Page 93 of A Simple Truth

I knew she was right. I knew it and yet, it didn’t change the fact that I had lost everything to the Destroyer’s fire. I didn’t get to bury the woman, who I considered my mother, or give the lastkiss to the person I thought I’d spend the rest of my life with. All because of the Destroyer’s fire.

But I was one of them now. I watched my family be gutted, only to realize that I was the one holding the knife all long.

58

GIDEON

The servants poured wine into our goblets, as Lord Nolart and his family, with some of his ‘cherished’ advisors, dined with me. I reluctantly chewed my rubbery steak, already sick of the pointless discussions happening at the table. I eyed the old Lord, deep in conversation with the other lords. He was so unaware or, perhaps, indifferent to his new, young wife making clear advances at me.

Humans are pitiful.

I took a sip of my drink, hiding a smile as I imagined just how quickly Finn would burn her eyes out for even looking at me like that.

“So, Lord General…” she started, and I couldn’t resist curling my lip in annoyance at the sound of her voice. “All I hear is constant elven war conversations. What are your considerations of this?”

“My considerations on the war are quite simple, Lady Nolart. We are to win it,” I replied dryly, taking another bite of food, unsure of what was more bland, the vegetables or this dialogue.

“Spoken like a true Destroyer General.” She smiled sensually at me, and I couldn’t resist a scoff. “What of you, General Ikory,what do you think of this upcoming war? Are we truly to receive riches beyond the ability of our comprehension?” Lady Nolart cooed as she repositioned her arms, causing her large chest to be exposed more. I turned my eyes to Andrias, who was in a worse mood than before, knowing that I not only knew of the creatures he was hiding in the dungeons, but also of the hundreds of hatchlings too.

There was something so devilishly pleasant in seeing people get so riled up about my actions, yet unable to do a single thing about it. Perhaps Andrias could’ve been a good opponent at one time, had he not been so obnoxious to the point of exhaustion.

“Riches and glory, I’m sure of it,” he replied politely. Lady Nolart's eyes flickered with wicked intent as she ran her hand down her neck, adjusting her large necklace. Andrias cleared his throat but pulled his eyes away from her. His marriage was one of convenience: money and power. But even he wouldn’t dare betray the sanctity of the Destroyer marital Soulbond.

I dragged my eyes away from the poorly made dinner and stared outside through the long windows that stretched from the floor to the ceiling of the dining hall. Drops of spring rain slid down the glass. The towns outside were hidden from view, all buried in the dark clouds lingering over the endless fields.

But there, amidst the fog, I saw a small shadow appear, shaping into a flying bird as she hovered near the window.

Liriya.

Without a word, I rose abruptly, marching towards the doors of the dining hall.

“General?” Lord Nolan questioned, but I ignored him.

“Andrias, I expect your completed report by tomorrow,” I ordered the general, “And Lady Nolart, desperate cheater is not a good look for you.” With that, I walked out of the room, Orest and Broderick trailing behind me as I paced down the dullcorridors of the fortress, finding the nearest open window as the large bird flew in, landing on my forearm.

“What is it?” Broderick asked, his brows bunched with concern.

“It’s Finn, isn’t it?” Orest shook his head at me. “Try not to glow too much, or you might blind us with your love-struck gaze.” He smirked at me.

My heart raced while my eyes devoured the small letter with the one-of-a-kind handwriting.

“Everything is okay, right?” Broderick asked, still concerned as I reread the lines.

“Yeah,” I mumbled, unable to resist a happy grin.

“Let him be, Broderick. Who cares about the war or deadly creatures in the basement when he’s got love letters to craft.” Orest laughed.

“What did you write to get such a message back?” Broderick tauntingly peeked above my shoulder as I folded the letter, putting it away from their prying eyes.

“It was a sonnet, wasn’t it?” Orest grinned at me, folding his arms. “Please tell me it was a love sonnet because if it wasn’t, I will be greatly disappointed in you, Gideon.”

“No, I saved the love sonnet for the evening, you buffoon.” I flipped him off as Orest cackled, though I made a mental note to burn that first draft of the small poem that was hidden in my drawer.

“You gifted her something, didn’t you?” Broderick smiled as they both traced me while we walked back to my chambers. “That’s why you snuck out to the city yesterday.”

“If you two gossips must know, I got her Destroyer Diamond earrings.” I glared at the bird that was flying behind us and she looked away, almost crashing into the wall.

“Diamond earrings? Come on Gideon, you are truly losing your game.” Broderick snorted. “Our Empress-to-be deserves better than that.”

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