Surprise flickers in Wrenley’s eyes. “Hector wo—”
“—I’m going.”
Hesitation plays on Jasce’s face as he glances between Wrenley and me. “It may take a while to find Solomon.”
“I don’t care.” I swing my braid over my shoulder and raise my chin higher.
Jasce’s dark eyes meet mine, pierce through me, delve into all those places I hide my fire. “Are you certain you wish to go with me?”
I am uncertain about many things these days, but this, I know. I will hunt Solomon with Jasce, and I will make him suffer for what he did to Lila.
“I’m certain.”
“Jasce.” Wrenley pulls on her brother’s arm and draws him away from the rest of us, but her voice still drifts to where I stand. “She’s Hector’s wife. You cannot allow anything to happen to her.”
“I know.”
“Do you?” Her tone sharpens as she continues. “I will hold you personally responsible if she returns with as little as a scratch on her.”
Jasce turns to his horse and mounts it. “Have more faith in your older brother, Wrenley. No harm will come to your friend.”
Uncertainty crosses her features as she shifts to look at me. “I don’t know if this is wise. Kheldar…”
“…will be angry with you?” Jasce rolls his eyes. “When isn’t he angry?”
The lines near her mouth tighten as she frowns. “He’s just…” She exhales and glances away.
“Unhappy? Uptight?” Jude grabs his sister’s hand and leads her to her mare. “Your husband, dear sister, needs to stop being so stubborn.”
“I do not know what you’re referring to,” she says innocently as she reaches for her horse’s reins.
A wry smile spreads across his mouth. “Tell him he would be a much better fighter if he does his duty to you.”
“You cannot tell if—”
“—oh, but we can,” Aleksander interjects. “A man gets sloppy and slow when they’re not enjoying their marriage bed.”
Was Hector slow before? Sluggish?
It’s hard for me to imagine him that way.
“What would any of you know?” Wrenley asks with a lift of her chin. “None of you have ever been married.”
“And we intend to stay that way.” Jasce points his gelding toward the darkened street and glances at me.
I take a quick breath, strengthening my resolve and mount my horse. This is it. I will not back down.
ChapterForty-Six
The moon rises higher and higher as we search for Solomon. I try to not think about Lila too much, to not remember how she had looked, but those images are engraved in my thoughts. Forever stuck there. Forever burning inside me.
A part of me knows I should have returned to the palace with Wrenley. The other part needs to do this, to help Lila in the only way I can.
I may not be able to heal anyone anymore, but I can help in other ways. This way.
Solomon stole Lila’s life.
We will take his.
