Page 133 of Heirs of the Cursed

The edge of a dagger rested against the soldier’s abdomen. Despite the murderous look on Naithea’s face, he laughed. “Don’t you think if I were here to kill you I’d have made sure you were unarmed and asleep?”

Naithea relaxed at that and dropped the sword, but the soldier caught it before it hit the ground, not to draw unwanted attention. Her arms wrapped around Leonel’s neck, pulling him into an embrace. Tears stung her eyes as his familiar arms wrapped around her body, and all her worries instantly vanished.

“You shouldn’t be here,” she whispered against his ear.

“No, I shouldn’t. But I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing either. You’re my friend, Thea. I needed to warn you.”

“Warn me about what?” she asked as she turned away.

“Ward’s after you.”

“I know.”

Leonel raised an eyebrow. “How?”

“I was there when he made the announcement.”

“Naithea . . .”

Naithea didn’t want to hear it. If she diverted her attention from what was essential to heal her heart, then her emotions would betray her and she’d never be able to stop crying.

“Don’t,” she stopped him, the taste of the lie that followed tasting bitter against her tongue. “That doesn’t matter anymore. What’s his plan?”

“He’s been waiting for you to show up at the tavern to capture you. He thinks you’ll lead him to your sister.”

“I don’t know her,” Naithea admitted. “I didn’t know about my past until a week ago. I couldn’t lead him even if I wanted to.”

“So, you weren’t using us?” he asked in confusion.

“Of course not.”

Leonel squeezed her hand, the one that had surrounded his, their fingers intertwined. He looked at her with worried eyes.

“You must leave.”

“Leo, I can’t.”

“Of course you can,” he insisted, wanting to save her from a fate that was written in the stars. “Leave Bellmare, hide. I’ll find your sister and bring her to you.”

Naithea shook her head. “I must do this. I can’t run away. Not without hundreds of people getting hurt,” she explained. “They don’t deserve to die because of me.”

“Then I’ll go with you.”

“There’s only one thing I need from you.”

“Whatever you ask of me, Thea, I will do.”

Her heart fluttered with hope at Leonel’s words. For the soldier had had to decide where his loyalty lay and had chosen the cursed heiress of a kingdom reduced to rubble with its people on the verge of death.

“I need a ship,” she said. “Immediately.”

The soldier gazed at her with his blue eyes narrowed in curiosity. “What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to get my sisters to safety.”

37

Saevus Forest

---