good morning,” Wren greeted Rory and me as he strolled into the kitchen. “Or, rather, evening, I suppose.”
I glanced out the kitchen window at the rapidly darkening sky outside. I’d slept all day and had only risen a short while back with a feeling of guilt. What I’d done last night was reckless and impulsive. I couldn’t believe I’d once again almost compromised my stay here. Worse yet, my poor judgment had almost cost me my life. I wasn’t sure if it had been Henry’s blood in my system that had made me do such a foolish thing or my own carelessness.
Rory came up and drew the heavy curtains closed, blocking the sky outside from my view.
“Sorry.” She gave a small, apologetic smile. “The Duvals will be up any minute. We can’t risk the last rays of sunlight coming through,” she explained before turning to Wren. “Good evening,” she smiled at him as he took a seat opposite me at the kitchen table. “Please help yourself to some breakfast.”
“I sure will. The biscuits smell delicious.” Wren returned Rory’s smile.
She poured him a cup of tea and slipped out of the kitchen.
“I’m sorry about what happened last night,” Wren said, his gaze dropping to my arm where he’d nicked me with the sword.
“It’s okay. You got a little carried away. It happens,” I told him, taking a sip of my lukewarm tea.
He looked around before leaning in closer to me across the kitchen table.
“Were you able to get into the Lord’s bedroom?” he asked in a soft whisper.
Vampires had supernatural hearing, so he was trying not to be overheard.
“No. Well, not exactly,” I replied. I’d been able to get into Henry’s bedroom. I just hadn’t been able to search it.
Wren looked confused by my answer, but before he could ask any follow-up questions, Henry stepped into the kitchen. I flinched, not having heard his approach. He was dressed in black leather like the guards who worked on the border with the Black Forest. My brows lifted as I took him in, noticing the two sheaths at his sides for weapons. Was he going to the border tonight?
“Good evening, Sophie,” Henry said to me, and I inclined my head in greeting.
“My Lord,” Wren chimed in, his voice a bit unsteady.
Reluctantly, Henry shifted his attention to him and narrowed his eyes.
“I would like to speak with you in private.” He turned back to me, ignoring the young man. “Walk with me.”
I glanced at Wren and rose to my feet, following Henry out of the kitchen.
“You don’t need to be so rude to him. The sword fight was my idea,” I said, figuring Henry was still upset about Wren wounding me.
“I don’t like him,” the Lord replied but didn’t provide any more explanation as we made our way upstairs to his bedroom.
My brows knitted when we approached his door, but then I realized he probably just wanted to help me change the bandage on my forearm. I wanted to tell him I didn’t need his help, but I held my tongue. If he was getting more comfortable with letting me into his bedroom, I could use that to my advantage.
Fresh bandages and a bowl of water sat on the floor by the fireplace when we walked in, confirming my assumption about Henry’s intentions behind bringing me here. I took a seat in the same chair I’d sat in last night, and Henry dragged the other chair closer, leaning in to work on my arm.
“Initiating that sword fight was incredibly foolish,” he stated, carefully rolling up the sleeve of my dress.
So, we were back on that subject.
I lifted a shoulder. “I told you I was bored.”
“Right.” Henry blew out a breath of frustration. “And then you snuck out and almost got yourself killed.”
“It was your kind that almost killed me,” I said through my teeth, getting annoyed we were having this conversation.
His blue gaze lifted to mine.
“Still, yesterday proved you were prone to reckless decisions,” he said, and I rolled my eyes. “And you don’t like to sit idle.”
“Your point?” I arched a brow.
If he’d brought me here just to chide me, I could change my own bandages from now on.
“I’m going to the border tonight, and you are coming with me,” Henry said, and my eyebrows flew up.
“You’re taking me to the border?”
“I am. If you are going to put yourself in danger, I’d rather you do it on my watch so I can come to your rescue.”
“I don’t need you to rescue me.” I scoffed.
“The fact that I’m changing your bandages right now proves otherwise,” he murmured, looking at my forearm. I lowered my gaze to it as well. “The wound is looking better. It might not scar too badly.”
“It doesn’t matter if it does,” I said, momentarily lost in thought. “It will just serve as a reminder.”
“A reminder of your recklessness?” Henry raised a dark brow.
“A reminder of how monstrous your kind is,” I bit out, meeting his gaze.
His jaw flexed, but he didn’t say anything else as he cleaned the wound and put more ointment on it. When he was done, we both rose to our feet.
“You need to change,” he said, eyeing my long yellow dress. “We will leave as soon as you are ready.”
“Will I get a weapon?” I asked, excitement sparking in my veins.
“We will get you a sword when we get to the border. You can bring your dagger, though.”
He didn’t need to mention the last part. I wouldn’t go anywhere without my dagger. Especially after the Ravager attack last night.
Streaks of moonlight cut through the carriage windows as we traveled through the silent and dark city until we reached the border. Without waiting for help, I jumped out of the coach, now dressed in thick black leggings and a deep forest-green tunic long enough to conceal my dagger. Despite it being a warm night, I’d settled on long sleeves to hide my injured arm.
Eyeing the mountainous wall looming ahead, I reached up and bound my hair at the nape of my neck, using the thin leather strap I’d brought with me. The wall erected on the border with the Black Forest stretched for miles, separating the Empire of Seven from the other half of the continent, where Dark Witches and all sorts of other things roamed. New Haven and a part of the Southern region sat right on the border while the rest of the Empire was tucked away safely behind them.
“The guards go through rigorous training and are very dedicated to the safety of the people,” Henry informed me as we set off for the wall several feet ahead of us.
I already knew all that from Waylon and from the other guards who were a part of the Order. Being a border guard paid well and was one of the most reputable occupations in New Haven. It was also the most dangerous. Dark Witches preferred women and children for their sacrifices but often snatched the guards to avoid going into the city. I had a lot of respect for those who were willing to give up their lives to protect the people and had even considered becoming a guard myself, but only men were recruited.
When Henry and I approached the border, dozens of torches greeted us, bathing the stone wall in an orange glow. Leather- and iron-clad guards patrolled the top and the bottom of the structure that rose several meters above the ground. Their postures were relaxed as they talked to each other, exchanging jokes and laughing. The atmosphere was not as tense as one would expect on the border with the Black Forest.
“It has been quiet on the border lately,” Henry said by way of explanation, following my gaze.
“That doesn’t mean they should let their guard down,” I murmured, frowning.
“I agree,” the Lord said, motioning for me to follow him as he began strolling along the bottom of the wall.
Falling into step next to him, I noticed Waylon stationed at one of the posts. His eyes widened slightly as our gazes locked. A smidgen of guilt settled in my chest. I’d used him last night to take the edge off, just like I’d done a few times in the past. I knew I could never give him what he truly wanted and using him for my own selfish reasons was unfair to him. He deserved better. My eyebrows slammed down as I made a decision—when my mission at the Duval Estate was over, I would tell Waylon we couldn’t carry on like we had been in the past few months.
Waylon’s jaw flexed as if he knew what I was thinking, and he stared at me and the Lord for several seconds before averting his gaze.
“You know that guard,” Henry said as we passed by Waylon’s post. “You smelled like him last night.”
My steps faltered. He didn’t sound upset, but I wasn’t sure if Waylon’s life was now on the line.
“I would appreciate it if you stayed away from him while you are my vassal,” Henry said, briefly glancing at me. “Or anyone else, for that matter. I don’t want to have to explain to the other clans why you smell like other men.”
I grimaced at his words because they made me sound loose. I’d only ever been with Waylon.
“I understand. I wasn’t in the right state of mind last night when I snuck out. It won’t happen again,” I assured him, watching him closely, trying to gauge if my words would placate him.
One side of his mouth turned up. “So, you admit you were impulsive last night?”
I rolled my eyes but couldn’t fight a small smile. “You don’t have to harp on that.”
Henry smirked but didn’t say anything else as he stopped before a set of worn stone steps leading up to the top of the wall. He quickly climbed them, and I followed.
Once we were on the very top, I stepped close to the raised ledge that came up to my waist, resting my hands on the cool gray stone.
Torches lined the other side of the border as well, but they didn’t do much to penetrate the darkness of the Black Forest. Squinting, I peered into the pitch-black but was unable to make anything out. I thought I could see twisted shadows moving in the woods, but I couldn’t be sure. Wrapping my arms around me, I suppressed a shudder. No one knew what horrors lurked in the Black Forest. I’d heard there were giant wolves and other creatures, all equipped with claws and teeth sharp enough to rip humans to shreds.
A wave of goosebumps spread over my skin as the Forest seemed to still. All of the sounds died out. I looked around me and down the length of the border. The guards still seemed relaxed, standing around in idle chatter. Henry was talking to one of them close to my right.
I faced the woods again just as the flame in one of the torches beyond the wall wavered as if stirred by the wind. There was no breeze tonight, so I bent slightly forward over the ledge, my brows knitting. Planting my palms back on the narrow ridge, I focused on the fire, refusing to blink. Nothing happened for a few seconds, but then I thought I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. I snapped my head to the left as the entire line of torches beyond the wall began to ripple wildly. Gripping the ledge, I leaned out more, my chest tight with pressure.
“What is it?” came Henry’s deep voice to my right, startling me.
He was beside me now, looking in the same direction I was.
“I am not sure…” I murmured just as one of the torches went out.
The others were quickly snuffed out as well, plunging the area on the other side of the wall into sudden darkness.
My breath caught as eerie silence settled over the border. I glanced at Henry. His features were stark as he stared into the darkness to my left. His chin lifted a fraction, and his nostrils flared as if he were sniffing the air.
His eyes widened, and he cursed just as a strangled scream pierced the night several feet away to my left.