Page 52 of Warrior Princess
“I’ll look out for them, your highness,” Viktor said from the side.
“Thank you, Viktor,” I smiled, offering him a nod.
“Leila!”
“Miss Leila!”
Selene and Henry started running once they caught sight of me.
“You’re back, Miss Leila!” Henry was the first to cross the border over to Keldara. The last time I’d seen him, Caelan was torturing his tiny body. “We missed you!” He wrapped me in a bone-crushing hug.
I wrapped my arms around him and brushed his messy mop of hair back from his face. My wide grin stretched my cheeks. “I missed you both as well. What do you have there?” I asked, already smelling the pastries.
“Oh! I brought you some mooncakes.” The boy grinned up at me with a wide smile, displaying two missing front teeth.
I dropped a kiss on the top of his head. “Thank you, Henry. I truly missed them.”
Selene slowly crossed the border into Keldara and pulled me into an embrace, gripping me tightly with Henry sandwiched between us.
“Are you okay?” I whispered in her ear. She sniffled and gave a short nod. “Everything is okay, Selene. Don’t worry.” I rubbed her back.
Henry squeezed his way out from between us and approached Ronan, giving him a big hug. Ronan lifted him up as if he weighed nothing and hugged the boy tightly.
Marcel glanced meaningfully at Selene, then back at me. “Take care of her for me… please.” His face flushed a vibrant shade of crimson.
I nodded. “Always, Marcel. You don’t ever have to ask.”
“Thank you, Lyanna.” With a sigh, Marcellus added, “We should probably head back before anyone notices we’re gone.”
Just then, we heard running footsteps. I turned around and watched a Keldaran courier running toward Mykal. Out of breath, the man whispered in the commander’s ear. I watched Mykal’s eyes slowly widen little by little, until his gaze landed on me.
“What is it?” I asked, ignoring Marcel.
Mykal stepped forward, bowing to my father and Marcellus. “Your Majesty, Your Highness, apologies for not introducing myself earlier. Commander Mykal Kaiser at your service.”
“Pleasure,” my father said with a grimace.
At the end of the day, Mykal was still Keldaran, and they were our mortal enemy. But I hoped they wouldn’t be much longer now that Mykal was in charge.
“Unfortunately, I have dire news that all of you should be made aware of.” Mykal glanced at me and then to my family standing across the border. “King Alwyn of Eldwain has died.”
I gasped and Ronan reached for my hand. Shock encompassed Marcel and my father’s faces. We were all probably thinking the same thing.
“He’s going for it,” I murmured as Ronan held me close while still carrying Henry. “He’s going to take the throne.”
“What?” Marcel frowned. “What are you talking about? I thought Caelan wanted the Valorian throne?”
“He does,” I said. “But what he really wants is to ruleallof Asteria. At this very moment, Caelan commands a secret army in Ellyndor.”
My father stumbled backward in shock. “No!” he whispered. “We must hurry.” He turned to leave, though he still leaned heavily on Marcellus. “We must get back to the capital and protect ourselves.”
Marcel waved goodbye and sent a meaningful look toward Selene before hurrying to help our father into his carriage. We watched in silence as the small envoy from Valoria disappeared back the way they came.
“That messenger just delivered the invitation to his funeral,” Mykal said once they were gone. “I assume Chief Aryan and King Malik will get them as well.”
Ronan squeezed my hand. “I have a bad feeling about this.”
“I do, too,” I whispered as I gazed out into the distance, already missing my family.
