The cage will contain it. That thing was built strong enough to keep lycans imprisoned.
In an attempt to preserve my sanity, I seek out Finley’s sweet, familiar scent. It occurs to me that I’ve forgotten to breathe. The lack of oxygen hasn’t bothered me at all.
Hm. That’s new. I have never before realized that I don’t need to breathe anymore. I could probably swim to the very bottom of the Istrivan sea and float amongst the monsters in the depths.
I hear her; pacing around, her breathing fast and shallow, her heart thudding.
As I seek out her scent, my breathing drive kicks back in, settling into an unconscious rhythm.
Strange. But I can’t afford to dwell on it. She’s uneasy. That was my doing.
I rip through the trees, scooping her up into my arms as I pass. She gasps, but quickly recovers once she realizes she’s with me.
“Sorry to startle you,” I whisper in her ear as we shoot through the forest. “Something came up. We’ll resume our journey shortly, but I just need to return to the castle and inform Kaithar of something.”
“Wh-what is it?” In my arms, she offers no resistance. She’s breathless and oh-so adorable.
“Nothing for you to worry about. A small security matter.”
We reach the outer grounds of the castle. I accelerate, drawing power into my legs.
“A little warning,” I murmur. “I jump high.”
Then I leap.
I hold her tightly. We sail through the air. She lets out a gasp as we fly over the castle walls, and for a moment, I have a perfect view of my domain.
I catch sight of my soldiers. They’re doing sword drills in the training grounds. I see Kaithar amongst them; he isn’t hard to spot. I control our landing, dropping onto the balls of my feet.
In a heartbeat, we’re just outside the entrance to the training square. I gently set Finley on her feet. “Sorry, Finley. I’m going to have to ask you to wait once more. This won’t take long.”
She straightens her jacket and gives me a wry look. “You didn’t tell me you could fly.”
“I’m still getting used to this body,” I lament. In truth, being able to move like a god with her in my arms is exhilarating and addictive.
“You’re lucky I’m not the squeamish type.”
I chuckle, genuinely delighted by her company.
It’s been so long since my mood has been this light. Even my discovery of the undead creature can’t put a dampener on it.
Finley Solisar makes me feel alive.
Did my father really know what effect she would have on me when he sent her to me?
I take her hand into mine and squeeze. She gives me a look that’s part exasperation, part astonishment.
I leave her standing by the wall. Forcing myself to move at a normal pace, I walk into the square, where the sound of men grunting and swords clanging assaults my hyper-acute hearing.
Good thing I have the dark glasses on. The sun’s glare is just a little too much.
“Keep going,” a deep voice bellows. “I want you to practice that maneuver a hundred times over. Until it feels as natural to you as breathing.”
Kaithar is already striding across the square. In spite of the cold, he’s wearing only a light shirt. His forehead is damp with sweat.
I hang back in the shadows, not wanting to create a disruption.
“You’re back already, Van?” He reaches my side. His expression tells me he knows something serious is going on, but he can’t resist the opportunity to give me a ribbing. “I thought you’d take the opportunity to spend at least one night in a well-insulated Khaturian tent with your newly betrothed. Under the stars, the snow and mountains all around… how bloody romantic.”
“We’re still going. I just returned to inform you of a little gift that’s been left for you in the woods.”
“I already don’t like it. You get to cruise off on a little jaunt into the mountains, leaving me to clean up the mess?”
“How do you know it’s a mess?”
“I just do. I’ve got Vikurian instincts. Spill it, Your Highness.”
I lean forward, lowering my voice. “In the lycan trap at the first perimeter, there’s an undead creature. Former imperial military, by the looks of what’s left of his uniform. Poor sod. The man’s long dead and departed from his body, so don’t you get any compunctions about destroying the husk. I left it animated because I want you to take a squad and study the accursed thing. Figure out the quickest and most efficient way to kill it. Then prepare for more to appear.”
Kaithar curses in Vikurian. “There’s no such thing as the undead.”
“There is now. If I can exist, then so can that.”
Kaithar’s expression hardens. “I’ll prepare a squad. I don’t think it’s any coincidence that this is happening now. I wouldn’t be surprised if this is linked to someone in the capital.”
“There are always going to be people that want to get rid of me,” I say quietly. “Let’s bide our time—for now, we gather intelligence and bolster our defenses. But if it escalates, I will act.”
“T’would be easy enough for you to go to the capital alone,” Kaithar whispers conspiratorially. “Find out who’s behind it. Kill them. With your speed and strength, it wouldn’t be difficult.”
“Patience, brother. It’s best to understand before rushing in. There might be one, or many. They might be concentrated in the capital or spread around Rahava. Best to exercise caution. I’ll take action when the time is right.”
If Aralya is alive and my reckless and impatient actions caused anything to happen to her, Finley would never forgive me.
“We’ll be back on the morn. Quietly prepare our defenses. And if I return with a Khaturian mage or two, don’t be surprised.”
“You would use magic to defend us?” A dark shadow crosses Kaithar’s face. He remembers all too well how they fought us. Bolts of flame and arrows of ice. Poisonous miasmas and mind-tricks; men descending into madness from unseen horrors, twisting in their minds. “They wouldn’t be welcomed by the troops.”
“They don’t have to be welcomed. Just accepted. The Khaturians won’t defy me. And when it comes to defending my land, I’ll use everything at my disposal. Those that don’t agree are free to leave.”
34
FINLEY
We’re moving again. I’m in Corvan’s arms, and he’s warm and solid and faster than the wind itself.
I’ve wrapped a thick woolen scarf around my face to shield myself from the ferocious roar of the icy wind. The dark lenses were an inspired thought; they protect my eyes from the cold air, which becomes a powerful torrent when he moves this fast.
Faster than a horse. Faster than a mountain cat. Faster than an arrow shot from a crossbow, I’m certain.
I’m astonished by his strength and speed. My mind can barely comprehend it. Just a few weeks ago, I was a simple baron’s daughter, waiting to be married off to some miserable old lord who would parade me around and take me to his bed and expect me to keep quiet and demure and bear his heirs.
Never could I have predicted I’d end up with this man.
He’s truly like a god upon this earth.