Page 53 of Clash of Kingdoms

Cobra appeared too, in silent agreement.

Aurelias stared at his brothers before he looked at me again. Then he gave a nod. “If we don’t return, Larisa and Clara will take you back to our lands. They’ll make sure you and your people are taken care of.” He cupped my face and kissed me before I could say anything else.

I’d gotten what I wanted, but now I was even more terrified…terrified I would lose him too.

He pulled away, his eyes heavy with sadness. “I love you, baby.”

“I love you too.”

TWELVE

HUNTLEY

I didn’t tell Ivory I loved her before I left.

I didn’t tell her that my soul would be waiting for hers when her time came.

I didn’t thank her for giving me children I adored.

Because she knew.

She already knew all of that, and listening to me say it for the last time wouldn’t make our parting any less difficult.

Ian didn’t say a word while he walked beside me as we left the castle, walked down the stone streets and to the stables where our horses would be waiting for us. The alarm had been sounded, and the soldiers hastened to prepare to ride out to battle, to take on the demons from the other front in the hope our numbers would defeat theirs.

“Huntley.”

I turned at the sound of my name, coming face-to-face with the vampire I’d ordered to stay behind. His two brothers were behind him, all wearing different armor with different snakes to represent their kingdoms.

“We’re coming with you.”

“Your orders are to protect my family?—”

“You aren’t my king, so I don’t take orders from you. But your daughter is my woman—so I obey hers. She asked me to protect you.”

I was touched by my daughter’s gesture, but also furious at the same time. “Aurelias, I’m riding to my death. All the men who ride with me…they ride to their deaths too. I should have listened to you and not entered their kingdom…because we know that’s the reason they’re here. This is my fault—and I deserve what’s coming.”

Aurelias’s eyes dropped for a brief instant.

“You’ve stayed in this land to protect my daughter. Protect her—not me.”

Aurelias stared, his dark eyes hard. “The battle is not lost, not if the king still stands. Your people look to you for courage and valor. Give that to them, and you may prevail. You told your wife not to surrender, yet that’s exactly what you’re doing.”

“I have not surrendered?—”

“But you’ve accepted defeat, and that’s the same thing.”

I stared at him, the shame burning my veins.

“You have my sword, Huntley. And you have my brothers’ as well.”

I didn’t know what to say.

“If we fall, Clara and Larisa will take your people back to our lands. I give you my word they’ll be well taken care of.” His eyes continued to bore into mine. “But we can do this, Huntley. We’ve got them flanked on both sides with the soldiers of all the Kingdoms, all of whom respect you. I’ve seen many kings come and go, and not a single one has your strength and integrity. I will gladly fight for you—and I know your men will too. This may not be the battle we anticipated, but perhaps it’s the battle we needed.”

I looked into those dark eyes, seeing a man I’d deeply misjudged for a long time. “You’re a good man, Aurelias.”

His eyes lost their hardness.