56. CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
It was dark by the time Nik and Alena reached the feast.
The hillfort’s central square teemed with Westerners. Chatter and laughter filled the air as men, women and even children ate and drank. Wooden tables had been placed in a wide ring, and at the centre, a whole pig slowly roasted over an open fire.
Alena’s stomach growled at the smell, and she headed towards the tables covered with an arrangement of flatbreads, cheese, and Western delicacies that were unfamiliar to her.
Nik had already disappeared among the crowd, drink in hand, and Leukos had arrived well before them to speak with Brennus. Spotting Damona at a table, Alena sat beside the friendly blonde, who held a small child in her arms.
“Alena!” Damona’s face was aglow with a radiant smile and flushed cheeks. She wore a vibrant, patterned dress that accentuated her cleavage. “I knew that blue dress would suit you well. It’s nicely fitted and compliments your eyes.”
The little boy in her arms clung to her, stealing glances at Alena, who grinned back.
“Thank you for letting me borrow it.”
Damona waved a hand, then helped her load a plate with lentils, cooked apples, and roasted pork.
“I’m afraid I’ve lost Nikander and have yet to find Leukos,” Alena said between mouthfuls. “Have you seen them?”
Damona pointed at the table beside theirs. “Don’t worry about your blond friend. It seems he’s already spotted the warrior sisters.”
Nikander sat drinking and laughing in the company of two women wearing loose blouses, patterned skirts, and knives at their belts. One of them wore an eye patch.
“They are Atrixtos’ daughters. He’s a chief from a neighbouring tribe and a thorn in Brennus’ side,” Damona continued in hushed tones. “Their borders are close to Rasenna, and they rely heavily on trade with their merchants. The upcoming war isn’t in their favour.”
The central square was buzzing with raucous chatter all around, interrupted by the occasional drunken toast.
“Isn’t it strange to be feasting before the battle?” Alena tasted the red wine Damona had poured for her. To her surprise, the flavour was a delicious blend of fruity sweetness. “I wasn’t expecting everyone to be so cheerful after the legions’ arrival.”
Damona grinned, the gleam in her eyes echoing the Westerners’ joyful, intoxicated state. “And why not? How can we fight for our lives if we haven’t yet lived? Westerners love welcoming guests with a feast whether they be from neighbouring tribes or all the way from Achaea.”
The little boy reached for Alena’s auburn hair, grasping it in his small, chubby fingers. She beamed at him and tickled his neck, making him squeal.
Most of the women at the feast wore their hair down with a few strands held back by thin braids or leather straps. Many heads were dyed an unnatural red or orange. Damona explained some Westerners used to wash their hair in limewater to lighten the colour, but ever since the Rebel Queen, orange and red had become more popular.
“And you don’t dye yours at all?” she asked, peering closer.
Alena patted her own half-braided hair for any strands that might have fallen. “No, I guess I must have inherited it from my mother.”
Damona shook her head. “Brennus said your mother’s hair was a more vibrant red, and Kallinos, your father, had dark Achaean hair. I suppose you inherited a little of both.”
It was strange to think of her parents’ appearance and the features she’d inherited from them. Katell, with her dark hair and olive skin, must have looked just like their father.
High-pitched giggles interrupted them. Nik‘s fingers twirled around one of the sisters’ blonde curls. The sisters seemed smitten, one of them brazenly leaning into him.
“Perhaps I should have a word with Nik.”
Something told her it wouldn’t end well for him if the Western chief found one of his daughters almost sitting in his lap.
Face flushed, Damona laughed into her cup of wine and pulled her back. “The sisters are warriors, Alena! Should your friend cross any lines, they’ll break his nose—or worse.”
Alena sat back down with a chuckle and glanced at the campfire. Her Gifted eyes allowed her to see past the bright flames with clarity, where Leukos sat beside Brennus deep in conversation with the other warriors.
She hadn’t seen him all day. He’d been busy making rounds to the watchtowers with Lug and keeping an eye on the enemy below. Yet, she’d yearned to speak with him—to unleash her pent-up frustrations about his concealed identity… and perhaps to confess how much she’d missed his presence.
His attention shifted from the conversation, his gaze flicking about the crowd. Searching for something—or someone.
He paused briefly on Nik, eyes narrowing, but then glanced away.
With a start, Alena realised he was looking for her.
Leukos, Prince of Megara, was seeking her out.
Her stomach dipped, and her traitorous heart pounded faster. He had lied to her, pretending to be the son of a Silver Shield. He’d done it to keep her safe, yet it still felt like another betrayal.
First his Gift, and now his identity.
Her hurt feelings seemed petty and unimportant in the face of the Rasennan danger looming over them, but she refused to go to him and instead remained by Damona’s side.
At last, he stood and strode through the feast, the crowd parting for him. His off-white Achaean chiton, pinned at his shoulders with a silver-threaded blue cloak, made him stand out from the sea of warriors. Paired with his leather arm guards and Achaean sword sheathed at his hip, he looked every inch a prince.
As he came closer, her nerves got the better of her, and she fled the table, running straight into Alcaros.
“Oh! I’m so sorry.”
He grasped her shoulders, steadying her. “Alena.” His hazel gaze lingered on her dress before settling on her face. “Is everything all right?”
“Everything’s fine.” Her cheeks burned; she wasn’t sure if it was from his attention or the wine. “I was hoping to get away from the heat of the fire for a bit.”
“Tonight is particularly warm for late summer,” Alcaros agreed. He tilted his head at another table where a group of rowdy warriors sat with their heads bent together in conversation.
“Come.” His hand settled against her lower back, guiding her towards them. “They’re reminiscing about the Rebel Queen. I thought you might be interested in hearing what they have to say.”
She sat at the end of the table beside him and clutched the drink he poured for her.
Across from them, a muscled warrior with fiery red hair and a short beard slammed his goblet down, his drink sloshing over the table. “The Stag take you, Atrixtos! The battle at Vesontio was a great victory! I won’t hear another word about it.”
Damocles had often mentioned Vesontio—a Western hillfort the Rasennans had overtaken and occupied for months until the Rebel Queen had won it back in a day.
Atrixtos opened his mouth, but a slender woman with a fierce glare cut in, pointing between herself and another man with short-cropped hair and scars crisscrossing his arms. “Might I remind you all that only Tanco and I were there? Quick surrender would be a better term for it. The Rasennan dogs hardly put up a fight. They didn’t stand a chance once Andrasta arrived.”
Alena gawked at them both, not expecting to meet warriors who’d fought at Vesontio.
The scarred man, Tanco, chuckled into his cup. “It was bloody magnificent! You should have seen those cowards run for their horses, desperate to make it out of the hillfort. Vix is right. Before the legion could launch an attack, the horses turned on them, and they were surrounded like damn fools.”
Vix barked a laugh, signalling the red-haired warrior for more drinks. “That was days after the Achaeans had arrived and tried to take charge. They spent hours hunched over maps, trying to devise a plan, and Andrasta swooped in and did what they couldn’t in one morning.”
“The look on Kallinos’ face!” Tanco added, his laughter spilling out with each breath. “The great Achaean hero. Nestor’s descendant! He was speechless, Andrasta knocked him on his arse!”
Alena’s eyes widened. Her real father, Kallinos, had been a descendant of the great Achaean hero, Nestor? Had he also been Gifted by the Grey-Eyed Maiden?
A sense of nostalgia fell upon the table as the red-haired warrior refilled all their cups. “I’ll forever miss the way she could turn the tide of battle with her Gift.”
Tanco drained his wine in one swoop. “The Battle of Kendrisia was truly something.”
Alena’s heart sped. “You were there? At the final battle? What was it like?”
“We were all there,” Atrixtos answered, stabbing some cold meat from a plate. “I still have nightmares of those golden fields littered with corpses. The Emperor riding at the head of his army, flanked by a god. He looked invincible. And he was.”
“I remember the Amazons’ chants breaking over the battlefield as they finally arrived, Andrasta by their side.” Vix’s eyes gleamed, her thick strawberry blond hair was pulled back into a crested braid similar to Katell’s, and she wore a silver torc around her neck. “Their arrival changed everything.”
“And yet, it wasn’t enough.” Dropping his head, Tanco stared into his empty cup. “All the tribes, the Achaean League, the Amazons, the goddess herself at Andrasta’s side—all of them! And it wasn’t enough.”
The mood sobered, and despite the flowing wine and jovial chatter, a tense silence fell over their table like a dark cloud.
“But why?” Alena asked, determined to understand the battle whose outcome had affected all their lives. “With so many allies brought together, how could the rebellion be defeated?”
Tanco exhaled a long breath, scrubbing a thick hand down his face. He shot an inquisitive glance at the others.
Atrixtos pounded his fist. “Don’t say it.”
But still, Tanco answered, “The Makhai.”
A chill ran down the table, and Atrixtos’ face drained of blood. He slammed his cup on the table and shot to his feet, walking away without a word.
Vix pointed a finger at Tanco. “Don’t mention those vile demons to him. You know his mind is still scarred since the battle.”
The red-haired warrior scowled. “And you’ll bring us bad luck.”
He left as well, and Alena shifted her attention to Alcaros, who’d remained silent during the exchange. Her kinsman seemed just as perplexed about the group’s reaction.
“The Makhai?” he asked.
But Tanco shook his head, refusing to say another word.
Alena quickly changed the subject. “You both knew Andrasta.” Her gaze flicked between Tanco and Vix. “What was she like? Was she really as incredible as I’ve been told?”
Vix’s face split into a beaming smile, and she reached for Alena’s hand. “Your mother was the bravest warrior the Westerners had seen in years. No one could surpass her. She was our chief commander, and yet everyone called her a queen. The White Mare’s chosen, Gifted and beautiful. For a time, she wreaked havoc on the Empire and almost brought Caius Tarquinius to his knees. She was the Rebel Queen, she was magnificent, she was—”
“Fearless,” Tanco cut in, his unwavering gaze locking onto Alena. “She was fucking fearless.”
Meeting warriors who’d fought alongside her mother had been inspiring. Every story Damocles had told Alena as a child seemed true. Without a doubt, Katell would have joined the group, drinking and absorbing every captivating tale of their battles.
Vix and Tanco had left, and only Alcaros remained, staring into his cup, lost in thought. When his hazel gaze met hers, she smiled.
“Thank you, Alcaros.”
Whether he realised the true value of the chance he’d given her to find out more about her homeland and parents was uncertain. He pinned her with his stare, and her cheeks warmed. Although he lacked Leukos’ breathtaking beauty, his strong features and imposing figure drew more than one pair of eyes his way.
“You’re welcome, Alena.”
A low horn bellowed, catching everyone’s attention. A red-faced Brennus stepped into view beside the firepit.
“Friends and family.” His voice boomed out across the feast, silencing everyone. “I want to thank you all for being here with us. My sons berated me for organising a feast while the enemy lays siege below, but as I said, let them see us feast, sing and laugh. Let them see us enjoy ourselves as their soldiers break their backs digging trenches and eating slop. We don’t fear the Rasennan cowards, and by the gods, we will get rid of them soon.”
The crowd cheered, cups clanking against tabletops in agreement.
“Tonight is a night of celebration.” He turned to Leukos, who came to stand at his side. “King Pandion’s youngest son, Leukos, is with us tonight and has offered to renew our alliance between the tribes and Achaea.”
Hushed whispers broke out among the tables, all eyes on Leukos.
“He leads a group of Gifted rebels and can rally an army from Achaea when the time comes. On behalf of Volcos, Alcaros and I have welcomed his allegiance. We will face the legions at our door together, and next summer, when the Emperor returns, we will be ready!”
Thunderous applause and shouts greeted his words. Brennus raised his cup with Leukos, and both gulped down their drinks. Alcaros and the other warriors followed their lead, and Alena finished hers. The thick wine was starting to make her head spin.
Brennus raised his hands again, and it took a few moments for everyone to settle down. “Alcaros’ plan to counter the Rasennan soldiers’ efforts below has done well. We’ll continue to frustrate and tire the enemy out until our druids are ready to unleash death upon our enemies. With the gods on our side, the enemy will flee for their lives before the next full moon.”
A thrill hummed in the air at his words. Conversations broke out again while a handful of men got to their feet. Leukos had already disappeared from Brennus’ side, and the Western chief tottered off to refill his cup with Dax.
Alcaros stood as well, shooting Alena an apologetic glance. “I must go. I have to supervise the men as we counter the legions’ efforts to fortify their camps tonight. Your guard, Nikander, has offered to join us as well. His Gift will be a great help.”
Alena jumped to her feet, and for a brief instant, the world spun. “Of course.”
With a final smile, Alcaros left to summon his men.
Nik had explained that since the legions’ arrival, the Westerners had been sneaking down the hill to destroy their ditches and defensive fortifications. However, Alena hadn’t heard anything about what the druids were planning.
A familiar scent hit her nose. Nik weaved his way through the crowd towards her.
“Red, I’m off to join Alcaros and his men tonight. Leukos will stay with you.” He bent close to her ear, his hand on her shoulder. “I’ll keep an eye out for Kat.”
She nodded. “Be careful.”
His blue gaze fixed something over her shoulder, and he flashed her a smile. “You two behave while I’m gone.”
She snorted, and he winked back, disappearing into the night.
“Alena.” Leukos’ low voice caused shivers to run down her spine.
She whirled around, and his eyes widened, searing a path across her blue dress. “You look beautiful.”
Had she not been so annoyed at him, she might have blushed.
He approached her, and she pressed her lips together.
Stars have mercy! Even insufferable, Leukos was handsome. Firelight gleamed in his dark hair and flickered over the perfect planes of his face, sharpening his features and making her stomach flutter. He looked so much like a prince she wanted to kick herself for not realising it sooner.
“Prince Leukos,” she greeted, a hint of anger creeping into her voice.
Of course, he didn’t apologise or show regret. He simply exhaled a long breath as if she were the troublesome one. “I was trying to protect you.”
Alena almost scoffed. “What a convenient excuse.”
He stepped forward, and she took a step back. It was hard to think when he stood so close she could breathe in his spicy scent.
His brow knitted into a frown. “I meant to tell you.”
“When?”
“When you healed me, back in the cave.”
She clicked her tongue. “That was moons ago, Leukos. Moons!”
Heads glanced their way, and a muscle tensed in his jaw. “Let’s not do this here.”
He motioned to the main path leading back to their hut, and she charged ahead, ignoring the stares that followed.
Walking did nothing to appease her, and when they were far away enough from the feast, she released a frustrated breath. Without warning, Leukos grasped her elbow and dragged her into an open courtyard tucked between two buildings.
“Leukos!”
Moonlight bathed the open space. At the centre, decorated wooden pillars stood in a circle, almost indistinguishable in the darkness. On one side, penned goats and a tethered donkey rested, munching on hay. Other than them, no one else was in sight.
“This could have waited until we were back at the hut,” she snapped.
His eyes narrowed. “No, we’re discussing this now. Clearly, you’re angry, and I’ve done nothing to warrant it.”
Her mouth fell open. By the Moon, were all Megarians so arrogant and self-assured?
“Oh, really?” She snatched back her arm. “Because you lied about your Gift and then about who you are. All this time we were travelling together, and I never knew who you really were, Leukos. What else have you been hiding from me?”
“Nothing,” he said shortly. “I never told you I was a prince because I wanted to protect you, but you know who I am, Alena. Who I really am. You, more than anyone. It’s been years since I’ve let anyone get as close to me as you have. I meant to tell you the truth when I woke up in the cave, I swear it. But then we fought, and I could never find the right moment after that.”
Moonlight danced over his high cheekbones and the unruly strands falling over his brow, setting her heart astir.
“Well, while you were searching for the right time, I figured it out myself.”
“How?”
She shrugged. “Alcaros let slip you might be a prince, and when I thought about it, I realised he might have been right. It just… made sense.”
His lips thinned. “Brennus must have told him. I asked the chief to keep quiet about my true identity because I wanted to tell you myself.”
She shook her head. “What does it matter how I found out? You should have told me yourself in the first place.”
His eyes widened, and after a beat, he let out a weary breath. “You’re right. I should have told you sooner.” He ran a hand through his hair, tugging at the roots as if struggling to set aside his pride. “I’m sorry, Alena. I never meant to hurt you.”
His words took her by surprise. She hadn’t expected him to give in so soon.
“Truly,” he breathed, staring at her. “I got caught up with Brennus and his men when I should have come to you first thing. This isn’t how I planned for tonight to go…”
He didn’t elaborate, and she had half a mind to ask him what he’d planned instead, but her tongue was tied.
“I—” She faltered, shaking her head. “I wish you’d trust me. I witnessed your nightmares without ever realising what they meant to you. The massacre wasn’t just the murder of the Megarian royal family—they were your family, Leukos. It explains why you hated Nik with a passion—”
“—I still hate him—”
“—and why you insisted on travelling to Kisra and saving Prince Galen. He’s your brother, and I can’t imagine how hard it must be for you after all these years.” She paused, lifting her gaze to his. “You and I, we’re not that different, after all. You’re fighting to save your brother, and me, my sister.”
His obsidian gaze gleamed as it roamed over her face. He swallowed, his throat muscles tightening. “I do trust you.”
She blinked. “What?”
“You said you wished I could trust you, and I do.”
He stepped closer, and her back hit the stone wall behind her, his body caging her in. She stared up into his face, and for once, she could see.
He left himself open, every vulnerable part of him on display for her.
“After the Blood Wolf, the cave, Bruna,” he listed, his voice low and soft. “After everything we’ve been through together, I trust you, Alena. Completely.”
The rough pad of his thumb swept over her cheekbone, and she forgot how to breathe, much less speak. Her heart threatened to explode out of her chest.
The depth of her emotions scared her a little. Not for her reputation, which had been ruined the moment she’d decided to travel alone with two men, but for her heart.
She couldn’t deny her feelings any longer, yet she couldn’t be sure of his. He was almost impossible to read.
A part of her wanted to flee before she got hurt. But the other part remembered how his strong arms had embraced her when she’d cried. How his strength had made her feel safe, and how she’d longed to kiss him.
His fingertips trailed down her jaw, and his eyes darkened with an intensity that stirred an enticing heat within her core. One that threatened to engulf her completely if he drew closer.
Her palms turned clammy while her thoughts spiralled into chaos.
“Perhaps we should head back.” Her voice came out all wrong. “We wouldn’t want anyone getting the wrong idea.”
It was a lie. She didn’t care if anyone saw them.
And judging by the smile curling on Leukos’ lips, he knew it, too. “And what idea is that?”
He leaned in, their breaths mingling for a heart-pounding moment. When his perfect mouth hovered just inches from hers, waiting for her next move, it was the last incentive she needed.
Alena closed the remaining distance, and their lips collided in a raw confession of emotions that had been simmering between them for far too long. His fingers tangled into her hair, his mouth coaxing hers, and she trailed her hands up his chest.
With a groan, Leukos wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close, setting every nerve in her body alight. She gripped his shoulders to hold herself steady, and when his tongue brushed her lips, she opened for him.
He deepened their kiss, his tongue sweeping fully against hers, drawing a pleasured moan from her throat.
This was nothing like the sloppy, cautious kisses she’d exchanged with the boys from Camp Bessi. Leukos was attentive and yet demanding, tasting every inch of her mouth, and she responded with the same intensity.
The world blurred around her as she threaded her fingers through the thick, dark locks at his nape, and greedily tugged him closer.
Her boldness seemed to ignite something within him. He growled against her mouth, a low rumble in his chest, and his hard body pressed her against the wall. The inside of her thigh rubbed against his in a way that made her knees buckle and her head spin.
His grip on her tightened, and her insides filled with a desire she’d never indulged in. She wanted nothing more than to drown in the heat radiating off him. To lose herself in the feeling of her body pinned beneath his, and his mouth claiming hers.
Heavy footsteps resonated down the street, and they broke apart, chests heaving. Dark silhouettes appeared in the courtyard, and Leukos tugged her further into the shadows, his warm hands clutching her waist.
Alena tried to calm her racing heart, but it was difficult with his hard body pressed at her back. The figures headed straight for the wooden pillars and stood among them in a tight circle.
Leukos angled his head to get a better view of the intruders.
“Druids.” His breath, hot and heavy, tickled her ear. “This must be a temple. We should leave before they catch us disrespecting a sacred place.”
Alena’s face heated, but then her ears picked up on the whispered voices floating in the air.
“… as long as the plan is ready…”
Unable to hear them, Leukos took her hand in his, ready to slip back into the street.
She held him back, curiosity getting the better of her. “Wait.”
He glanced between the circle of druids and her. “Alena…”
“Once it is set in motion, there will be little time to act…”
“The Rasennans will immediately retaliate… it will bring chaos to the hillfort…”
“… perfect opportunity to kill the demon child…”
“… could be Andrasta’s real child… how can we be sure?”
“… then we kill them both, the Rebel Queen’s daughters…”
She gasped, and in the next beat, Leukos whisked her away, half-carrying, half-dragging her out of the courtyard. Sticking close to the shadows, they hurried down the street and didn’t say a word until they reached the safety of their hut.
“What is it?” He darted about the room, lighting up a dozen candles before sitting her on the bed. “What did you hear?”
Biting the inside of her cheek, Alena clutched the furs to ground herself. “They were talking about their plan, the one Brennus revealed at the feast. I didn’t catch any details, but they mentioned a demon child. Andrasta’s child.”
Leukos’ brow furrowed. “Demon?”
“They want to kill me,” Alena whispered. “They’re going to kill us both, they said. Me and Katell.”