Page 75 of Vicious Princess
I shove at his chest with a scoff. A moment later, his weight is off me. I miss it immediately.
When the oil lamp on the wall flickers to life, I cover my eyes. It takes me a couple of seconds to get adjusted.
Daegel stands over me. “You’re late.”
With a groan, I roll onto my side and push to my feet. “Sorry. I was connecting with my bow.”
“Oh, is that right? Well, then you better show me how well you two managed to connect.”
For a heartbeat, we stand staring at each other. Without looking away, he points a finger at the door leading to the back garden.
“I hope you know how to manage your expectations,” I mumble, padding outside.
The amused chuckle that follows me into the darkness of the night warms my chest despite my irritation.
CHAPTER THIRTY
“Get up!”
The unfamiliar voice sounds distant when it stirs me from my deep slumber. Ignoring it, I toss over.
“Up! Now, cadets! Quickly!”
Someone shoves me hard enough that I fall out of my bunk. My bones rattle as I hit the hard floor.
“What the fuck,” I mumble pushing myself up.
Chaos reigns around me.
A dozen Ezkai strapped to the teeth with weapons are pulling everyone out of their beds. With barely one eye open, Roman’s pulling his leathers out of the chest under the bed.
I walk up to him. “What time is it?”
“Way too fucking early if you ask me,” he say, voice still husky from sleep.
“Do you know what’s going on?”
Roman shakes his head. From the confused looks on other fae’s faces as they dress, it’s clear nobody knows.
I, however, have an inkling.
Quickly, I strip out of my sleeping linens and get into my leathers. The scent of Daegel lingers on them from earliertonight, which gives me comfort as I strap my blades to my thighs and waist, then stuff a few into my boots.
I secure the quiver with arrows onto my back and toss my bow over my shoulder right in time for the Ezkai to order us outside. We follow the soldiers through the grounds and into Ezkai Castle in silence.
Nobody is awake at this hour, not even the sun.
It means I barely got a few hours of sleep after returning from training with Daegel. Yet I feel wide awake, my skin buzzing with anticipation and anxiety. These two emotions have almost identical physiological responses. It’s hard to tell them apart.
The castle is quiet as we enter and make our way deeper. This time around, we’re not going towards the administration or the hall where the soiree took place. We’re headed somewhere I have yet to visit.
Once we reach a tall and wide wrought iron double door, the Ezkai march forwards. The room we enter is large, with a long table in the middle. On the far wall, a detailed map of Ekios is carved into the clay wall.
I’m surprised to see the Ezkai General waiting for us. Daegel didn’t mention the General himself would be present during the secret mission.
The Ezkai we followed halt in front of the General and the bald Ezkai who always appears to be with him.
“Good morning, cadets. For those who may not be aware, I’m Ezkai General Kitajo Hiromasa, and this is my second-in-command, Taaslord Noire Omubratio,” the General says. His face is open, voice confident yet soothing. There’s an aura around him that makes me like him, even though I barely know the fae. “You’re probably wondering why you’ve been pulled out of your beds at this ungodly hour and brought here.” His gaze sweeps past us, lingering for a moment longer on me. “But you see, that is the life of an honorable Ezkai. Anytime, any moment,something may happen that will require you to act no matter if you’re in the bed of your lover or in the middle of tucking your kids into bed. That is the sacrifice you make once you join the Order.”
