by Cait Marie
“Isn’t it?” Phillip yelled as he whipped around. “The first thing I should’ve done was set up a perimeter—a lookout for potential invading soldiers. I shouldn’t be leading these men if I don’t even know that much.”
He tried to turn away, but Shane held on to him and began leading him back across the camp toward the large tent. Phillip grumbled and complained, but Shane refused to stop until they had a somewhat private place to talk. He all but shoved his husband inside.
“What are you doing?” Phillip demanded. “I need to be out there.”
“You need to pull yourself together.” Shane moved closer. “The second you start doubting yourself in front of them, they will too.”
“Well maybe they should!”
Before Shane could argue, a soft voice asked, “Is now a bad time?”
Shane whirled around, releasing a breath. He reached his sister in two long strides and pulled her into his arms. “What took you so long?”
He didn’t mean the words to sound so harsh, but those cannons did a lot of damage. Instead of answering though, she buried her face against him and shook her head back and forth.
“Ada, what happened?” Phillip asked, stepping forward, his frustration from earlier gone. “Where are Lee and the others?”
She sniffed once and then pulled away. The tears rolling down her cheeks broke Shane’s heart. Then, she began talking, and it only shattered more. Dead. So many of their childhood heroes—their friends—were dead.
“Lee?” Phillip repeated.
“He’s out there.” She nodded toward the tent flap. “A couple of those left alive were beaten up pretty badly, and some were injured in the fight to rescue them.”
“What of those guards?” Shane asked.
Adalina looked down but only for a second. Determination filled her eyes as she met his gaze. “I let them go.”
“Ada…”
“They know the truth,” she said. “They believed us. Especially after Lee showed them his ridiculous healing-hand trick. A few headed back to the castle to warn Brienne and Gwyn of the others if it wasn’t too late. The rest are going to Michel’s main camp to spread the word of the lost prince returning.”
“Do you think that will make a difference?” Shane shoved a hand through his hair and paced away. “The rest won’t believe them.”
“You don’t know that.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Even if only some do, that’s a few more soldiers on our side. It will help when Lee makes a claim on the throne.”
When not if. His sister was so confident that this would work—that they would defeat Michel one way or another. She’d always been one to believe with her whole heart. And for the first time, Shane didn’t want to fight that belief. It had saved their lives more than once, and he had no doubt she’d manage to make it happen again.
Chapter 29
Adalina
When they made their way to camp, Ada saw the aftermath of Michel’s forces. Thankfully, one of the soldiers who saw her first recognized her before anyone could attack them. They’d sought out aid for their wounded immediately, and then she went to find her brother. Recanting what they’d gone through to get there was difficult. All the emotions she’d bottled up in the moment to protect her crew flooded out as soon as he asked what took so long.
When he told her about what he and his men faced while waiting, guilt coursed through her. They should have gone after the cannons sooner. Instead, she’d spent too much time looking for answers that didn’t exist.
“He doesn’t think he can lead them,” Shane told her as they walked through the camp. Phillip had gone to check on the perimeter, so Shane went with Ada to find Lee and the others.
“Why?”
“We were attacked just before you arrived. It didn’t last long because we easily outnumbered the group, but he blames himself,” Shane said. “It’s a wide-open field to the north; they shouldn’t have been able to get to us like that.”
Ada wrapped a hand around his arm as they picked their way through the tents. A few fires had been lit, and many sat huddled around them, but it appeared that most were in their tents attempting to rest before the next day.
“Everyone is exhausted,” Ada whispered. “He’s never been in war.”
“Which is what I planned on telling him just before you walked in.”
“Sorry—”
“No,” he said as they reached Lee sitting with the part of his crew that had made it here. “I’m glad you came to find me.”
Nodding, Ada released him and headed to kneel beside Merta in one of the small tents. The woman sat next to the cot where Theo lay asleep. They’d managed to wake him and half-carried him here. Someone had wrapped a bandage around his torso, trying to ease the pain from his broken ribs.
Ada took Merta’s hand but didn’t say anything. She couldn’t imagine living through that slaughter—seeing her friends killed. Though, she supposed she would soon enough. They sat in silence for a long while, watching Theo take shaky, shallow breaths in the flickering firelight from outside.
“You should get some rest, Princess.” Merta finally broke the silence.
“She’s right,” Lee said, appearing near the entrance to the tent.
Ada didn’t want to leave, but she nodded. To Merta, she whispered, “You should too.”
Merta agreed, but they all knew she was lying.
Taking Lee’s hand for support, Ada ducked out of the tent. She stretched her back and sighed. Lee faced her, putting a gentle hand along her jaw and bringing his lips to her brow. Closing her eyes, she breathed him in.
“I need to talk to Shane before we attempt to sleep,” she said. “Come with me?”
“Of course.” He entwined their fingers, and they began walking through the quieting camp. The sounds of murmuring conversations and crackling fires were all she could hear. Until they reached the largest tent.
Bracing herself, she pushed into the space and tried to catch up on the various arguments happening around the center table. She and Lee headed to where Shane and Phillip stood. A few commanders seemed to think now was the best time to attack while others wanted to wait until daybreak.
“What do you think?” Ada directed her question to the silent Phillip, who looked as if he wanted to disappear. The men and women hushed, but he still wouldn’t speak. She saw the defeat in his eyes and refused to let it linger. “Captain, what do you think?”
He sent a glare her way before glancing back at the table. “Our men need to rest. We should wait until dawn and then strike early. Michel won’t bring his full forces here, not when they have the advantage in the north near the forest.”
Shane nodded in agreement, but one of the men asked, “How do you know he won’t attack again while we rest?”
“He might,” Phillip said, “which is why we’ve set up a wide perimeter.”
“If an attack happens, we will have a warning,” Ada filled in.
“We lost good men tonight,” the commander said in an agitated tone.
It was Shane who snapped back, “And we lost even more while reaching the shore and waiting for you lot to arrive.”
Ada stared at her brother, trying to hide her awe. He rarely spoke so fiercely, but when he did, people tended to listen. There was an unquestionable power in his voice with those words. With a mumbled apology, the man nodded in understanding. They adjourned the meeting with the plan to rally at dawn and move out.
“We’re going to be massacred,” Phillip said once it was just the four of them. He dropped to sit on the end of the cot and covered his face with both hands. “They outnumber us by almost double without the rest of our forces.”
Ada had never seen him look so defeated. Her stomach twisted at the thought. He was always the positive one. If he didn’t think there was a chance…
“We need to go after Michel,” Ada whispered. “If we can get to him, this war won’t need to happen.”
“No.” Shane took a seat next to Phillip bu
t looked to Lee.
Leaning against the table, Lee crossed his arms. “I agree. We don’t know where he is, and as Phillip said, we’re outnumbered. Michel won’t be on the front lines. Our men won’t make it to him.”
Ada wanted to love his use of our, but she couldn’t get past their refusal.
“We can’t win this.” Phillip’s words were barely more than a whisper.
Shaking her head, Ada looked around the makeshift room to the three people she loved most in this world. Their men might not be able to make it to Michel, but she was immortal now. She could get there.
As if reading her thoughts, Lee took her hand. But before he could argue, Phillip grumbled again.
“I don’t know what to do. Was that the right decision, to let them rest first? What if Maxwell was right and we should attack now?”
“Phillip, what happened tonight was not your fault. This guilt will eat you alive if you let it,” Lee said, surprising them all. “You are not responsible for the deaths that happen here any more than Ada is.”
Ada let out a breath.
“Michel is responsible for this war,” he continued. “Emyr is responsible for your mother’s death. Henri and Mar—” He cleared his throat. “Mariella were responsible for this curse.”
Moving closer, Ada released his hand to wrap an arm around his waist. He tucked her in against his side. He was right; there was plenty of guilt to go around, and it was time she stopped wallowing in it and did something about it. They might not believe going after Michel was the right move, but she knew deep down it was meant to happen.
After all, the stars foretold it.
“I still don’t think you should have made me Captain,” Phillip said. “In the first night it mattered, I failed. I’m not worthy of leading these people.”
Ada stiffened, her eyes snapping to him at his wording choice. Her chest tightened as her lungs refused to inhale. It couldn’t be…
She glanced to the dagger at his side. Always at his side. Images flashed in her mind—the symbol for worthy, the symbol for undoing. She’d recognized them but didn’t know how. But now, she knew.
She recognized the symbols because she’d seen them before.
On Phillip’s dagger.
The dagger her mother gave him as a child. Just like she gave Ada the cards and Shane the scepter.
Because she knew. She knew the whole story and how this would end. She knew the most worthy and honorable person in their lives was their best friend.
“You are,” Shane said, wrapping an arm around his husband. “You are the worthiest man I’ve ever known.”
His words echoed her suspicions, and she couldn’t believe she hadn’t seen it before—hadn’t put it together.
Ada started to step forward, but Lee squeezed her side, holding her still. She wondered if he figured it out too or simply thought she shouldn’t interrupt their moment. Then, she remembered what he’d said about giving it away so long ago he couldn’t remember to whom. Had he lied? Did he give it to her mother? Or was it passed on to her somehow?
So many questions ran through Ada’s mind, but one there was one thing she was certain about. That was the blade she needed to end all of this.
Chapter 30
Shane
“You are the worthiest man I’ve ever known,” Shane said, pulling Phillip in close. His heart ached at his husband’s words. How could he think he was unworthy? “Stars, I wish you could see how much you mean to me.”
“To all of us,” Adalina added.
Shane nodded toward his sister in appreciation. With his free hand, he tilted Phillip’s chin toward him. He brushed a soft kiss across his lips. It was late—only a few hours until dawn remained—and emotions were high.
“Tomorrow is going to be like nothing you’ve ever experienced,” Lee said, as if knowing Shane’s thoughts. “We should all get some rest while we can.”
Clearing his throat, Phillip stood. “You’re right.”
Shane pushed to his feet as Adalina asked him, “You’ll be staying back here tomorrow, I assume? But there’s no reason we should.”
“Why would I be staying back?”
“You’re the king; you need to stay safe.” Her eyes moved to Phillip in desperation.
“She’s right,” he said. “You’ll be back here with a couple of the older commanders, ready to make changes to the plans as necessary and keeping away from the battle.”
Shane looked at both of them with a drawn brow. “This is just as much my fight as it is yours.”
“But I’m not the king.” Phillip sighed at the same argument they’d had not a day earlier. “Ada’s immortal, so she will be safe for the time being. We need all the soldiers we can get, so if she wants to fight, I’m not going to stop her.”
“Like you could,” she mumbled under her breath. Lee looked down at the ground, but not before Shane caught his usual insufferable smirk. The two of them really were suited for each other.
“And how will you stop me?” Shane asked. “Are you going to tie up your king? Your husband?”
Phillip’s shoulders dropped. “Please don’t do this.”
But he had to. He needed to fight alongside his men—to take revenge on the one who betrayed him and broke his sister’s heart in so many ways. A man who’d once been his friend. Shane shook his head. “Like you said, we need all the soldiers we can, right?”
“But—”
“And I’ve trained beside you our entire lives, right?”
“Shane—”
“If you’re fighting, I’m fighting,” he said, cutting off any further arguments. He pointed to Adalina. “And you are fighting with us, not going on a wild chase after Michel. Not until we know for certain where he is and come up with a plan. Got it?”
She nodded.
“No, Adalina, promise me.”
Ada met his gaze and visibly swallowed. “I promise.”
“Good, then go find a tent and get some rest,” Shane said, moving to wrap her in a quick hug before leading her to the flap. Two guards stood just outside—Andrew and a man Shane didn’t recognize. Andrew stepped aside to let Adalina and Lee pass. Shane told his sister goodnight one more time. “I will see you in the morning.”
He watched them walk hand in hand down the row of tents.
“I should probably go too,” a soft voice said behind him.
Without thinking Shane struck an arm out, blocking his path. “Don’t you dare.”
“Shane, I’m exhausted. I need to at least try to sleep.”
Andrew, who was still half-turned toward them, gave a subtle but pointed look toward Shane. In turn, the king grabbed Phillip’s arm. “Please stay. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring. If this is our last night, I want to spend it with my husband.”
The other guard shot a look at Andrew. When Andrew appeared unphased, the other man faced forward again without a word. Shane couldn’t help but let out a relieved sigh.
“Please,” he whispered.
Phillip, to his surprise, turned toward him, gripped him by the lapels, and kissed him. Hard. Shane could barely register what was happening. When they broke apart, their breath still mingling, he heard Andrew’s deep chuckle.
“Have something to say, soldier?” Phillip asked, his voice coming out sharp as he glanced over.
“Yes, sir.” Andrew didn’t falter. Grin in place, he said, “It’s about damn time.”
Shaking his head, Phillip dragged Shane back inside the tent and practically shoved him onto the cot. He leaned down, bracing a hand on either side of Shane’s head and kissed him again. But he didn’t join him on the bed. He moved to blow out the lanterns, then he stumbled back over in the near dark. Only a single candle near the cot lit up the space. Shane laughed and began removing his shoes.
Phillip followed suit, and as he began unbuckling the sheath from his waist, Shane’s eyes went to the dagger. He sat up, mouth opening as he looked closer.
“What?” Phillip asked, dropping it t
o the grass.
“Nothing,” Shane said, sliding back onto the cot, Phillip crawling in after him. Phillip blew out the remaining candle, leaving them in complete darkness. It was so different sleeping out here. They’d camped as boys, but not like this. Not on the brink of war on enemy soil. Not with an army around them. The silence was unsettling.
“What are you thinking?” Phillip asked, placing a hand over Shane’s chest.
He thought over his own words earlier. You are the worthiest man I’ve ever known. Did Phillip have the dagger Adalina and Lee needed to break the curse? In order to set Loxley free, someone of their bloodline still needed to sacrifice themselves. Adalina’s hadn’t worked for some reason—a reason he was eternally grateful for—which meant the price had not been fully paid. If that was somehow the blade—if she found out—she could use it to make the sacrifice again.
He didn’t want to tell Phillip any of this. The man had enough on his mind, and there was a chance he was wrong. But they didn’t keep secrets anymore.
“Do you remember what we told you on the ship?” Shane began. “About the dagger—Ddadwneud?”
“Yes…?” he dragged the word out.
Shane shifted to lay on his side, facing Phillip. He rested a hand on his waist and whispered, “I think you have it.”
“What?” Phillip’s voice rose, and Shane shushed him.
“The dagger you always keep with you,” Shane said. “Didn’t my mother give it to you?”
For a long moment, Phillip remained quiet. Only his heavy breathing filled the silence. Shane knew he was thinking it through, just as he was.
“Lee had the dagger and gave it away, not knowing its significance.” Shane scooted closer, trailing his fingers up to Phillip’s cheek. He couldn’t see him in the dark, but he didn’t need to. “He lied when he said he didn’t remember who he gave it to… he gave it to my mother when she was a girl.”
“And she gave it to me, making me promise—” Phillip choked over his own words.
