Page 110 of Stolen
“It’ll take time to free them all,” Dagan adds, his voice low and angry. “This kind of magic runs deep.”
“It will be a long night,” Thorne grunts, kicking some scattered stones that sit at his feet in frustration.
It’s weird, but I don’t feel scared around these men—these Lords.
In fact, I feel like I’m standing with friends. Or big brothers.
Big, terrifying, ridiculously good looking, big brothers with elemental magical powers, who could level cities, sure.
But still, these guys? They feel like family.
They start with nods, a few hands pressed to chests, that kind of thing.
And just when I think it’s all going to stay stoically respectful, Kael steps forward, all wet hair and ocean eyes, still bleeding calm and power from every pore.
“I just wanted to say thank you, my lady,” he says in that low, rolling-tide voice of his.
“You fought like a warrior born. And you stood beside our brother, Alaric, when lesser women would have pissed themselves and begged for a portal home. You have my respect.”
I blink. “That’s, um, unexpectedly flattering.”
Thorne—of course—snorts.
He’s soot-streaked and smirking, leaning on a blade that looks like it melted halfway through the battle.
“I didn’t think a mortal could hold her own against a SoulTaker horde,” he drawls. “But you made me eat my words.”
“You’re welcome,” I say sweetly, and he tips an imaginary hat.
Dagan’s next. The quiet one. Hulking and stone-faced, with a rumble like distant thunder in his chest and a literal rune-glow pulsing along his arms.
He eyes me for a second like he’s deciding whether to say something at all.
“We lost good people,” he says finally, voice like gravel and grief. “But more would’ve died if not for you. You kept the children safe. You protected the Eyrie.”
Then, shockingly, he bows low. “You have my oath.”
I just stare at him. “Um. Thank you. That’s—wow—that’s a lot of oath.”
“She’s overwhelmed,” Kael stage-whispers.
“She’s earned it,” Dagan counters.
Then one of the guards—a young woman with a messy braid and a bandaged arm—pops up, grinning sheepishly.
“My lady. You were terrifying. In a good way. Like a frenzy of weaponized energy. Also, you saved my brother, Thimble. He was one of the young you ushered inside.”
I press a hand to my heart. “He’s a sweet kid. But really, don’t thank me. I just did what I had to.”
“You also shattered a grown man’s nose with a child’s shield,” Thorne adds helpfully.
“I didn’tmeanto do that,” I mutter.
“But youdid,” Kael points out, grinning now. “And really, that was one hell of a shield bash. I saw it from across the courtyard.”
“I thought I broke my hand at the time,” I admit, laughing a little.
Cue Alaric, spinning toward me like I just announced I had a terminal condition.
