Page 72 of Clash of Kingdoms

She reached the ground then walked toward me, her cape billowing in the breeze, her sword at her hip. Her stare was hard and focused, and there was no relief at the sight of my well-being. She knew my sorrow because she felt it too.

I turned to her, walking across the dried mud to meet her.

When she was close, her eyes softened at the sight of me.

I knew my face was red from the sun exposure and my hair was filthy with mud. I knew my eyes were empty because I was hungry and tired. I didn’t possess the regalness of a king in that moment. Battle had aged my appearance and claimed my strength.

She cupped my face as she looked up at me, her eyes full of the same sorrow that burned in my heart. No words were forthcoming because there was no consolation that would soften this blow.

But just having her there was enough.

My hands gripped her wrists, and I rested my forehead against hers as I closed my eyes. The pain was all-consuming, unbearable. The battle of the three kings had been horrible, but it didn’t hurt the same way this one did. We hadn’t lost nearly as many people. Our losses were negligible compared to this. Even if we defeated these demons…would there be anything left?

“They will pay.”

My eyes opened to look at her.

“They took what matters most—our people. But now we’ll take what matters most to them—their immortality. We’ll destroy that crystal. Shatter it into shards. And then we’ll kill them all.”

My tent was modest. Just a cot on the ground with a couple apples and dried nuts. But I didn’t care about comfort right now, because the softest bed and the silkiest sheets wouldn’t subdue this pain.

Ivory didn’t care about the modest accommodations. She’d never been one to complain.

A fire burned outside the tent, casting light through the thin material. To anyone who passed by, our silhouettes would be visible, but privacy wasn’t my concern right now. I sat there with my arm propped on my knee, looking through the slightly open flap into the darkness outside. It was cold, but the cold never bothered me.

It didn’t seem to bother Ivory either, probably because her depression masked her nerves.

“It’ll take another day to pull the fallen out of the mud and commit them to the flames…” We wouldn’t leave until everyone had been burned. We would never leave our own behind.

“Aurelias and his brothers have begun harvesting the items needed for the detonators.”

I couldn’t think of our future plans. I was trapped in the past, trapped in the brutal memories of war. It was easier for Aurelias to bounce back because we weren’t his people. He wasn’t responsible for any of them…but I was. “Good.”

“By the time we return, they may be ready to proceed.”

Death was heavy, and it made me apathetic. The battle had been won, but the war still stood in the balance. But I couldn’t get myself to care, even though I still had the other half of my people to protect.

“Huntley.”

My eyes had been focused on the flap opening, not on her. But I obeyed and gave her my full attention.

“I know this is something you don’t want to discuss. In another instance, I would keep it from you. But?—”

“What is it?”

She gave a quiet sigh. “Aurelias and Harlow have parted ways.”

It took me a second to process that statement because Aurelias was only here because of her. “How is that possible?” It had taken me a while to accept him, but I knew his dedication to her was real. He wouldn’t have risked his life so many times if he weren’t willing to die for her.

She hesitated before she answered. “Harlow caught him feeding on another woman.”

I stared at her blankly. “And?”

“I guess it was a sensual encounter.”

I still didn’t understand the problem. “He’s a vampire. This shouldn’t be a surprise to her.”

“Well, he lied to her and said he was feeding on animal blood.”

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