Chapter 55

Chapter

Fifty-Five

ORION

A lyx is still annoyed the assassin managed to kill himself before she got anything from him. It’s a testament to how sick she must have been that she didn’t notice him grabbing the blade. It was a mistake, one she never would have made before. It worries me, and it seems finally declaring my feelings has unleashed a torrent I didn’t know existed before.

I cannot sleep, can barely eat or think if it’s not about her. I stalk her day and night, even when I should be protecting the king. Nothing has ever gotten between me and my duty before, yet she has, and she is totally oblivious as she angrily stabs the meat on her plate, eating under our watchful gazes.

Maybe that is why I find myself scouting the palace and kingdom for leads that night, trying to find anything to give her purpose and see that slightly manic smile curl her lips. I just cannot see her so dejected; it makes my heart hurt. I left her in Crux’s care, who was curled around her, fast asleep, when I left, something that sent irrational jealousy through me. I cannot touch her like that.

Maybe I will never be able to. She kissed me once, but she has made no such move since. It’s clear she doesn’t want me like she wants my king or even the assassin, and I have resigned myself to that. I know I am large and scarred, not pretty like them, and I have nothing to offer her—no name, family, or wealth, just my duty, which I live by. No, I will love her silently. I might finally understand these troubling feelings, but I will not impose them on her. She has enough going on without me declaring my intentions and her worrying about rejecting me. She needs me, she needs us all, and before this is through, she will need my sword. I will give her that, and if it’s all she can accept from me, then I will die a happy man.

I never even knew I would find love, so to find it with her is a dream, one I know will be stolen away when she leaves once more. She belongs to the kingdom, to the Lowers, and I belong to the palace and the king. We are ill-fated, so I will make the most of every stolen moment from now until then.

I understand why Crux did what he did to stay at her side. I’m starting to realise I would do just about anything she asked of me just to stay near her. I know what I’m capable of deep down, the darkness I hide from my king. I am a warrior for a reason. I am good at killing, but it is more than that.

I relish killing.

The power of it, the blood on my hands from protecting my family . . . it’s a high I have never found elsewhere, which is probably why I hated Alyx so much upon her crashing entry into our world. She represents everything I try to hide—my desires, anger, and arrogance. She is unapologetic in her skills and taking of lives, while I hide, working hard to remain calm and in control at all times. She is a wildfire of emotions, ones that have lived inside me since birth.

Fire and ice, yet I seem to be melting for her, and I worry what will be left.

Will I still have my careful control? Will she have stolen it all? It’s too late to fight it now either way, so I focus on the man on his knees before me. My sword is pressed to his bobbing Adam’s apple, a bead of blood running down his pale, clammy skin.

Something Alyx and Joha talked about yesterday bugged me. I know Joha suspects Queen Mother killed his father, but how did she get away with it? No matter how well she covered it up, he was sick, and as king, he had to be seen. It just so happens the royal healer at that time, someone I thought was a loyal friend to the king, resigned and left after his death. Everyone thought it was due to grief, since they were like brothers and best friends since childhood, but what if it wasn’t because of that?

What if he knew something and was running?

Hence the sword. I need answers, and I grew tired of asking nicely.

“Let me ask one more time. You were his apprentice. You knew him better than anyone. Where did Healer Arbella go?” The man swallows hard. He was young when he was taken on and taught by the best healer in the kingdom for years. They had grown close, and then he was abandoned, just like that, but he is loyal to his old mentor even now.

“Why are you seeking him now? Leave him in peace,” he sneers, defiant even in the face of death.

“It is for the king,” I reply. This man owes him loyalty. He could warn the healer we are coming, but I have no choice. I need answers. “About his father.”

His eyes narrow, searching mine. “He finally wants answers? He has finally taken away their bindings,” he muses with a laugh. “Fine, you might not like the answers you get though. Master left years ago for a reason. He is hiding deep within Tundra Province, in a little village between the mountains called Fireheart.”

There is only one reason someone as high up as Arbella would hide, and that’s to escape someone’s clutches. Fireheart is a small village, but it lies deep within the Tundra Mountains and is nearly impossible to get to. Those who live there are poor yet happy and survive on the land.

He went there to hide, which means I’m right.

Removing my sword, I lean down and hand over a stack of coins. “For your trouble.”

I’m about to fade into the shadows when the young man’s voice rings out again. “Prepare yourself, guard dog. If you dig into this, you might end up the same as the old king.” I turn back to demand to know what he means, but he is gone, departed into the night along with his secrets.

“No,” Joha states. “Fireheart is at least a three days’ ride from here, and that is a hard ride at best. You told me that yourself. It’s too dangerous. What if he knows nothing?”

Sitting back heavily in my wooden chair, I meet Joha’s worried eyes. “Joha.” I cover his hand on the table. “I will be fine. I am more worried about you?—”

“I’m coming too,” Alyx says, and my head jerks around. She has one knee pressed to her chest, her other on the floor, wearing leather breeches and a loose shirt. Crux is in the other chair at the table in her rooms, cards spread before them since they were playing before I barged in.

“No!” we all protest at the same time.

Her eyebrow rises as she glances from her cards to us. “Yes. I’m perfectly healed now?—”

“You were dying,” Joha snaps.

“And now I’m not,” she argues. “You are right. Orion cannot go alone. If they find out where he’s going and why, they will hunt him down. He needs someone to watch his back, someone who can ride hard and fast and go undetected. That is me.”

“Or me,” Crux reminds her.

“No, you need to stay to protect the king. You’re the best—well, other than me. I’m still on bed rest,” she scoffs. “It’s the perfect time. They might even try to make another move, thinking the king is weak with Orion gone, and we can spring a trap.”

“Absolutely not,” Joha states.

“Are you telling me what to do, my king?” Her voice is low and sultry, danger in every word. He swallows, his eyes widening with desire, not fear.

“No?” It sounds like a question from him, and we all snort a laugh.

“I hate to admit it, but she could be right. If Crux and I go, we would probably kill each other. This way, we can spring a trap and get information. We just need to plan it well,” I mutter.

I’m definitely not siding with her just to spend time with her.

“I win.” She lays her cards out with a wicked grin, and we groan, knowing she is going to win this argument too.

It’s not in her nature to lose.

We spend an entire day prepping, every hand on deck. While I prepared two horses and supplies in secret, Crux and Alyx worked on laying a trap and planning for any possibilities—and probably fucking since he’s adamant she should not be out of his sight.

It doesn’t surprise me, however, when I go to find her that night and Joha has his arms wrapped around her in a tight hug. I slip into the shadows, giving them their privacy, but I end up peeking, my eyes widening as my king so blatantly cups her face and kisses her softly.

“Be safe and come back to me.”

“Don’t die while I’m gone.” She laughs and then turns to the shadows I didn’t even see. “Crux, remember, only I get to kill you, so don’t die either.”

“I’ll be waiting.” The voice comes from deep in the darkness.

Stepping from the wall, I cough to get their attention. “It’s time. The changing of guards is happening soon, so we need to be gone before the new ones arrive. It’s better no one knows we have left until it’s too late.”

She nods, glancing back at Crux and Joha. “Don’t be stupid. Play it safe. We will be back in six days, and the kingdom better be standing then.” She lingers for another moment, clearly worried. She turns to me and heads my way, her eyes glinting with determination.

As she walks, she tugs up her hood, the black material concealing her face. Reaching down, she pulls up her face mask, covering her mouth so only her green orbs are seen. In leather braces, boots, and a blouse, she looks like a peasant or, well, an assassin since she has blades at her sides.

She looks dangerous and fucking sexy.

It’s going to be a long few days. I didn’t think about that.

She falls into step at my side, and we move through the shadows to the stables where our horses wait—two black stallions, the fastest and hardiest horses I could find. Their saddlebags are filled with all our supplies. I go to give her a boost, but as I watch, she grabs the saddle and flings herself up, sitting confidently.

Shaking my head, I move closer, checking her stirrups and ensuring everything is safe, my hand lingering on her leg as I look up at her. She meets my eyes, and I swallow what I really want to say. “Stay at my side and keep up,” I order before I mount my own horse as she clicks her tongue and urges hers forward.

“You keep up.” She glances over at me. “If you can, big guy.”

She kicks her horse into a trot, and as soon as we pass through the open gate, she sits deeper in her saddle as we urge our horses faster, speeding through the dark city, straight through Stormhallow, and towards Tundra Province.

I hope I’m right about this.

Please let me be right and my king be safe.