Page 4 of A Blightress of Wrath
“ButIam.Ican see it in you now.You’vebeen out there fighting, haven’t you?”Iscoffed and pulled my knees to my chest. “I’vejust been here.Doingnothing while my father and best friend are outthere.”
“BeforeItell you about this war,Sae, there’s something you should know.Everyoneelse knows and you’ll find out soon enough.”
Imumbled into the tops of my knees, “There’snothing you can say that could shock me more than finding out my father is alive.”
“Theremight be.”
Ifrowned.
“Thiswhole war is a fight over you.”
Chapter4
Thevin
Howdoyou tell your best friend she’s the center of so much death and destruction?Probablynot likeIdid.
“Fuck,Ishouldn’t have started there.”
“Canwe go?” she muttered, pulling the blanket tighter over her shoulders.
Herbody shook from the summer chill or the newsI’djust clumsily dropped—either way,Iwanted so badly to pull her into my lap and wrap my arms around her.
“Sure,”Isaid instead.
Istood and held my hands out to her.Shetook them and pulled herself up whileBorosstretched, waiting for her command.
“Myroom,” she started. “Willyou stay and talk to me there?Mymother doesn’t want me to be alone, and now…IguessIknow why.”
BytheBaron, she didn’t know anything at all.Shedidn’t know what we’d face outside of this protected forest.Shedidn’t know about the monsters, the decimation.Shedidn’t know how my chest hurt from the idea thatI’dget to stay with her tonight and just be near.
Ihelped her onto the back ofBorosand jumped up myself.Heturned his head to glare me, but followedSae’sorder to get back to theFortressanyway.
Iheld her close to my chest, both of our heads bent low to avoid the downpour of summer rain.Inthe fifteen minutes it took to get back to the looming black towers,Iplanned out whatI’dtell her.I’dneed to be methodical.I’dneed to let her in slowly—two thingsIhappened to be good at.
Borosstopped at the steps that lead to the kitchens, andIhopped off before helpingSae.Sheruffled his ears, telling him he could go back to the den.Heswiveled his enormous head toward me.
“Hestill doesn’t like me,”Isaid grudgingly, offering my hand, palm up for him to sniff.
Hedid so and huffed loudly, nudging his head atSaelyn’sside.
“Youprobably smell too different.Yousmell like,”—she gestured to the green shield of light protectingFelgren—“out there.”
Inodded, knowing what she didn’t, but soon would.
Borosraised his head and howled.Hiscall was answered by several lumens in the depths of the trees.Hegave her one last nudge and ran off under the darkening sky.
Iinched open the door to the kitchens to glance inside.Isaw the cook speaking toPompeiiwhile several kitchen maids ran in and out with trays of food.
Iclosed the door again and grimaced. “Theymust have moved the party into theFortress.Pompeiiis there.I’mguessing you don’t want to see him?”
Shetilted her head back to the sky, her hood falling in the movement as she put her hands on her hips and sighed in a loud groan.Then, catching my eye with hers, she raised a brow. “Blend?”
“Blend,”Irepeated.
Shepulled her cloak from her shoulders and placed the tips of her fingers on my cheek.
Hertouch was iceIwanted to melt.Iwanted to take her hand and wrap it in my own, protecting her from…everything.
