Page 13 of A Sun Scorched Bloom

Gray pulled Lea against his side protectively. "Because we wish to wait for the bond to be sealed until we are safe and away from this evil place. But do not mistake our lack of a mark for a lack of commitment. She belongs to me—is a part of me as deeply as my very soul. Should anything happen to her, I will personally destroy anyone who failed to help her. You will protect your queen, and we will protect you in return."

Destroy them? Lea had no doubt that Gray would do anything to ensure she was unharmed, but surely threatening his soldiers wasn’t the way to earn their trust. Clenching her jaw, Lea prepared for the rebels to argue that Gray’s focus should be on keepingthemsafe, not her. But, to her utter shock and surprise, one by one, the men and women in front of them bowed their heads in deference to her. All except Janelle, who stuck out her tongue and threw a middle finger in her direction.

"Now," Gray nodded to Vincent, who immediately went to ready the caravan along the back of the grove.

"Deeper inside the forest, there are more horses hidden, along with weapons. Wewillsurvive this journey, but it will be hard." He looked around, scanning the rebel’s faces as if needing to let them know that their safety was important to him. "You will head south to Bearswillow, to a cavern hidden within the Torres Mountains. There, we regroup and await rebels to join us from throughout the kingdom. In the meantime, we train. We prepare. And while we are inside the mountain, you will be safe. I assure you. Elise?" Gray searched the crowd for the plump, older woman.

"Yes?" Elise called from where she still sat on the ground, delicately leaving her daughter's side to stand before him. "Assess the injured, please. I’d like you to tell Vincent who cannot ride alone, so he can assign them to an experienced rider."

Elise bowed her head, promptly turning to the back of the clearing where the wounded were being tended to.

"Those who require a horse or don’t believe they can run, see Vincent. Everyone else, you will travel under the cover of night. The supplies are not far. It is imperative that you are quiet, and if you possess magic," the crowd stilled, for they knew as well as he that harboring magic was illegal, "it is crucial that you do not use it until we are safely within the Torres Mountains. The cavern is protected, just as this grove is protected, but there will not be a constant shield as you travel. Find your magic and fold it tight into the deepest recess of your mind. The king will be looking to track it, and he won’t need much to be able to find us. I will meet you all in Bearswillow."

Erik bristled, stepping to Gray’s side as the rebels moved to follow his orders, picking up their meager belongings and moving toward the horses. "You’re not traveling with us? It wasn’t part of the plan for me to leave your side, Gray. Wherever you’re headed, I’m coming with you." Erik stated matter-of-factly, his voice firm. Gray pulled Lea closer, his eyes softening as he looked at her before speaking.

"You have others that need your protection far more than I do, Erik." Gray nodded to Janelle, who was holding tight to Emma’s hand as tears continued to stream down her face. Lea felt Gray's confusion. He didn’t know about Emma’s magic, but instead of asking, he pressed his lips together, pity clouding his eyes.

"We’re going to Calir. I had planned to take care of this prior to leaving Auropera, but with moving our escape up…" he trailed off. "Lea and I will be fine. Together our power far outranks that of my brother, maybe even that of my father. And we both know that he won’t track us into the Wicked Wood. We don’t need you, but they do," Gray said, inclining his head toward the rebels.

Erik closed his eyes, releasing a breath before glancing over his shoulder. Janelle met his gaze, offering him a shy smile.

Erik turned back to Gray, wrapping his hand around his forearm to pull him into a tight hug. "I will allow you to go without meonlyif you will make a promise. Promise that you will find answers and break the curse. And swear to me that you will bring my queen back safely."

Lea stiffened beside Gray, and she sniffled before leaping into Erik’s arms, squeezing him as tightly as she could. Erik’s eyes were red and slightly puffy as he returned her hug, holding her like he was afraid to let her go, before finally setting her back down and patting her on the head. Gray had no doubt that Erik loved Lea like the sister he never had—loved her as fiercely as he loved Gray. He pushed down the choking sensation in his chest at his friend’s loyalty, at the knowledge he would lay down his own life to protect his mate. Erik’s eyes never left Gray's as he waited for his promise.

"As long as the sun rises in the morning, you can know she is safe. Because to allow harm to come to her, Erik, would be to allow darkness to destroy the world."

Chapter 8

Lea

ErikallowedLeatopull away as she twisted to look at Gray. The intensity of his words left no room for doubt that they would both return safely. Lea reached for him, his body warm against her as she pressed herself into his side, her eyes suddenly wet.

"Are you sure we need to go to Calir? Can’t we help get everyone to safety first?" Lea asked softly, unsure how much of his plans Gray wanted to share with the rebels who still watched their new king.

"We don’t have the time to go with them. The King of Calir, Tanad, is the one who allowed me access to his witch many years ago. If I am to destroy my brother and father, then I have to find a way to break this curse I asked her to place upon us. It is crucial we find Eudora and get her to agree."

"Are you sure they’ll allow us passage across the border?" Lea’s brows rose in concern. She’d heard of the rivalry between the two kingdoms, one which had nearly led them into war on more than one occasion.

Gray’s eyes crinkled around the edges, and it took Lea’s breath away. The bright green of his irises contrasted against his soot-covered face, a glimmer of hope in the darkness. "They will more than allow us entry, Little Flower. They are expecting us, prepared to plan our joint attack against the Black King and his tyranny."

"They’ll side with us? Support us?" Lea’s chest squeezed as her hope grew.

"We have their full military backing. Tanad is every bit as invested as we are in overthrowing my father."

"How can you trust them?" Thomas interrupted. "How can you be so sure that we won’t just be trading one king we didn’t choose for another?"

"What do you know of Calir, Thomas?" Gray asked pointedly. Thomas’s face turned red, but he remained silent, shifting awkwardly from foot to foot in a nervous gesture Lea recognized. He didn’t have an answer, and Lea knew why. They knew very little of Calir, of its customs and leaders. Their history wasn’t taught, aside from the warning that their border was heavily guarded and to attempt to cross it meant certain death.

"You don’t know anything, because my father doesn’t allow his subjects this knowledge. Calir is a free kingdom. Magic is unregulated there. Tanad wants nothing other than to allow his neighboring kingdom the same freedoms he allows his own people, as well as to ensure that the Lonely Death isn’t able to spread across its borders. He and I have come to an agreement. Now," Gray hesitated, looking toward the moon and appearing to take note of its position, "we need to go. My father will send more guards soon enough. Erik, a word?" Leaning down, Gray kissed Lea’s shoulder tenderly. "Say goodbye, my love. Both of our journeys will be dangerous, and who knows how long it will be until we all reunite."

With a nod to Emma and Janelle, Gray turned away, leading Erik to Vincent and speaking in serious, hushed tones, their heads bowed together and jaws clenched. Grabbing Erik’s canteen, he dumped water on his face, wiping the grime away from his neck before cleaning off his hands. Water dripped down his shirt, turning transparent enough to see the dark tattoo across his pec, and Lea’s mouth ran dry at the sight.

Emma stood slowly, brushing tears from her eyes, and Lea forced her attention back to her friend.

"Please, be safe, Lea," Emma begged before collapsing into her arms. Janelle joined their embrace, the three of them crying together. She didn’t want to be separated from them so soon, but Gray was right. If he couldn’t get the witch to break the spell, there was no hope of this war ever ending. No one else could ever be a match for the king and Alaric.

"I’ll see you both soon," Lea promised, wrapping the words around her heart and tying them in a knot as she sought out Thomas to say goodbye.

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