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Authors: Emma Raveling

BOOK: Warrior Prince

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She was in there and it was taking too damned long.

Minutes crawled by.

We waited, our eyes glued to the empty field before us.

And as the blue-black of night reached its darkest, the magic fell.

Like an unrolling tapestry, the factory revealed itself against the sky.

First the smokestacks, then the roof.

The boxy exterior and the ground between us.

I was already running.

SIXTEEN

The door quietly clicked shut behind her.

I wished she would've slammed it. The carefulness of her movement made it worse.

Augustin swore. "Am I the only one that feels like we kicked an injured animal?"

Rhian leaned back in her chair and sighed. "She needs time to think things through. Will she do it?"

The hesitation in her tone didn't escape me. What was it like to know that someone else understood your grandchild better than you?

Nexa lit another cigarette. Her eyes remained focused on the glowing tip, the rings of smoke curling into the air.

"Yes."

His expression remained as hard and unyielding as granite.

"I did what you asked. You have no right to ask for more."

"The heir ceremony is at the end of the week."

He stated it as if it were a minor get-together. Not an event that would decide my future.

"No."

"This is your inheritance."

"No. It was Eric's."

"You are a member of this family," he growled. "It is your responsibility to —"

"My responsibility?" I wondered I'd ever feel anything besides this coldness ever again. "I've already fulfilled it by killing my brother. I owe you and this kingdom nothing else."

"And what about your mother? She is sick with worry."

"She is sick with grief," I corrected.

"The Belicouxs have always accepted their lineage —"

"Then Dax can accept it. I'm leaving."

His eyes darkened, turning almost black with displeasure. "And what will you do?"

"Kill."

The answer was perfect in its simplicity.

His brows lowered, barely restrained anger swirling around him.

"You will not do this."

It was an absolute order given by a man used to unquestioning loyalty.

But I'd done it for the last time. No more.

"Goodbye, Father."

I shook my head, clearing away the memory. Down below, the leaves and blooms of the Royal Gardens gently shifted. I could almost feel the wind brushing against them, moving them first one way, then the other.

"Are we doing the right thing?"

The question had been asked in this office time and time again for a wide variety of issues.

It was necessary to ask again.

"That's something we can never really know," Nanette said sadly.

Rhian turned to me. "But we do know this is the best option at this moment. It's the best way to protect her, Tristan."

The only way for her to truly be safe was for the war to end. Unless she secured a position of authority, the
sondaleur
would continue to be subject to the whims of the Governing Council.

"What happens if she agrees?" Augustin asked.

"I've arranged for her to go to New York and study with Catrin."

I'd expected as much. Marquisa Catrin Bessette was not only Rhian's trusted friend, but also the most knowledgable academic on elemental history and politics.

"When?"

Rhian pulled out a sheaf of papers, concern carved into her face. "As soon as she makes her decision. It won't be for longer than a month. We need her back for the Council and the Elemental conference."

I'm not your toy, something to use for whatever you need.

You have no right to ask for more.

Her words and mine twisted together, continuing to haunt me long into the night.

It was a constant juggling act. Accepting the trust her mother, father, and grandmother placed in me. Honoring the trust my people gave me.

And valuing the most precious trust of all - hers.

Something had irrevocably shifted between us in the factory.

We both knew what was true. But knowing something was true and acting upon it were two different things.

She was the one who'd face the consequences. The choice would always be hers.

But whatever she decided, we were partners, both in governance and in life.

I needed to tell her that.

Pink and orange dawn stretched across the pristine sky. Stillness permeated the campus this early in the morning.

I entered the ondine dorm lobby.

"Your Highness." Ewan hurried down the hall to greet me. "You just missed her."

It took a few seconds to process what he said. "What?"

"Did you come to see Kendra?"

I nodded slowly.

Relief flashed across his face. "That's what I thought. She left about half an hour ago with Julian."

"Where?"

"New York," Ewan said cheerfully. "Governor made arrangements for LeVeq to accompany her. Christophe has taken over as Head Chevalier…"

He continued but I stopped listening.

She'd made the difficult choice, the one we both knew was right.

But it didn't stop the world from spinning. Or the pain from spreading.

It didn't stop the overwhelming physical urge to find them and tear Julian away from her.

"Your Highness?"

Reality slammed back into place. "I'm sorry. What did you say?"

"Is she really going to be the next Governor?"

The irony was the natural symmetry of it.

The selkie warrior who became prince. The ondine warrior who would become Governor.

Because we'd both chosen duty above all else.

Including ourselves.

"Yes."

SEVENTEEN

He wasn't in his office.

I walked deeper into the Justice Department, checking every room. Chevaliers greeted me, their tired expressions indicating how chaotic things had become.

Christophe, temporary Head Chevalier, wasn't an effective leader. Used to following orders rather than giving them, he struggled to manage Haverleau's several hundred chevaliers.

Unfortunately, there was nothing we could do. Gabe was still at the hospital, spending every day by Marcella's side.

And the person who knew the chevaliers best after him was in New York.

I scowled.

"Everything okay?" Augustin turned the corner.

"Fine." I shoved the image of them together out of my head. "I was looking for you. Any news?"

He gestured to a small, empty office on my left. Two desktop computers and four laptops covered three dingy looking desks. The trash can overflowed with chip bags and soda cans.

As soon as I shut the door behind us, he explained.

"They came across another group in the Village. It got a little messy."

According to Julian's reports, he and Kendra were investigating a large cell in Manhattan with possible direct ties to the Shadow.

"What do you mean? Is she safe?"

"Details are a bit sketchy," he said wryly. "But my son insists everything is fine. Not a scratch on her."

I tried not to think of why Julian would know anything about scratches on her body.

"Any changes in their return?"

He looked a bit surprised by the question. "No. They're still set to fly back next week."

The door opened. Aubrey and Ian walked in and I suddenly realized where we were.

"This is the Tech Department?"

I rarely visited this part of the Justice building. Most of my time was spent between the Governing House, Council Chamber, and the Academy's Training Center.

Ian grinned. "Less glamorous than you thought it'd be?"

I decided it was more polite not to answer.

He didn't take offense. "Jeeves, you were looking for me?"

"Yes." Augustin grabbed Ian's arm and pulled him out the door. "I need you to take a look at my laptop. It's been driving me crazy…"

"Aubrey, I needed to talk to you, too."

"Oh." Her eyes widened slightly in surprise. "Sure."

She sat at her desk, the empty sleeve of her right arm resting on the wood surface. The fitting for her new prosthetic was in a few days.

Bright eyes, tinged with curiosity, met mine. Her experience over the past few months had strengthened her confidence.

"How can I help, Your Highness?"

I explained.

I'd worked on the idea for several months, but it was the first time I discussed it aloud.

"Can you and Ian take on the project?"

"Sounds doable." Her expression turned thoughtful. "It's a really great idea. But we'll need full access."

I nodded. "You'll have it."

She raised her brow. "Don't you have strict policies about who gets in?"

"Yes. Which is why I'd like you and Ian to come to the Elemental conference."

Aubrey whooped. "Really?"

I laughed. "Really."

Not only was it was the best time to bring them to the kingdom, but they were also Kendra's friends. She'd like it if they were there.

"I'll send you the information you need."

I turned to go, then paused.

I knew I shouldn't ask. I knew it wasn't my business.

But she'd left without a good-bye and hadn't once called.

"Your Highness?"

I turned back. "Have you spoken to her?"

Understanding flickered across her face. "Yes. Almost every day."

"Is she—"

"She's okay." Aubrey studied me. "Working a lot. You know how she is."

I gave a stiff nod. "I just wanted to make sure."

"She told me," she said slowly,"that if you'd been in that factory, she would've gone after you."

I exhaled, her words soaking in.

"You can't make things harder for her." Her voice grew fierce. "She's really tough on the outside. But sometimes she doesn't share things, almost like she doesn't know how. And you don't get that way unless it was bad, you know?"

An Empath's life was never easy. And given the strength of Kendra's Virtue, her life as Rogue, and the rigorous training Naida pushed her through, it was obvious there was a cost.

I took in Aubrey's protective expression, her shoulders shaking with worry.

"I don't want to make things more difficult for her," I said gently.

She swallowed. "She's already been through a lot and there's so much more she has to do and…"

"I think she's lucky to have you."

Sadness touched her smile. "It never feels enough."

I settled next to her on the desk. "I know."

We remained silent for a few moments. Lost in the enormity of our experiences with her and in wonderment at how this would all end.

"I'm sorry, Your Highness." Her voice was so quiet. "I wish it could be different."

Loneliness pressed in, beating a rhythm of aching realization.

Although I'd see her in a week, the distance between us remained uncrossable.

"So do I."

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