Page 54 of Warrior Princess
“We’ll be careful,” I said, feeling hopeful once again.
That night,I went to the inn where Selene was staying; Henry was staying with Silas. Carrying a jug of wine, I knocked on Selene’s door. I heard a light rustle inside before she opened it, her eyes brightening when she saw who it was. Even in rough travel clothing, Selene’s beauty shone.
“Leila,” she sighed and ushered me inside. “Thank the gods. Come in.” While modest, the room contained all the basic necessities. Candles flickered on a small bureau and on a skinny table beside the bed.
I went over to the sitting area and sat on a cushioned chair, then uncorked the jug of wine. “Straight from the bottle!” I grinned and took a swig before passing it to her.
“This brings back memories.” She smirked and accepted the jug, then sat beside me. After taking a healthy drink, she handed the wine back to me. “Should I order some meat?”
I quirked a brow. “Have you not had dinner?”
She nodded. “Yes, but I didn’t know if you had.”
“No need.” I waved her off. “How are you feeling? I’m sorry I left you behind in Valoria. I hope Marcellus took care of you.”
She smiled shyly and studiously avoided eye contact. “Yes,” she whispered. “He did.”
I narrowed my gaze on her and smirked. “Is there something you want to tell me?”
She shook her head adamantly.
“Selene?”
“Fine! We…” She let the sentence hang.
“Oh, never mind. I’m not drunk enough for this.” I took another hearty swallow.
She giggled and covered her face. “He’s unlike anyone I’ve ever met.”
“Ouch. I thoughtIwas your favorite person,” I teased, then passed the jug of wine.
She received it and lightly pushed me. “You know you are. But your brother is something… different. Whenever your mother tried to get me to do something unpleasant or pull information out of me, he was always there to shut her down. I felt… protected.”
I nodded in understanding. “I’m glad he was there for you when I wasn’t. Am I right to assume you’ll be relying on him more from now on?” I quirked a brow.
She shrugged one delicate shoulder. “He said he wants to marry me… but we have to wait.”
I sighed. “Unfortunately, he’s right. Mother is in charge of planning weddings for her children, but if she’s behind everything going on, she’ll be de-throned. If that happens, Marcel will have a lot more flexibility to choose his marriage partner. Now, I don’t know how my father will take the news of his son marrying a non-royal, but I’ll support you both, no matter what.”
“Thank you, Leila.” Selene placed a hand over mine and sighed. “I’ve missed you, friend.”
I smiled brightly. “I missed you, too. I can’t tell you how happy I am that you’re here now. Hopefully we’ll all be reunited in Valoria soon.”
“I hope so.” She took a drink. “So… how are things between you and Ronan?”
I felt a blush stain my cheeks. “Things are going… well,” I said plainly.
Selene raised a brow and cautiously pointed to her neck. “I didn’t notice when we were at the border because it was so dark, but on the way here I noticed your neck. I don’t want to ask, but I feel like I must. What happened to you, Leila?”
Self-consciously I touched my neck, feeling the soft ridges of a healed cut. “Well… I died,” I offered calmly, as if I didn’t just drop a bombshell.
“What?” Selene exclaimed, her eyes wide and scared. “How are you… what happened?”
“Did Marcel ever tell you about the Crimson Clan’s prophecy?” I knew I’d never shared it with her. It was almost as if talking about it out loud would make it happen. Little did I know it would happen anyway.
She nodded. “They wanted to resurrect the demon fox, but to do that, they would have to…” She gasped. “Don’t tell me…”
“Yes. I agreed to go through with it because Ronan vowed to use his one wish to resurrect me. According to the prophecy, the blood weaver had to be sacrificed by one from the Crimson Clan whom they loved. In exchange, the Crimson Clan would receive one wish. But then his father, Chief Aryan kidnapped me, sedated Ronan, and performed the ritual himself, vowing to use the wish to further the Crimson Clan, not bring me back.” I rubbed my neck and remembered the terror of that night. It was a night I would never forget.
