I shook out my limbs and tried my best to get as much water off of me as I could before Reva handed me my gown and I quickly laced it up. The material still stuck to me but it wasn’t horrible. “Ignore him.”
“You don’t have to worry about that, I’ve been doing it since day one.” Jesper grinned and pulled himself out of the water. He shook his hair out and little droplets of water splattered my face.
I shoved my feet in my boots and kicked myself for not bringing towels, I should have known better. We were going to be freezing on the walk back to the castle with cold hair. Reva ran a brush through her hair quickly before she threw it up in a bun. It didn’t take her long for her to approach me with the same brush. I really didn’t like her taking care of me in front of others, but she gave me the look that dared me to deny her. I didn’t want a tongue-lashing in front of others either. She was more careful with my hair than she’d been with her own and ran the brush down the long length in slow strokes.
“Alric isn’t being completely honest. I have shown off my mark before, to my people before everything literally came crashing down around us. It was a statement, one I don’t know was the right choice. Soon after I left the party,” My eyes filledwith tears quickly but I knew there was no way around this. “We were attacked. We lost most of our people.”
“That explains your lack of army.” Jesper twisted his hair around and wrung the remaining water free from it. Once his clothes were back on and we could all think a little freer, Jesper stretched his arms over his head and let out a yawn. “I think it’s time for me to turn in.”
“Thank you for coming with us.”
His face softened. “Thank you for your honesty today.”
Reva helped me twist my hair on top of my head in a similar fashion to her own. “Are you ready?”
I shook my head but I didn’t have a choice. We would just freeze for a little bit. Alric watched the woods with narrowed eyes. “If you approve, I would like to follow him.”
My eyebrows shot up to my hairline. “Do you think you can? He’s a Shadow Elf, after all.”
Alric lifted his chin in a haughty manner. “I’ve done my research and I think I’m amply prepared for what to expect from his kind.”
Reva’s lips curled as she fought her hardest to keep her words to herself. I was proud of her.
“Okay, but don’t get caught. I’ve heard their method of torture is rather painful and I know you wouldn’t want me to marry their king to have you released.”
His face paled. “I would never.”
I saluted him as he disappeared through the trees.
“Do you think he’ll be okay?” Reva didn’t sound concerned but her words were telling enough.
Alric was no stranger to the dangers of this world. I knew that if anyone could follow a Shadow Elf and live to see the next day it was the spymaster. “Yeah, I think he’ll be just fine.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
JUNIPER
There was a flurry of activity happening at the castle when we returned hours later. I was a shivering mess, Reva was grouchy, and I was regretting sending Alric after Jesper. But I also knew Alric would never let up unless he didn’t find anything incriminating about the king of the Shadow Elves. I needed him to get over his animosity. It was driving me insane and I was sure it would eventually drive a wedge between me and their people. I couldn’t have that. I needed him to get his feelings under control and if he couldn’t, he would need to pretend his way through all of this. I couldn’t babysit his grown ass, he needed to be on his best behavior. I needed an army. I needed alliances. He wasn’t going to ruin this for me. He needed to get his emotions in check and stop letting them get in the way.
Edna beamed at us as we came through the front entryway. She took our soggy cloaks and our even soggier shoes before she began her usual fussing.
“You’ll never believe what happened while you were away today!” Except, her usual fussing never came. She had news to share.
Reva pouted. “Don’t leave us in suspense.”
She didn’t have to. Grove came out of nowhere at the end of the hall and took off running at us. Leo was slower and seemed to have a limp as he followed behind her. Emotions clogged my throat as we all threw ourselves at each other. There was a fresh, pink scar on Grove’s forehead and her black hair was almost down her back now. Had it really been that long since we’d seen her? Her body shook with sobs as we all held onto each other as if our lives depended on it.
Leo patted our heads awkwardly but affectionately and I was just as thankful to see him too.
Reva shoved Grove back to get a good look at her again while I stood to greet one of my favorite giants. “Where’s Alric?” He boomed as he looked around the entryway.
Reva lifted her gaze from her best friend to answer the hulking man. “He had a personal vendetta to take care of.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m sure he’ll be back soon. Any news for me?”
Leo didn’t need to deliver the good news because it came out of the kitchen a few minutes later. Sita and Livia raced down the hallway right into my stunned arms. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. My friends made it. Tears blurred my vision as we all crashed together on the carpeted floor again.
“I can’t believe it,” I sobbed around a hiccup. “How?”
