Chapter 12 Leila
Leila
Ahard chest expanded against Leila’s back, then released.
Voices murmured, but She kept Her eyes closed, relishing the heat of Tobias’s body and the weight of his arm slung over Her waist. She didn’t want to wake, as the day was tainted before it had begun, and the night had been so beautiful.
If She could exist in that moment, hold onto it until sunset, maybe the ugliness of the morn wouldn’t rear its head.
Tobias groaned, stirring to life. He wrapped Her tight, pressing Her against him as he stretched, and it felt like a look into Her future.
A life with him.
A gasp sent Leila’s eyes shooting open.
“Their wrists!” Naomi planted a hand over her mouth. “Their wrists!”
She pointed at them—and their matching red ribbons—and the others stopped what they were doing.
Raphael sat on the fallen log, arm frozen mid-poke as he rotated something dead over the fire.
Yucana waited at her daughter’s side, surprise alive in her wide eyes.
Flushing, Leila bolted upright, combing Her hair into proper place while Tobias lazily followed suit, yawning behind his arm.
A smile sent dimples springing into Raphael’s cheeks. “I see congratulations are in order.”
“Oh, how wonderful!” Naomi clasped her hands beneath her chin. “It’s meant to be. I mean, I personally don’t believe in the fates, but if ever there was a fated pairing, it’s you two.”
Yucana smiled like the rest of them, though something about it was strained. “Congratulations. You must be overjoyed.”
“Well, that’s certainly enough to brighten the morning, isn’t it?” Naomi said.
A darkness hovered over Leila—the void in Yucana’s eyes, the lingering feeling of Flynn’s hands on Her flesh. This fucking day. Her muddled thoughts blustered, a rainstorm She couldn’t quite contain. “Excuse Me.”
She headed into the woods, walking toward nothing at all. Getting away was Her only aim, and She was certain She looked a fool because of it. No axe to chop wood, no gourd to fill. She was escaping, and everyone knew it. But how could She escape a feeling?
She stopped in a clearing long trampled by something—deer, perhaps something larger and more formidable. Closing Her eyes, She sucked in long, deep breaths. The promise was tight on Her wrist, and She trailed Her fingertips over it, smiling. Then the storm within thundered, washing Her in grey.
Tentative footsteps crunched behind Her. She didn’t need to see him to know it was Tobias, but She turned to him anyway, and his probing gaze fractured Her already brittle heart.
“You seem upset.” His eyes panned to Her wrist. “Are You regretting . . . ?”
“No, no, not at all,” She said. “I’m so happy.”
“Except . . . ?”
Sighing, She looked away. “Today is Cosima’s birthday.
Normally we’d have a grand feast. Servants would weave rosebuds into her hair, and we’d spend the evening dancing.
” Lightning struck within Her, and She wound Her hands into fists.
“But now she’s back at My palace, sitting in My throne, and fucking My father, and I’m out here in the woods running away from it all. ”
Tobias’s arms slinked around Her waist. “I’m so sorry, darling.” He started. “She’s fucking Brontes?”
“It’s disheartening, is all. Having to move backward, while she’s .
. .” Her eyes drifted to the surrounding woods, Her mind traveling with them.
Visions She’d long fought plagued Her—Her father and sister destroying Her realm, Her family, Her sanity.
She bit down on Her lip, willing the pain to distract Her from the heartbreak.
Tobias’s deep voice pulled Her from Her nightmares. “No one should ever betray their family in such a way. You deserve better.”
She took his hand and pressed a kiss to its palm, then held up Her wrist, letting the ribbon shine beneath the sunlight. “This is the only thing that’s made Me smile today.”
“That’s the solution, then. We should cover You in promises.”
Leila chuckled. “Stop.”
“We’ll wrap You up like a package. How about it?”
She pulled him into a hug, resting Her head against the curve of his neck. Tobias leaned toward Her ear and whispered, “United as one, darling.”
She closed Her eyes, clinging to the contentment he provided, but Her worries returned. “Tobias, do you think your mother . . . doesn’t like Me?”
Tobias wrinkled his nose. “Why wouldn’t she like You?”
“I don’t know, I just have a feeling.”
“Leila, of course she likes You. What’s not to like? You’re smart. You’re kind. You have the most beautiful breasts.”
“I don’t think your mother cares about My breasts.”
“Well, she should,” he scoffed.
She was laughing again. It was effortless, the ease of his company. Standing on Her toes, She left him with a long, lingering kiss, the kind that promised tantalizing exploits in the not-too-distant future. A silly grin spread across his face, and She beamed with pride.
They returned to camp with a bundle of dry sticks, as if that was the purpose of their absence.
The others didn’t seem to care either way.
Naomi was massaging her gaunt calves while Yucana sliced parsnips, eyes heavy from lack of sleep.
Raphael hovered over the campfire, stirring a boiling pot—herbs for Naomi, though when he’d learned the recipe, Leila hadn’t a clue.
He looked up from his work and lurched to his feet. “I hate to ruin the mood—”
“Oh, but you’re so good at it,” Naomi teased.
“You know, I’m trying really hard here—”
“Enough, both of you.” Tobias turned to Raphael. “Say your piece.”
Raphael sat straighter. “The Joseons and all their connections are off the table. And we’re here. In the Krios Woods. Again.”
Naomi rolled her eyes. “We’re aware.”
Tobias shot his sister a cross look. “I think what Raph is trying to say is, what now?”
“Precisely.” Raphael bit the inside of his cheek, chin in hand. “I still think Trogolia is our best option, alliance-wise. They’re the most unexpected choice, not to mention as short a trek as we can hope for.”
“Didn’t you say soldiers are patrolling the borders?” Yucana said. “How will we manage passage if that’s the case?”
“And Brontes has sent heralds to all the ally realms.” Tobias’s expression was grim, his tone the same. “Even if we did manage a way over, their cohorts might kill us as soon as we step foot on Trogolian soil.”
“There has to be something,” Naomi said.
Not a single person responded. Leila had expected as much, but the quiet pounded against Her eardrums.
Raphael’s chestnut gaze panned Her way. “Leila?”
Silence surrounded Her, as did wanting eyes too searing to look at. Grounding Herself, She held Her breath. They stood in the center of the downpour, fighting for dry land only She could provide. This was Her realm and Her burden to bear.
She wanted to curse Herself. Shouldn’t a queen be accustomed to sacrifice—born for it, as if duty were innate in Her very being? She should be brave in the face of hardship, steadfast against danger, ready and quick to exhaust Her coin and rations and allies.
Leila straightened. “Delphi.”
“Delphi?” Tobias said.
“I’m meeting with her tonight,” She said. “There’s likely a new development. Something’s bound to be of use to us. At the very least, it will point us in the right direction.”
“This is the woman You’ve been meeting at sunset?” Yucana asked.
“My sister, yes. She’s still in the palace watching My father, reporting Her findings.”
“And You’re certain we can trust her?”
The question slapped Leila across the cheek. She blinked. “Of course. She’s My sister.”
Yucana was quiet for a while, lips pursed as her thoughts turned behind her eyes. “With all due respect, the woman who betrayed You . . . she was Your sister as well, yes?”
Lightning crackled within Leila, simmering beneath the surface. “I trust Delphi with My life.”
“Delphi was one of my greatest allies during the tournament,” Tobias said. “I’m certain I wouldn’t have survived without her. We can count on her word.”
Yucana nodded. “A mother’s worry can be far too great at times.” She turned to Leila, offering a weak smile. “I simply aim to protect my children.”
The storm within Leila churned, but She kept Her ire contained. Tobias squeezed Her leg, ever assuring, though She could’ve sworn his eyes carried the same concern bubbling in Her gut.
“You meet Delphi at sunset?” Raphael asked.
“Yes.”
“And until then?”
There were five minds between them, and zero solutions. No path was safe, so Leila abandoned the notion. If risk was inevitable, She’d embrace it.
“We head toward Trogolia.”
Tension swept through the campsite like a warm breeze. There was plenty to dread, after all. The choice She had made was a terrible one.
It was also the only one.
“We fare northeast,” Raphael said.
Leila was first to reach the watchtower.
She was far too early, it seemed. It was so hard to gauge the time when journeying across the realm, as it seemed the sun raced toward the horizon alongside Her trotting horse.
Her nerves pinched, and anxious energy prickled beneath Her skin.
Calm was a stranger, and the ache of Her tired bones couldn’t distract Her spinning mind.
Grey swirled through the air like watered-down ink, and Delphi materialized, hood overhead and cloak clasped at her neck.
“There you are.” Exhaling, Leila threw Her arms around Her sister. She reveled in Delphi’s familiar warmth and the tickle of her braids against Her cheek, until the thick scent of grime filled Her nostrils. Leila wrinkled Her nose. “What’s that smell?”
“The must. It’s not as though anyone uses this tower any longer.” Delphi pulled away and eyed Leila over, stopping hard at the flash of red on Her wrist. “Excuse me?”
“We’re promised.”
“I can see that.” Delphi took Leila’s hand, admiring the ribbon up close. “Incredible. This is all my doing, You know. You ought to thank me. Don’t ever say I don’t know my sister. I found You Your true love, after all. How thrilled are You? Tell me.”