Page 126 of Fear the Flames
We ride toward the line of archers; their cheers drift our way at the sight of their commander making it out of enemy territory. This confirms that the newshasspread like wildfire, but I don’t care. Why should I keep my accomplishments in the dark while others scream theirs from the tops of mountains? Just because I’m used to living in the dark doesn’t mean I have to stay there. We break the line of archers, and my vision flicks to Saskia. Her fist pumps in the air, and a broad smile coats her features. Her cheers are drowned out by the shouts around us, but the shouts aren’t only for Cayden; they’re for me as well.
“Queen Elowen!” I hear it repeated a few times in tandem with, “Commander Veles!” I smile down from my horse, keeping it on track toward Saskia. A redhead of curls exits a tent behind the crowd and makes a beeline toward me. My heart stutters in my chest, and the wave of relief that overtakes me is enough to almost throw me off my horse.
I dismount into the crowd and push through the soldiers while keeping my eyes on Finnian, who’s racing this way. Tears slip from his eyes, and his contagious grin beams toward me. I break through the crowd and am enveloped in a bone-crushing hug. I’m lifted in the air, and the familiar scent of citrus overtakes my senses, bringing tears to my eyes. Finnian’s shouts are muffled in my chest, and the vibration mixed with his presence makes my senses hum in happiness. My head tilts back, and I cheer along with everyone else as Finnian holds me high. Pain knocks against my ribs, but Finnian’s arms around me mean more. No pain can overpower the happiness I feel right now.
Finnian is alive. I reach toward his curls and ruffle them with my fingers. He’s here, and he’s holding me like he’s done so many times, but this time it’s different. We’ve never split up on missions before. We’ve gotten separated a few times, but we’ve never made an entire journey home without knowing the other one was safe. Finnian isn’t a loss my soul could bear. He sets me down, and I look up into his freckle-dusted face, so immensely thankful he’s here, unharmed aside from a few cuts on his arms.
Saskia has her arms wrapped around Cayden’s neck, and he’s patting her back, his lips quirked in a way that leads me to believe he’s saying something sarcastic. Saskia confirms my thoughts when she reaches up and smacks the back of his head before pulling away. She looks toward me and runs at me with a broad smile, arms outstretched. Her bottom lip is swollen in the corner, but she’s walking fine. I push through the pain in my legs from a mixture of riding, bruising, my cut, and my night with Cayden and meet her halfway—throwing my arms around her torso while she throws hers around my neck. Contagious laughter bubbles from her chest while she pulls me into her jasmine-scented embrace. I watch Cayden’s frame stalk toward the tent Finnian came out of, and my blood chills. “Where’s Ryder?” I ask.
“He’s in the tent.” Saskia eases her hold on my neck and grips my shoulders, but her smile is slightly dulled. “He got shot with an arrow in his torso. Imirath had soldiers stationed on the edge of the Emer where it meets the Dolent Sea.” We begin walking toward the tent Cayden disappeared into. “Luckily, it didn’t hit any major arteries, but there was so much blood,” a shiver travels up her spine. “We got him to the medical tent as soon as we got back. We wanted to leave him on the other end of the border to recuperate, but he wouldn’t let us leave without him, which I can’t blame him for.” She peels back one of the tent flaps and holds it open for me.
Ryder sits in a cushioned chair at the head of a long table, smiling at Cayden, who sits in the chair next to him. The last knot of worry unties itself, and my knees almost buckle. Both of their gazes drift toward the opening of the tent when Finnian lets the flap fall behind us, drowning out the cheers that continue throughout the camp and down the border. The news that we’re back will reach Ailliard soon.
“The Dragon Queen has returned.” Ryder smiles as I walk to the table and take the seat next to Cayden. “Valia might get jealous, and I know Eagor will.”
“Jealousy is sometimes rooted in truth,” Saskia jests while taking the spot next to Ryder. Finnian takes the spot at the opposite head of the table, next to me.
“Speaking of Eagor, have you heard anything since you’ve been back?” Cayden inquires.
Ryder rolls his eyes, “A celebration dinner tomorrow night.” Cayden lets out a groan as his head falls back to rest against the chair. I can’t say I’m much happier than he is. We just got back, and the idea of sitting in a room with the King and Queen of Vareveth, along with political advisors, isn’t exactly high on my priority list. I’d rather have another tavern night with just the five of us, minus the assassin. I slump in my chair but flinch forward when one of the bones of my corset presses into a bruise. Cayden’s head whips toward me, his eyes flaring in concern.
“Do you want my help taking the corset off?” he asks gently. I nod and rotate away from him. It’s easier to untie it than it is to undo all the clasps; sometimes they get stuck. I face an all too invested Finnian who drums his fingers against his lips while he takes in my position. Cayden finishes untying my corset, and I let it fall from my arms. He pulls my chair closer to his and skims his hands over my sides in a comforting gesture.
“I called it!” Ryder shouts while pointing his finger at Saskia. Finnian does a silent dance in his chair that consists of wiggling in place, which honestly just makes him look like he has to relieve himself.
“Reward is sweet!” Finnian cheers while also turning toward Saskia, who rubs her temples and rests her elbows on the table.
“Seriously?” Cayden glares at Ryder.
“Did—” I wave my hands between the three of them, working my way to my conclusion. “Did you three have a bet about us sleeping together?”
“You can’t be mad considering it happened. Your anger cancels out, its basic math,” Finnian reasons.
“Everybody wins,” Ryder adds on.
“Exactly. You and I get money,” Finnian gestures between himself and Ryder, who nods enthusiastically. “You two got laid,” he gestures between Cayden and me before turning to Saskia again. “Well, you lose money, but you can relish in the fact you won’t have to watch them eye-fuck each other from across the room anymore,” he finishes off by placing his chin in his hand and smiling at her.
“I don’t resign from eye-fucking her,” Cayden raises his hand, and the other three groan.
“Seriously?” I spin toward him and imitate his voice.
“Have you seen yourself?” he asks.
“Fair point,” I smirk.
“I’ll be a winner if all of you shut up. I’m too sleep-deprived to deal with you all at once,” Saskia mutters, but the mirth in her eyes betrays her words. Her attempt at a scowl fails when her lips quirk upward, setting a sea of laughter washing over all of us.
“How long have you all been back?” Cayden asks after the laughter dies down.
“Several hours. Enough to eat and bathe before riding here,” Ryder says. As if on cue, my stomach grumbles at the mention of food.
Finnian chuckles softly while getting to his feet and says, “Go bathe. I’ll find you some food.” He points to a door in the back of the tent that I’m assuming leads toward the bathroom before leaning over and kissing the top of my head.
“I’ll come with you; I have some stuff to handle,” Cayden says. He slowly slides his arm from where it rests around my waist, dragging his fingers along my back. My cheeks heat under his touch and gaze, but I keep my eyes focused on the table as he removes himself from my side.
I head toward the door Finnian pointed to. A happy sigh leaves my lips when I see the faucet. Running water. I turn it on and let the tub fill with steaming water while I strip out of my knives and leathers, leaving them in a pile on the floor, and sink into the hot water. My head rests against the back of the tub, and I let the soothing temperature caress my bruises. I glance down to examine them, they’re slightly darker, but that just means they’re healing, which is a good sign.
My hunger is the only thing that motivates me to grab the soap to begin washing myself. I’m surprised by how much of a selection is here, but I remember Cayden saying he has tents set up all over the border in case his army needs him in a certain place. Nobody is in here, so I don’t hide my smile when I notice the unopened soap bottle that’s clearly labeledVanilla and Lavender.The smile stays on my face while I scrub my hair and thread my fingers through the strands, only faltering when I realize I have no idea how to act with him when we go to dinner tomorrow.
