Page 11 of A Curse of Breath and Blood

He dressed without a fuss. “It was nice to meet you.” His brown eyes showed an earnest longing.

An ache clawed at my heart.Get a hold of yourself, Aelia.

“Goodbye,” I said, running a gloved finger down the commander’s stubbled jaw.

He reached for me longingly, but our love story had come to an end. I watched from my window as he disappeared into the crowd buying their daily bread. What must it be like to live such a simple life?

I gathered my things, braided my hair, and applied black kohl around my eyes to keep the winter sun from blinding me. By the time Lucius and Roderick returned, I donned my fur-lined leather cuirass.

“Mercenary work pays well,” Roderick said, picking up one of my expertly crafted weapons.

“Business has been good.” I laced up my knee-high boots.

Lucius handed me a sausage roll. The greasy smell made my mouth water. I devoured the savory treat.

A bitter wind spilled in through the door as Roderick carried my saddle bags out. I tightened my cloak around my neck and headed into the snowy street behind him, taking one last look at the bed the commander and I shared, wanting to stay in this moment forever. Afraid to move forward but not wanting to look back. As soon as I stepped outside the door, my life would change. No longer hiding in shadows but forced into the light.

We rode in tense silence until the sun sank low in the sky, casting its pink and gold light across the snowy planes.

A terse silence hung in the air until I could not bear it any longer. “So, tell me about this wife of yours?” Ever the glutton for punishment—part of me hoped she proved awful. Part of me hoped she embodied everything Caiden deserved. Everything I wasn’t.

“Why do you care?” he mumbled under his breath.

“I don’t. But I can’t stand this silence,” I lied while my heart flipped in my stomach.

Caiden’s body stiffened. “Why don’t we make a deal? I don’t tell you about my life, and you don’t tell me about yours.”

“Fine by me.” I shifted nervously in my saddle. “So, what’s the plan for getting the invitation?”

Caiden’s gray mare bobbed her head happily as we made our way down the snow-covered road. A wind blew from the west. Caiden fiddled with the reins. “The Court of Sorrows is near. I’ve already sent word we’re coming for a state dinner.”

I took a deep breath.

“I wrote to Queen Nysemia to inform her we are on an emissary trip from the capital. She has agreed to host us. I will seduce her while you extract the location of the invite from the mind of Theon, her consort. Then you will give the information to Lucius, who will steal the invitation.”

I barked out a laugh. “Tell me you’re joking. She’s never going to be alone. Nysemia is smart. Smarter than you, Caiden. She’s going to know something’s off.”

“Do you have a better plan?” Caiden snapped.

“Well, I used to be a diplomat. I know Nysemia is a member of the Wild Courts, beholden to the Alder King. She’ll want to impress him. She’s likely to invite him to her party.And since he’s a recluse who hasn’t left his forest in five hundred years, he’ll probably send an emissary. That’s who we’ll want to target…” I straightened my back to my full height. “That’s whoIwill target. I’m sure you can figure out who that is.”

“The Alder King holds the reins to the continent’s deadliest army, and you want to go poking around in one of their minds?” Lucius glowered at me through darkened eyes.

“I’m sure that’s Gideon’s plan. We’re the last two telepaths on the continent, as far as I know. My sister could just be an excuse to get close to the Alder King. He’s charming, and someone with my sister’s alleged gift is hard to resist.”

Caiden rubbed his temple while his mare plodded along. “Lucius, see what you can find out. See who their emissary is.”

Lucius nodded.

Night descended upon us as we continued our journey. Desolate trees rose from snow-covered copses, concealing malevolent creatures within.

A prickling at the nape of my neck put me on guard.

If the others noticed, they did not say.

I pushed it out of my mind.You’re losing it, Aelia.

A twig snapped in the woods.

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