Wicked Path (The Daath Chronicles Book 2) (41 page)

hen we emerged from the tunnel hours later, the sound of battle had disappeared. None of us spoke about what happened, but Ginna’s soft sobs said enough.

A brook ran past the hidden entrance. All three of us stumbled out of the cave, then raced to the water’s edge to drink. The cold, crisp liquid saturated the dryness in my throat.

I couldn’t tell where we were or what direction the king’s castle lied in. “Ginna.” I crouched by her side. She sat, hugging her arm to her chest. “Do you know where we are?”

She looked past me.

Raven seemed even more lost. I understood their pain and I would let them grieve, but not now. We needed to keep moving.

“We’re near the king’s borders,” Ginna finally said.

“How long until we get there?”

“If we walk through the night, we can reach it by morning.”

I didn’t think any of us would fall asleep after what happened. I held my hand out to Ginna. “Then we keep walking.”

She took my hand and I helped her stand.

Raven sat by the brook, staring at the water, a blank expression on her face. Knowing the loss destroyed every emotion she felt broke what little resolve I had left.

I placed my hands on hers.

The last time I had spoken to her, we fought, and we had fought about Cael—an argument I wished we’d never had.

What could I say to her? How could I convince her to get up and walk when I knew the pain forced her to stay? Raven wasn’t weak, and sometimes I thought she was stronger than I was. I squeezed her hand, telling her I wouldn’t let her go through this alone.

While Ginna had cried the entire time, Raven didn’t, not even one tear.

Raven stood, putting her hands on her daggers. “Let’s go.”

And so we walked, sometimes in darkness, sometimes by moonlight. We didn’t talk about our loss or what steps we could have done differently. Cael was gone, and the truth of that was more than any of us could bear alone.

Purpose and grief bound us together.

Our attackers would feel our blades, and Cael’s sacrifice would be the beginning of our victory over the war and the shapeshifters.

eslyn held my hand as we slipped down the corridor, her new fire-hued hair flowing around her shoulders. Romulus’s guise was supposed to hide her human form, and it did, but now her striking hair and smooth olive skin made her one of the most desirable Reptilians I knew.

Footsteps sounded from around the corner and I stopped. Little light filtered this area of the castle, and lying straight against the wall, using the lip to shield us, the guards passed by without noticing. Soon as they rounded the next corner, we ran.

My father expected me at war, and until I could find a way to keep Jeslyn safe, I had to hide her, and there was only one person I could entrust this task to.

“We’re here.” I released Jeslyn from my grip and smoothed out my shirt. I glanced back at her. She held her hands in front of her long silver gown. Each time I gazed upon her clear blue eyes and soft, smooth skin, I was enchanted all over again. “Ready?”

She nodded.

I pressed the button by the door. Buzzing it.

“Enter.”

I stood straighter and entered my mother’s quarters.

My mother stood by one of her hydranas. The plant moved its bulbous head toward her and she dropped a centipede into its mouth.

“Hello, Mother.”

She stroked the plant’s head. “Hello, Son.”

It had been many months since we last spoke, and our last conversation did not end well.

“You’ve brought me a visitor.” My mother turned to look at us, her lilac and silver hair braided around her head. The royal crown rested in the middle, the black and red crystals sparkling from the nearby light.

“Yes.” I placed a hand on Jeslyn’s back. “This is Aurora. She’s from Doniva. Aurora, my mother, Queen Velaria.”

Jeslyn bowed. “It’s nice to meet you, your majesty.”

My mother’s eyes narrowed at the gesture.

“You should remember how strange our brethren from the blue hive are.”

Jeslyn knew nothing of our customs or mannerisms. I’d only had enough time to go over the basics and a brief history so she understood the backstory I created for her.

“I see your hydranas are growing.” Mother collected the flesh eating plants from our lands. They lived on worms of all types, and she found their lifelike gestures interesting.

“Yes, they are, but I know my son, and he cares little for remedial talk. What do you want?”

“I need your assistance. Aurora is a refugee. Her father is one of the nobles placed in Tarrtainya, and she’s learned valuable information.”

“While I’m at war, I need you to shelter her. If her arrival is discovered, she’ll be hunted.”

“And what’s this valuable information?”

“For her safety I cannot say. Can I count on your assistance?”

She nodded. “I’ll take her on as a maidservant. We’ll need to cover her—she’s far too appealing.”

A floating sphere appeared in the center of the room. “Queen Velaria, Dauntess Elena has arrived and is waiting in the great hall.”

“Tell her I am on my way.”

The sphere popped.

“Keep the girl in my chambers until I return.”

When she left the room, I locked the door. “That went better than expected.”

“She’s very beautiful.” Jeslyn’s eyes watered and she pulled at the front of her dress.

“Don’t be upset.” I spoke softly and grabbed her hands.

“You’re leaving me.”

“I have no choice.” I brought her hands to my lips, kissing her soft skin. “If I could stay by your side, I would, but I can’t.”

She fell against me, her tears splashing my neck. “Please, don’t go.”

I wrapped my arms around Jeslyn, holding her tight. I didn’t want to leave her, and the thought of her alone with only my mother angered me to the point of fear. I pulled her away from me and held her face in between my hands. “I know you’re afraid, and I know this world is unlike yours, but you must stay strong for me. Romulus should finish the simulacrum before we reach the Kuuni shores. I’ll be back in your arms shortly.”

When Romulus’s spell brought Jeslyn to Mirth, I knew I couldn’t go to war. The only way to avoid it was for Romulus to create a simulacrum, an exact clone of me, one with the same memories, and speech patterns. No one would be able to tell the difference.

Jeslyn nodded and wiped away her tears. “Everything is happening so fast. Only weeks ago it was just the two of us, sitting on the white sands, gazing at the sea.”

“Only two? Have you forgotten about Hadda?”

A small smile formed on her lips. “And Hadda.” She wiped her face dry, and straightened herself. “Will she be okay in Romulus’ lab?”

“That may be the safest place in the castle… maybe you should stay there.”

Her eyes widened.

“Very well.” I drew her back to my lips, kissing her one last time, and touched the locket. “I’ll always be able to find you.”

“Please be safe. If anything happens to you…”

“Have you forgotten who I am?” I grazed her cheek with my fingers. “Nothing will stop me from coming back to you. And once I return, we’ll go back to Tarrtainya, together.”

She stepped on her toes and kissed me once more. “I love you.”

“And I, you.”