Page 71 of Bloodguard

“Many of these houses look abandoned,” I say.

Maeve nods. “Soro claimed he was stopping crime in these poor areas, but it appears all he succeeded in doing is ridding the poor areas of people.”

She glances at the remains of a home three stories tall. “Papa loved Arrow. He would have been a good king—the best—following in my grandmother’s footsteps. When Papa is free, things will be different.”

“If you free your papa, will you step aside and allow him to rule until it’s your time again?”

“I thought I would. For a long time, that was my plan.” She’s quiet for a moment. “But thisismy time, Leith,” she says, her voice reflecting her determination and her misery, too. “Papa will never be the same after…everything.” She lifts her chin like the queen she will be. “I will free himandmake Arrow as wonderful as he dreamed.”

The fierceness Maeve regards me with when speaking of liberating her biological father rivals some of the worst opponents I’ve encountered in the arena.

I thought we had nothing in common, but here we are, both willing to take on monsters to help the ones we love.

My duty was to play bodyguard today. Between watching out for potential threats and dissecting our conversations, I haven’t contributed much…but some things should be said. “Maeve, you could take on the world.”

Her reddening cheeks don’t stir a grin from me this time. I regard her as intensely as she regards me.

She looks away first, whispering, “With you by my side, nothing shall stop me.”

chapter 26

Leith

The moment doesn’t last long. I’m on edge, my instincts warning me that something is wrong as we walk through this run-down neighborhood.

The sound of soldiers marching is distant at first but quickly strengthens in volume and numbers.

“We should get out of here,” I say, taking her hand and pulling her down a side street.

“Wait. What are you doing?” Maeve asks.

“Soldiers are approaching in droves. Why? It’s late. Too late to do anything good.”

We don’t get far. Maeve digs in her heels. “I’m the princess of Arrow, Leith. I’m not running and hiding.”

I don’t think she understands the danger her own soldiers present with that knob of a lord and general in charge.

Wood splinters from somewhere behind us. “By the order of Lord Soro, we demand you open up!”

Maeve whirls. “It’s a raid.” Her shocked eyes narrow to slits. “He’s looking for more immigrants to imprison.”

I grab her elbow and pull her back.

“Let me go,” she bites out. “I must stop this.”

“No,” I hiss under my breath.

“Ye can’t come in my home without a royal order!” an old woman yells.

“Get out of my house, you filthy bastards!” a man with an accent similar to Ioni’s hollers.

Breaking glass follows the echoes of furniture and bodies being shoved away. “The princess shall hear of it,” another man adds.

“I’m counting on it,” Soro shouts back.

It’s this last comment that has Maeve fighting me. I pull her close, taking care not to hurt her as I drag her around the back of the building.

“They need me,” she insists, voice cracking.

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