Page 85 of A Reign of Malice
He nods stiffly. “I’ll hold you to that.”
Turning my back on him feels wrong. Stepping in the opposite direction, putting space between myself and my mate is unnatural considering what I’m about to do, but I keep going. I don’t have a choice. Going forward by myself is the best plan to lure Aeson out, to end this without putting too many innocents at risk.
Once I’m far enough away, I call my wolf forward. She explodes from beneath my skin in a rush of energy and fur, limbs lengthening, senses sharpening. The world turns vivid, every scent and heartbeat pulsing in brilliant detail.
She’s tempted to look back but keeps the course. We both know we have a job to do tonight.
We run, wind streaming through our fur, paws poundingagainst earth, every muscle moving with purpose. The forest blurs around us. Miles pass, and we don’t stop or even slow until my wolf senses others up ahead, coming from the direction of the castle. They’re drawing in, just as I knew they would be.
We skid to a halt in the open field that stretches before the last section of forest that leads to the main part of the kingdom. My wolf relinquishes control, and I shift back, my boots landing on cool grass as the wind dances through my hair.
I raise my voice, firm yet filled with vulnerability, a feigned need.
“Aeson! Where are you?”
It’s time for me to see just how desperate thiskingis to have me.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
SLOANE
Minutes tick by, slow and heavy. I stand alone at the edge of the field, my breath steady even as the silence thickens around me. The scent of damp earth and distant fire lingers in the air. No more rustling. No birds. No wind. Even the forest feels like it’s holding its breath.
I shift my weight, hands loose at my sides, and try not to shake as my fingers twitch with anticipation. In hindsight, maybe the new outfit wasn’t the best choice. The warrior’s garb that once made me feel invincible might be working against me. It clings to my body like a second skin, showcasing my strength.
I don’t look like a damsel calling for her king. I look like an assassin.
“Aeson, we need to talk,” I say, projecting my voice just enough to carry beyond the trees. “I know what their plan is. I snuck off once I’d convinced them I would fight with them. I’m here to warn you.”
The plan was always to lie my way into the castle, tocreate a distraction. It just looks a little different than I anticipated.
I walk forward with my hands up. “I’m not here for a fight.”
There’s a rustling in the trees, but I keep going.
“It wasn’t my choice to leave the castle the other day,” I say, keeping as much to the truth as possible. “I was taken against my will—forced into a conflict I never wanted. When we returned, I was going to come straight back to you. I wanted to apologize for our last fight, but Clara called for me. She sounded scared. I couldn’t ignore her. You have to understand that.”
I’m nearly into the next section of trees, and the silence has returned around me, but not inside my head.
“Lie better,” Clara says. “but not too well. Julian already isn’t handling this well. But don’t worry. Asher and Theo are keeping a close eye on him.”
I can’t even sense them, yet Clara can hear me? I don’t know how that’s possible, but I do as she requests.
“Listen, Aeson. We both know we were lying to one another before, but let’s be honest now.” I step into the shadows of the trees. “We knew what we were doing when we signed that treaty. We both had our reasons. Now, it’s time for us to remember them and find a way to move forward. You need me to beat Julian. Like I said?—”
A figure lunges from the trees. An arm wraps around my waist, a hand slams over my mouth. My body reacts instinctively. I drive my elbow into ribs, stomp down hard on a foot, and slam the back of my head into someone’s nose. A grunt of pain follows, but it’s quickly drowned out by the thunder of feet behind me.
More come. None of which are Aeson.
He’s not even here.
I was wrong. He didn’t take the bait.
Gods, I left them for no reason.
Yet, it’s too late to go back. I have to figure this out. Most importantly, I have to survive.
There are more men than I can count now, dressed in dark armor, their movements precise and rehearsed. These aren’t scouts. These are trained soldiers.
