Page 78 of Captive of the Stolen Empire

“We’re on our way.”

Chapter35

Ilya

Iached to check on Elin and my friends. I’d sent up a prayer to each of the four Gods and Goddesses on my return trip, asking for their safety and health while I was gone. And I needed to talk to Reyna. While my trip had been more productive than I’d ever hoped, it would be all for naught if I couldn’t leverage the information I’d gathered.

Even so, it was hard to focus on my goals after so many days on the road with Lucien. Warmth raced to my cheeks as I recounted our stolen moments together. It wasn’t just my desire for him. I couldn’t delude myself about that anymore. He had a sharp mind and way with words that drew me in as few others ever had. Men respected him and he them. He’d shown me concern and care though I was still an enemy. He wouldn’t do that if he was truly as vile as I’d once thought. No, there was a surprising amount of genuine kindness lingering within the emperor’s master of war.

“Lady Ilya,” one of the guards called after me as I opened the heavy wooden doors that exited the bailey into the castle proper.

The bubble of my happiness burst. My teeth ground together as I waited for them to catch up. Of course, I’d still be escorted everywhere. Wasn’t I always?

“It should be near dinner time. We can take you straight to the dining hall.”

I sighed. “Lead the way.”

My heart leaped as I caught sight of Elin and Gabriel outside our destination. “It’s good to see you. How are you both?”

I waited for a smile. A hug. Neither happened.

“You’re back,” Gabriel said. The half-smile he gave me didn’t reach his eyes, and he said nothing else before continuing into the room.

Elin winced. “We are glad you’re safe.” Her kind words did nothing to dull the stab of my friend’s curt welcome.

A thread of panic twisted through my heart. “Did something happen?”

Elin glanced between the two of us, a frown pulling at her pink lips. “He…well…” She looked around hesitantly. “He worries you’ve turned your back on them, and on Sorrena, now that you’re serving the emperor and delivering his messages.”

My world spun. He thought I’d turned traitor.

“It’s not what you think,” I whispered.

“I believe you,” she said. “Things here are different, so much more than I ever expected.” She looked away, her hands twisting in the folds of her dress. “I even…well…” She blushed as her words trailed off, unable to meet my eyes, and followed Gabriel to our usual table.

“Look who’s returned,” Fernand said as I approached. For all the bitterness in his voice, I could have been Ryszard himself.

I jerked out my chair, letting it clatter across the stone before I took my seat. My elbows dug into the table with enough force to leave a bruise. “Someone tell me what’s going on?”

Fernand simply raised his brows as if it should be obvious. Across the table, Gabriel coughed and adjusted his posture before leaning forward. “Shouldn’t we ask you that? We heard you’re delivering messages for the emperor now. Was that wrong?”

The doubt in his voice had me sitting a little straighter. “I didn’t have a choice. Can anyone truly refuse him?”

He sighed. “Every moment is a choice. Before, I might not have questioned it, but after the festival…” His attention dipped to my neckline, to the empty space where the Mark of Sorrena no longer rested. “You’ve changed.”

Hunger vanished. The savory scents that tempted my stomach to rumble only moments ago turned foul. I had information, details of rebels on the move toward Zhine, yet my allies questioned my allegiance.

“It’s not like that. You don’t understand.” I shook my head. Maybe I had changed, but for the wiser.

“Where’s Reyna?” I asked. Perhaps they weren’t ready to hear what I’d learned, but she would be.

Fernand leaned back in his chair. “The one who came back all smiles after delivering punishment to my people?” His chin jutted forward. “Seems like the type you’d like these days.”

The biting words smacked me in the face, drawing forth a flush from the anger building in my veins. It took everything I had to ignore his jab. I scanned the room in simmering silence, searching for Reyna, who was nowhere to be found. When the nearby guards returned attention to their meals, I sat and leaned in on the table.

“She’s on our side,” I whispered before glancing each way. “She’s looking for what we are. She wants to help.”

“Don’t you remember who told us about the farmer being on our side?” Gabriel said.

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