“No.” The word left my mouth instantly, both shifters turned to me. “I’m not going anywhere where Riella is not. I promised that faeling I would stay with her. I won’t break that on your whims.”
“It is in her best interest for us to leave.” Emon said slowly, watching my reaction attentively. “The blood wraith attack yesterday proved that.”
I shifted in my seat and narrowed my eyes. “You think my presence led them here. Why?”
He tracked my movement like startled prey. “They traveled into the Wildwoods, The Under, and now here. As I said before, I don’t believe in coincidences and I know you do not either.”
“No, I do not.” I hissed through gritted teeth. The shadows curled around my arms, sensing my unease.
Emon watched them sadly as if he was disappointed he could not be the one to comfort me. “I assure you, little umbra. Riella will be safe here. I have ordered Jarquinn to triple the wards on the healer quarters and no one is allowed in but you, me, and the master healer himself. Besides…there is someone you demanded to see that resides in the outposts. And I am a fae of my word.” His leg brushed against me again, his eyes imploring me to understand.
I arched a brow at him. “Bane.”
Penina inhaled sharply and looked away.
“Yes.” Emon growled.
I shook my head. “If you tripled the wards then you felt that she was not safe here, all the more reason for me to stay. Send for Bane to come here.”
Emon growled and leaned forward. “I tripled the wards as a precaution because we are leaving, not because Riella is not safe here.” He cleared his throat when his voice became unsteady and he raked his hands through his hair. “Trust me when I say this, there is absolutelynothingin this world, nothing in this goddess forsaken universe even, that I wouldn’t do to ensure her safety.”
I scrutinized the shifter in front of me. Emon knew something that I did not, it was lying there beneath the surface and clearly he was shaken by it.
Penina turned back, the darkness still prowling in her eyes. “Your majesty, allow me to scout ahead to ensure your safety?”
Emon tilted his head at her and then slowly nodded. “Of course. General Tyr and the others should be already on their way. You will likely catch up to them. Stay with them please and bring your provisions.”
I scowled with irritation.
Penina nodded and stood gracefully, smoothing down her lavender outfit. “I will see you there.” She said tightly and thenspun, walking away with quick silent feet. Right before she disappeared around the corner she threw a warning look at her king. “By the way, your majesty. There is another pastry under your seat. So stop salivating over General Dark’s!”
Emon and I both turned towards each other and I quickly reached down, stuffing the remainder of my pastry into my mouth unceremoniously.
“It's mine now, shifter.” I cooed, chomping on the sticky cherry dough zealously.
Emon’s deep dark chuckle caused me to pause mid chew.
Smiling, he reached across the table to tuck a piece of my hair behind my ear before he poked at my overstuffed cheeks. “It wasn’t the pastry I was salivating over my little umbra.”
Chapter 55
“WhywouldBaneliveoutside the city?” Remnant mused keeping up with my quick strides without complaint. Her shadows weaved around her happily, dodging direct sunlight, and at times, disappearing altogether to pop back into existence once more.
“It’s Bane. Who knows why that asshole does what he does.” I avoided the direct answer, she would find out soon enough. “And the outposts are not just outside the city’s edge. They are at the base of the Red Cap Mountains and the lands bordering them. It is where the deadlands are.”
She paused for a moment, chewing on her lip. “Why do you dislike him?”
I snorted and slowed my pace to keep her from jogging next to me. “Why doyounot dislike him?”
Remnant smirked up at me, her green eyes flashing. “I never said I liked him, shifter.” She flipped her long blue blackhair over her shoulder with a huff. “Goddess knows he’s beaten the crap out of me enough times during training. I hated him as much as I respected him then. But there is truly no one better with weapons in all of Faerie than him. He’s earned the right to be a bastard.”
“Even better than you?” I squinted up at the hot sun, cursing. We would have to travel fast to get there before dark.
A quiet snicker left her. “My methods are not…formal enough for Bane. He does not call it mastery.” She pursed her lips, the laughter still alight in her emerald eyes and I couldn’t help but purposefully pause to remember the look of her in this moment.
“Bane should appreciate a fae using their natural instincts to stay alive in this world.” I said, quickly noticing her startled look. I walked faster. “No war was ever won by following the rules.”
Remnant laughed, jogging next to me again. “You may keep your reasons for not liking Bane to yourself, butthatisthe exact reason why he would not like you.”
