Page 49 of The Blood Crown

Valea shook her head, uttering something under her breath that sounded likefucking malesas Karro got to his feet once more. “We need to leave. Now,” she ordered.

“Our weapons,” Ven barked, his voice ragged around the edges as if he still fought for control over himself.

Valea gestured impatiently to the blades piled against the wall. “We have enough.”

“I’m not leaving this place without Flamecleaver,” Karro interrupted, rubbing his throat.

“You named it?” Valea cocked a silver brow. “How adorable.”

Karro took a single step toward her, towering over the platinum braids along her head. “You would do well to know its name. It was the blade my forebear used to cut down legions of your people during the battle of Vindfell.”

Valea tilted her head up. “And I’m sure you’ve grown fond of it since it’s probably the only thing warming your bed at night.”

Karro offered a feral grin in return. “There’s plenty of room if you’re jealous,” he invited, voice low.

Ven cleared his throat, and the tension strung tight between his half-sister and Karro seemed to snap. “We’ll need ravenstone blades if we’re going to make it out of here.”

Valea peeled her eyes away from Karro, the expression of a female who didn’t have her orders questioned often. But in this fight of wills, Ven won as she gave a begrudging nod and split off to the right.

With the hoods of their red cloaks pulled low over their faces, Karro, Ven and Aurelia looked like any of the other sentries. They were easily lost in the shuffle of guards running to their posts and groups splitting off into search parties.

Only two males stood watch outside of the armory doors, and as the corridor emptied, Valea stalked forward, her steps purposeful.

With their eyes trained on their Captain, the guards didn’t notice anything was amiss until Karro’s shadows snaked around their mouths and struck so suddenly that neither one had the chance to shout for help.

Ven made short work of the first, slitting his throat and moving to the other.

“Wait—” Valea urged, as Ven brought the blade just below the male’s chin. “This one is loyal.” Ven’s mouth tightened into a thin line. “He does not deserve to die,” Valea added with more empathy than Aurelia had thought her capable of.

Ven dropped the blade and took a step closer. “You will not remember this night,” he whispered coldly, his compulsion taking hold.

Valea quickly retrieved their confiscated weapons. She selected a white wooden bow for herself, slinging it over her shoulder along with a clutch of arrows, veins of bronze and gold running through their sharpened tips.

Black tourmaline, Aurelia thought with a small amount of relief, palming the comforting weight of the jeweled dagger inher hand, relieved to see it once more as Valea handed its twin to Ven.

If they made it out of this place, they could very well be walking into something far worse.

“What’s your plan?” Ven asked, securing blades to his body, his fingers deft and practiced with the movements.

Valea gave him a saccharine smile, “We walk out the front door,” ignoring the look that the Wraiths exchanged.

So long as no one looked at their faces too closely—it wasn’t the worst idea. Patrols were leaving, sentries posted at the black gates. They would blend in with their white uniforms, and as long as their hair remained covered by the red cloaks, they might be able to slip past the Nostari unnoticed.

Valea tossed Karro his black-bladed broadsword, her eyes lingering as he sheathed it between his heavily muscled shoulders.

“The coin?” Karro asked.

Valea shook her head, silver braids swaying. “It was given to my father—trying to find it now is too risky.”

“Very well.” A wary expression was on Ven’s face as he glanced toward Aurelia.

They just had to hope they wouldn’t need it.

Chapter 26

Aurelia kept her head low, cold sweat slicking her palms.

There was no room for mistakes now. Not when they were so close.

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