Page 30 of The Last Strike

He brushed his lips over hers and lingered for the briefest moment. “I’ll see you in a few hours.”

Abi stepped back and smiled. “See you then,” she said. While Asher was gone, she would use her time wisely.

Asher turned and walked with Jesse and an ever-growing security team. Another team stepped in to circle Abi.

She looked at her watch, remembering she needed to call Rachel. She felt guilty that she’d barely seen her friend for days. She’d kept Rachel as informed of the situation with Reed as possible, but she also hadn’t wanted to betray Asher’s trust.

She drew her phone.

“Hey, Abi,” Rachel said quickly.

“Hey, how are you holding up?” Abi asked.

“I’m good,” she said. “I’m at work, trying to get back to some sort of normal, whatever that looks like.”

Abi nodded. A tiny part of her envied Rachel—and she hated that she felt that way, but she did. When Rachel said she was at work, she’d inadvertently said she was at IFRT. Abi missed running the rescue team, but she had to admit that since she’d taken on the issue of getting supplies to the troops, she missed it a little less. What she actually missed was the purpose the work had given her. She had a new life now, but even without her life with Asher, her ordeal with the warlord, Lamberi, had exposed her identity so she’d never have been able to operate IFRT successfully. Continuing in that dangerous role wouldn’t have served IFRT. It was right for Rachel to take her place.

“What are the numbers like?” Abi asked. It was the first time she’d directly asked since she’d stepped back.

“Actually, they’ve dropped,” Rachel said and Abi’s eyebrows lifted. “With the talk of war, I think everyone is pressing pause. There’s a lot of soldiers moving around, so it’s more difficult for rebel groups to seize villages. I don’t know, Abi, but this war might have some benefits we never anticipated. We’ve always had war in this region, but this time it’s different. This time people think something is going to change—that this war has a purpose. I don’t know what you’re hearing in the palace, but in the villages, people believe in Asher,” she said with pride. “Santina really does believe we can win.”

That brought a smile to her lips. Abi nodded. “How is your new apartment?”

“Nice!” she said with a laugh. “Thomas Security has put in place every imaginable monitoring device. Sometimes I feel like I’m living inside a bank vault, but it’s nice to feel so safe.”

Only Asher, Abi, and Emilia had been able to move into Abi’s parents’ house. With the security teams, it was already more than one house could hold. Thomas Security had set Rachel up in a new apartment. It was strange not seeing her every day now, but Abi had gotten used to that, and she was happy that Rachel sounded happy.

“How is Reed?” Rachel asked, her voice casual with a heavy dose of worry buried underneath.

“He’s good,” Abi said. “He wasn’t tortured, because he eventually told King Khalil he would work with him. That lie bought him some time. Now that he’s had the medical treatment he needs, he’s doing well. In a few more days he’ll feel even better.”

“Good. That’s good,” she said, her voice lighter.

“You should message him,” Abi said with a small smile. “Tell him you’re glad he’s safe.”

“Why would I do that?” Rachel asked.

Abi rolled her eyes. “Don’t play dumb with me.”

Rachel chuckled. “There’s nothing going on there, Abi.”

“Correct, but only because the opportunity hasn’t presented itself. Everyone is a little busy, but the time will come,” Abi said, certain of that. Her eyes dropped to her watch. The second convoy of supplies would be reaching the soldiers at the border now. Abi wanted to be in the office, monitoring the situation. They had to ensure the soldiers received the supplies and that the convoys weren’t bombed. It was difficult terrain and, without supplies, they’d be weak and unable to fight. Abi needed them strong and full of energy to fight for her king. “Speaking of time, I have to run.”

“Sure, I’ll talk to you soon. Let me know if you need any more village contacts,” Rachel said.

If the village contacts stayed alive, Abi had all she would need.

Asher

Princess Theodora met his gaze. “Thank you for meeting with me, Your Majesty.”

“Please call me Asher,” he said, wondering if he would ever get used to the formal title. But that wasn’t why he’d told Theodora to call him Asher—he wanted her to relax and tell him the truth. When people were relaxed, they thought less about what they were saying, so the chances of slipping up on a lie or divulging more information were greater.

She gave a small nod, her eyes darting behind Asher to where his security team lined the walls, despite her still being cuffed.

“I know you think we’re enemies, but I promise you we’re not,” Theodora said. “Everything I said on the plane was true.”

He couldn’t verify that, but maybe there was something else he could verify.

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