Chapter 27

27

I t’s as if every single one of my men agrees with Dax . The moment I go to tell them how I feel, they either cover my mouth with their hand or smash their lips to mine. Seems I won’t be telling them how I feel before we leave for battle.

I’m buckling armor over my leathers when Kas steps in front of me. I feel his glare on me, and I can’t help but smirk. “ Do you wish to tell me something or by chance have a snarky remark before we head into battle?”

He doesn’t say anything, just brushes my hand out of the way and takes over adjusting my armor. With my attention no longer on the straps, I look at my grumpy man. He’s got a deep frown line between his brows as he concentrates.

I reach up and rub at the frown line between his brows. His eyes flick to me before returning to my buckles. “ What , Princess ?”

“ Don’t frown so much. Your face will get stuck like that.”

He snorts and moves on to the buckles that secure my sword at my side. “ This is my face. Do you find my face displeasing, Princess ?”

I chuckle and shake my head. “ I like your face very much.”

The comment catches him off guard, and he freezes for a moment before his dark hazel eyes meet mine. “ You … like my face?”

I grin. “ Oh yes. Your face is very pleasing. Makes up for your shitty attitude.”

It takes a moment, but a smirk slowly spreads across his face as turns his attention to the last of my straps. “ Good to know.”

I wait for him to finish before I punch him in the chest and run off. I yell over my shoulder, “ Thank you! Still hate you!”

I hear him yell, “ I'll hate you forever, Princess .”

The way he says it makes me grin because he’s just like the others. He can’t say those three little words.

I run until I find Dax standing on the edge of a hill. It overlooks the valley between Wylan and Arcelia where the battle will take place. Stepping up beside him, I look out, and I see dark figures moving in the distance. The enemy and his undead army are making their way here.

I hadn’t been nervous until now. But with each moment that passes, the figures grow closer and closer. My nerves grow as it starts to sink in that the battle is about to begin. A weight settles on my chest, and breathing becomes difficult as my nerves escalate.

“ Are you with me, Little Raven ?”

Choppy breaths escape my lips as I realize that it is time. This is what we have been training and planning for. Today is the day we take the kingdom or die trying. I have learned many things during my time with the prince. The Kingdom of Wylan has grown twisted and corrupt because of the king. It is no longer the land I remember seeing as a child. It has been forever changed, and I have a choice to make.

I can either hold onto old morals of a time that no longer exists or adapt and change. I can change the same way this land has. The heroes of old no longer make sense. Would a hero be willing to kill so many in order to save the few? Maybe . But a hero would never have risked his army to save me in the first place. I would have been written off as a casualty of war. Do I have the strength to change?

“ Eira ?”

My head jerks to Dax . His brows are knitted as his hard gaze meets mine. “ Are you with me?”

I bite my lip and nod.

His eyes rove over my face before those icy blue orbs thaw. His gaze is soft as he cups my cheek. “ You will forever and always be the light, the glow that will guide me home when I’m consumed by darkness. Do not smother your light, Little Raven . It is the only thing that guides us back to you.”

My hand covers his as I huff out a breath. “ I must change to belong in this new world.”

I jump when I hear Kas step up behind me. “ Would you ask the sun to stop shining?”

I roll my eyes as I reply, “ No . But? —”

He interrupts, “ Would you ask the birds to stop singing?”

Looking over my shoulder, I say, “ No . But Kas …”

He just arches a brow and talks over me. “ Then why would you expect us to ask you to smother your radiance?”

Growling , I say, “ You are not asking me to do anything. I am simply saying that I must change with the times to belong in this world.”

Dax grips my jaw and forcefully turns my gaze to meet his. His icy expression returns as he frowns. “ Who said you did not belong in this world?”

My breath catches as I force the words out, “ This world.”

His grip on my jaw tightens as he turns it to face the men I’ve grown to love. He growls and says, “ You belong to them.” He jerks my face back to him. “ You belong to ME . That is all that matters. The world can burn to ash, for all I care. I will set this kingdom ablaze and make a new world if I must. Do I make myself clear?”

I nod as best I can with him still gripping my chin. A devilish grin appears on his face as he lowers himself enough so that he’s at eye level with me. His grip loosens, and he caresses my bottom lip with his thumb. “ Do I make myself clear, Little Raven ?”

A shiver runs down my spine as I whisper, “ Yes .”

“ Yes , what?” he asks, rubbing his thumb over my bottom lip, his gaze never wavering from mine.

My breath hitches, and I reply, “ Yes , My Prince .”

He groans as he shifts his grip back to my chin. He presses his lips to mine before nipping at my lip. Pulling away, he looks down at me with molten eyes. “ Now , answer the previous question. Are you with me?”

“ Yes ,” I reply without hesitation.