Page 119 of Bound By Roses

“You’re a huge part of this. This is as much your fight as anyone’s and I know you want to be in there when I go afterArabella, but I need you to do something else for me. Something only you can do.”

She’s not getting it and her eyes narrow to highlight that. “Then tell me, mighty warrior. What mundane task will you have me do for you?”

I can’t stop the laugh this time, and the way her face instantly reddens only makes it all the harder to stop. It’s only when she punches me in the arm—with her right hand, mercifully—that I’m able to collect myself enough. If she’d used her left, mine would be the first blood to coat that ring.

I take her hand in mine and stop walking. Her head is turned away from me, so I catch her chin in my free hand and turn her face so that she has to look up into my eyes. “Stabby. Do you honestly believe that I think you’re useless? Do you think sparring with you is a waste of my time? I taught you to fight because you’re strong and I wanted to help you grow stronger. I gave you those knives and this ring because every warrior needs a weapon. There’s no one I’d rather have fighting by my side.”

“But you’re going to make me stay with Kaylee.”

I snort a laugh because technically she’s right, but that’s not her role in this. “The wolves are the distraction, but they’ve never gone beyond these trees. They don’t know the city like you do. I need you to be their eyes, and you can’t do that if you’re in there, too. You need to get them to that square before those people are murdered, and you may not even have minutes to do it from when that smoke dissipates. Not only are the lives of each and every one of those innocents depending on you, so are the lives of our people. This isn’t about keepingyousafe. It’s about keepingthemsafe.”

“I can do that, but I need you to promise me something.” She fingers the collar of my shirt and then grabs fistfuls of the fabric.

“Anything,” I breathe, and quite literally might do anything if she lets me kiss her right now.

“Swear to me that you won’t go looking for Imelda or Void. You get in, then get out.”

“I swear.”

I lean in to kiss her, but she presses a finger against my lips. “I’m not finished.”

My lips twist into an awkward smile, misshapened by the finger still held there. I don’t dare speak and risk her pulling it away from me.

“If either of them find you,” she continues, “you tell me. You’re not shutting me out and taking them on alone. If we fight them, we do it together.”

She lowers her hand, and I take the opportunity to press my lips against hers. Words can’t begin to express just how much I love this woman. This strong, beautiful, brave, brilliant woman who, for some reason, loves me back. Words may never be enough, but at least for now, I can give her one. ‘Together.’

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

ABBY

Night falls far too quickly as I pace the edge of shadow. Somehow, even in the darkness, I can still see where the boundary lies. As certain as I am that this will happen beneath the light of the moon, I can’t calm the thundering of my heart. If we’re wrong, then we’re just sitting here while Lunae’s people—my people—are massacred. They may not have seen me as anything more than the princess, who occasionally spared those destined for death and instead subjected them to a life of ridicule and poverty, but they don’t know the scars I bear for them.

“It’ll happen when the moon is at its highest,” I say, for what could very well be the tenth time. Imelda always waits for the moon to be directly above before she makes her sacrifice. That knowledge offers little comfort when she can’t see the moon to begin with. If the shadows don’t disappear soon…

Quinn tilts his head back and looks up at the sky. He’s already shifted into his wolf form, and I hate that. I hate that I don’t get to feel his arms around me one more time before we’re separated again. Hate that he’s going into there with no knowledge of what he’ll find waiting for him, while I’m stuck outhere focused on everyone but him.‘We likely have minutes now. When that barrier dissipates, direct the wolves to the square as quickly as you can. I can’t go with them.’

I know. He’ll be too busy running for the palace. Ty hasn’t shifted to confirm that he and Arabella made it out, so we can only assume they didn’t. If Ty shifts and it turns out they’re fine, Quinn can loop back around to meet them. But at this point, it’s a big if.

When I don’t answer, he continues.‘It’s up to you when you unleash chaos. If the wolves get there and there’s still time, look for any advantages you can and wait for the right moment to strike. Merrick and the others can make it there in less than a minute, but only you can tell them when to fly. I won’t be here to make those calls, and there’s not enough time to ask me first. We all trust you.’

I don’t deserve that kind of trust. He’s been trained since he could lift a sword. Trained to fight, to strategize, to lead. I was the eldest daughter to a crown I would never inherit. He should be here to make these decisions. Not me.

‘What about Jade and Rhett?’

‘The Guardians will be too busy to be much of a threat. Send them in when it’s absolute chaos. And Abby?’There’s a sudden seriousness in his gaze.‘I can’t prepare you for what you’re going to see. I wish I could spare you this because it’s going to be—’

He cuts off just as suddenly as the wall of blackness collapses in on itself and fades out of existence in a whoosh of smoke. I know he doesn’t want to leave me. Know that every cell in his body is urging him to stay by my side. But I also know that he has to go and won’t unless I push him.

‘Come back to me.’

‘Always.’

And then Quinn takes off at a run towards the city I once called home.

‘Go!’I send the word down my mental connection with the sixteen wolves who joined us for this fight. The sixteen people willing to lay down their lives for this cause. For a chance at liberating the oppressed and tearing down the veil. They run, not nearly as quick on their feet as Quinn, but quick enough.

At least, I hope.

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