Page 56 of Kingdom Of Veil And Vow

“Why not? I’m just as dedicated to the cause as you are. I can help.” His pleas tug at something in my chest, something that takes in how the cut of his blond hair and the gleam of his blue eyes make him seem younger than his real age.

I place a hand on his shoulder, squeezing it tightly. “You are an honorable man, Brisk. I say ‘no’ not because I don’t think you could do a fine job but because you are too valuable to risk. Not to mention, we are already two trials in.”

“But—”

“The king is taking far more amusement in torturing me and anyone associated with me than usual right now. I will not, cannot, put you in harm’s way when there is a very real chance he will demand your life in recompense for some perceived slight from me. With the princess gone…” The feel of Immie’s body falling away from her head. The splash of blood on my boots. Siyala’s screams. I shut my eyes, fingers flexing around his shoulders. “Just, please, Brisk. I can’t lose another good man.”

When my eyes open again, they meet his disappointed ones. But Brisk manages a quick nod of understanding before he too leaves, and it’s just Grayson and me remaining.

“He’s a good kid,” Grayson says, handing me a short glass half filled with a clear liquid.

“He is. What is this?” I bring it up to my nose and sniff, jerking back at the way it burns my nostrils. “Shit.”

“You need it,” he says, holding his own up in salute. Our glasses clink, and I swallow the alcohol in a single gulp, fighting back a cough at the burn as it travels down my throat. Setting the glass down, I let myself relax in front of Grayson, running a hand over my face.

“What the fuck was that from Alden?”

“I don’t know. Nothing about him or his routine seems out of the ordinary. He works his post and then returns to the barracks.”

“You’ve been following him?” I ask, brow arched.

Grayson shrugs, taking a seat at the table. “After what happened in the pit, I wanted to make sure he wasn’t working with King Dolian.” The look I send makes him chuckle. “I know. It wouldn’t make sense, but far stranger things have happened.”

I can’t argue with that. My palms press to the table top. “What would possess him to call into question my loyalty to the cause?”

“Stress of the job? Lack of progress?” Grayson leans back, arms folding over his chest. “Whatever it is, don’t let it worry you. Focus on learning what the king is planning to do next, now that he knows of the mage prince’s involvement.”

“Is there any word on the next trial?” Grayson shakes his head in answer, and exhaustion presses at my shoulders. “Maybe that is good. It’ll give Alden some time to cool down and you more time to speak with the shifter.”

Together, we make our way back to the barracks, and though I feel as if I could sleep for an entire week, it eludes me all the same. Staring at the dark ceiling of my room, I repeat Alden’s words in my head, irritation burning beneath my skin. I’m not angry that he accused me of faltering from the cause in front of everyone—though I know that seedling of doubt has now been planted in a few minds because of it. No, my anger burns steadily in my chest because deep down, buried beneath the armor I wear and the masks I hide behind, I can’t deny that he is right.

Chapter Thirty-Four: Siyala

“Should we take the body, Your Majesty?”

“No. Let him lie there until tomorrow morning.”

My heart pounds against my ribs as I lay beneath Rhea’s bed and listen to the king and his guards exit the room. Carefully, I slide out and pad on gentle paws towards the railing, peeking down to ensure they have left. I whine at what I see below, my ears flattening as sorrow pierces my chest.

Hoping it isn’t as bad as it looks, I descend the small spiral staircase to the first floor. But even if I couldn’t smell the blood that sits thickly in the air, even if I couldn’t see the desperate way Rhea is cradling his head, the sound of Alexi’s failing heart gives enough away. He’s dying. Hearing me come up behind her, Rhea looks over her shoulder, eyes red and tears staining her cheeks. I whine again as his blood pools around them, and in my own grief, I freeze. My legs give out beneath me as I sink to the ground.

Rhea turns back to Alexi, laying a hand over his chest. “I will heal you,” she says, though she sounds uncertain.

Alexi’s hand—more pale in color—lays over hers, his lips moving without any sound at first before he manages to speak. “No.”

“Alexi, I can fix this. Let me fix this.”

“No,” he says again, a burst of gusto paired with the word. “You can’t. He will know.”

Rhea sobs softly, her tears falling onto him. “I don’t care. I can’t lose you. I—”

Alexi lifts a trembling hand to cup the side of her face, and his heart gives a small lurch at the motion. I listen to the way it beats out of rhythm, more time growing between each one. “I love you, Little One.”

Rhea shakes her head, hair spilling over her shoulder as the ends soak in his blood. “Please.”

“This is not where your journey ends. Promise me.” A gurgling sound follows his plea, and then his heart stretches seconds between beats.

Rhea’s own doubles its pace as she watches the hand that was cradling her face fall to the floor, splashing in blood. Her gasping fills the air while the sound of his failing heart echoes in my ears. Thump. Thump. Thump. And then silence.