Page 118 of Captive of the Stolen Empire

“We will be,” I answered.

His clear eyes gave no hint of fear, only solid determination. “I’ll see what I can do.” Without another word, he fled the room, gesturing to the others to join him.

“There’s something else,” Zurina said. “Orson’s alive. He leads the men.”

My chest constricted. Orson lived. Another regret. How many could I have? I should have stabbed him through the eye and ended him when I’d had the chance. Something at the time held me back, a sense of loyalty to the man I’d grown up with, however much I loathed him. Sparing him wouldn’t bring back the boy of our youth. Only the corrupt man he’d become remained, and it might cost us now. Dearly. He could set the woods aflame in an instant. Destroy our work, our traps.

A soft hand grabbed my arm, pulling my attention.

“Tell me,” Ilya said. Though she wore an old, cream-colored dress scavenged from somewhere in the mansion, it did nothing to dampen her regal bearing or the sharpness of her authority.

I’d have given anything to share better news, to be able to promise everything was fine. But I couldn’t. And every moment I delayed was one more that the emperor’s forces drew closer to our hiding place. “Come with me.”

I relayed what little we knew to Ilya as we retreated to my room, where I strapped on one piece of armor and the next. I’d need it all, everything, if we planned to halt this advance. If we couldn’t take them all out—a lofty goal—we needed to hold them until rebel backups arrived.

Ilya paced, fiddling with her braided hair. “Give me a sword. I’ll come with you.”

“No.” Fuck if I’d let her walk into death like that.

She froze. “I can’t just sit here and—”

“You’re not.” Gods, of all the times for her to be stubborn. I pointed to the short sword on the table. A hardened iron blade, its leather-wrapped grip worn by use and time. Better it serve her here than me in the woods. I had enough blades tucked away already. “Use it to protect the people here. Zurina will stay, she’s barely conscious as it is, but we can’t spare any of the warriors. I need you here in case any of the emperor’s troops get through.”

Emotion fled her face. “Can you stop them?”

I held her gaze, unable to form the lies I yearned to tell her. “We have to try.”

Her eyes turned glassy as she looked away.

That momentary look threatened to rend my heart. I dropped my helmet on the bed and pulled her into my arms, savoring her scent, her warmth, perhaps for the last time.

“If we can’t stop them, you have to stay alive,” I whispered against her hair. “Take the best horses, try to flee to the other rebels.”

“And you?” she whispered, looking up at me.

I’d die before I let them take her back. It was my fault her kingdom fell, that she ended up a captive to begin with. If only I’d seen the truths she showed me long ago.

“I love you. Don’t forget that.”

Her eyes flew wide. “Luc—”

I crushed her mouth to mine, stealing away her words. We’d found each other too late, but no army could take this moment for me. If I went to my grave, it’d be with the memory of her lips against mine, her taste in my mouth.

A hint of salt mingled into our kiss. A wet track remained on her cheek when I pulled away. How many times would I make this strong woman cry?

“Don’t forget. Don’t lose that fire in your heart.”

With difficulty, I released her and grabbed my helm, snapping it down over my head before I could delay any further.

“I’ll see you again,” she said. A promise.

I nodded.

I’d find her, even in the After.

Chapter53

Ilya

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